Urban landscape (UL) management and urban greenspace (UG) delivery require effective planning tools. The aim of the study is to develop a conceptual framework for the implementation of ecological, structural and visual landscape and greenspace indicators (LGI) in spatial development of urban areas. The UL and UG management provisions in Poland are identified at various levels of urban planning (local, municipal and regional). Furthermore, the applicability of the selected set of LGI in the Polish planning system is considered based on the existing planning documents. The quality of UL and UG transformation is discussed in three case studies in Bristol, Gdańsk and Poznań in the broader context of the English and Polish spatial planning systems. Bristol is used as a point of reference for the evaluation of UL and UG management in Poland and for the comparison between English and Polish landscape policies. Based on the conceptual framework and the analysis of the case studies, critical areas of UL and UG management in Poland are identified. The existing planning system often fails to ensure the continuity of landscape structures, and it does not include its preservation and enhancement to a sufficient extent. Therefore, the implementation of the proposed LGI framework could significantly improve the ecological and visual quality, as well as the structural diversity of UL and UG. Moreover, the article concludes by indicating some practical implications of the proposed LGI framework for urban planners, policy makers and other stakeholders in terms of improving the modes of governance for UL and UG management as well as of accounting for human health and well-being.
The aim of the article was to identify changes in the structure of land use and land cover in the context of spatial planning problems. The research was conducted on valley areas protected under the Natura 2000 programme and that are located within the zone of influence of a big city. The researchers analysed local planning documents to see whether they were in agreement with the aims of the protection programme. The Natura 2000 areas located in the Commune of Stęszew, Poznań County were chosen for a case study. The article describes recurrent problems and phenomena that are typical of the protected areas and that are simultaneously affected by the pressure of urbanisation. GIS tools were used to make a comparative analysis of six categories of land use forms in three research periods and to calculate the indicator of land cover variance. Since the 1980s, the areas under study have been affected by changes in land use. They have been manifested by a higher forestation rate, increasing numbers of developed areas, and a decrease in farmland area. The percentage of other components of the land cover structure has not changed much. In view of environmental protection, the changes proposed in spatial plans are a matter of special concern. The territory under analysis is characterised by a very high land cover variance indicator referring to the developed area, whereas the indicators referring to farmland and wetland areas are negative. It is particularly difficult to apply the rule of sustainable development in the areas. The protection of natural values and the developmental needs of the commune stand in opposition to each other and cause spatial planning conflicts.
Numerous barren land areas are found within administrative boundaries of cities. They include both former farmland located at the outskirts of cities, as well as vacant plots, postindustrial plots or former railway infrastructure plots. Barren plots are integral elements of the urban landscape and contemporary scientific concepts indicate their important role in the functioning of urban ecosystems. Abandoned land provides a potential for the development of green infrastructure and further development of recreation areas. At the same time some abandoned plots are informally adapted by local residents to suit their needs, transforming them into community gardens and recreation areas. This paper presents results of studies conducted by the authors in selected derelict areas in the city of Poznań. Analyses were conducted on their type, origin, size and location within the city. Observations were also recorded on the methods to adapt abandoned land by local communities.
River valleys, apart from their natural values, have unique visual features. The perception of landscape is mainly determined by its spatial structure. Contemporary scientific research confirms significant compliance in the terms of ecological and aesthetic evaluations. The paper presents the results of the research carried out by the authors in the Valley of Samica Kierska River in Wielkopolska which is an area protected as a part of Natura 2000 network. There were three main objectives of the research: 1) an analysis of the relations between spatial structure and visual perception of landscape in the Valley of Samica Kierska River, 2) a comparison of the expert evaluation of the visual values with public aesthetic preferences towards landscape, 3) an assessment of the potential effectiveness of the existing conservation methods in Natura 2000 network for the preservation of landscape visual features.
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