Integrating applied lake ecology into spatial planning: towards a socially acceptable lakeshore restoration at Lake Velence (Hungary)

Abstract

A good chance of a socially accepted shore-restoration that is sustainable for the long run stands only, if all those, concerned in lake-use, are also interested in the ecological interventions, if shore-restoration serves social and economic purposes, as well. In the previous phase of our research, assessments were made to find the sections of the shore zone that are suitable for restoration: to detect the sites where the existing artificial shoreline stabilization works could be removed. So that social demands should be involved in the assessment process, to begin with, structured interviews were made. According to the results, the share of the plots, being suitable or partially suitable for shore-restoration, slightly exceeded 7%. The analysis of restoration's limiting factors has shown that the type of shoreline stabilization, the width of zone covered by emergent macrophytes, the extent of human pressures, and the relevant regulations on zoning (fixed in urban plans) together set limits to restoration. The interviews have made it clear that as a result of the changed demands on recreation-tourism, also the natural and landscape values have become more significant.

Every Start is Challenging: Fitting A New Artificial Lake Into the Landscape, Zalakaros, Hungary

“…Due to the rapid succession of water-related habitats and the intense, diverse demand of utilization, the ecological conditions and the environment of the new lakes change at a quick pace (Hall and Härkönen, 2006). In the interest of landscape sustainability (Musacchio, 2013;Wu, 2011) and the protection and improvement of the ecosystem services of the lake and the lake-shore (Vinkó et al 2012), changes must be carefully arranged (Boromisza et al, 2015;Illyés et al, 2016). In the course of this, it is equally required to mitigate the probable environmental impacts, to ecologically fit the new landscape feature (lake) into the landscape, to serve the needs of the society (Moss, 2007), to discover the natural values and to schedule the maintenance tasks (Mészáros, 2016).…”