Physiognomic structure of agro-forestry landscapes: method of evaluation and guidelines for design, on the example of the West Polesie Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

A b s t r a c t. Harmonious planning of agro-forestry landscapes plays a increasing role in building a social satisfaction flowing from the high quality of the environment on the rural areas. It is also a very good way to create a unique place identity of protected areas, rest areas etc. especially valuable regions. The objectives of the paper are: 1) elaboration the method of evaluation and mapping the physiognomic landscape composition on the rural areas with a high natural values; 2) testing this method on dominated by forests, peatbogs and arable lands the central part of the West Polesie UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Eastern Poland); 3) formulation of guidelines on the design of landscape interiors and view openings composition, highlighting the unique features of West Polesie landscape and building a sense of the place identity; 4) to show the necessary to enshrine the values of physiognomic landscape composition in land use policy. In evaluation and mapping the landscape composition, a special attention was paid to the role of agro-forest ecotones. The results of the research part of the study as well as a guidelines on landscape design have been presented in the form of a map, study figures and a description.

The Methodology of Landscape Quality (LQ) Indicators Analysis Based on Remote Sensing Data: Polish National Parks Case Study

“…The research results generally showed that both test areas are featuring high values in relation to structural and ecological LQ. These findings are consistent with other researchers based on the application of landscape indicators to analyze landscape quality of the Roztocze nad Polesie NP showing that low degree of anthropogenic fragmentation and stable ecological state of this area [10,41,49]. Within the area of Polesie NP from the beginning of XX century, significant changes have taken place in the water relations, in the land use structure and in the character of landscape physiognomy.…”

“…The application of indicators also revealed high visual landscape quality of both analyzing national parks. Such findings in relation to Polesie and Roztocze protected areas were also proven by the results of studies analyzing social perceptions and stakeholder opinions on perceived values [35], linking social and expert valorization [5], as well as use physiognomic structure analysis [49,54]. It indicates that objective indices, as proposed in this study, can be used to indirectly reflect intangible values of the landscape which is beauty or harmony.…”

Multi-Item Assessment of Physiognomic Diversity of Geocomplexes as a Comprehensive Method of Visual-Aesthetic Landscape Assessment

“…Thus, it is a "general" and "bottom-up" assessment [22,23,29]. This method has a great advantage from the point of view of surface nature protection, including the designation of protected landscape areas [49,50], i.e., in Poland national and landscape parks [39,51]. Knowing the average values of landscape types (geocomplexes), they can be transferred (mapped) to another area, and the whole area can be valorized without new surveys.…”

Introducing GEOBIA to Landscape Imageability Assessment: A Multi-Temporal Case Study of the Nature Reserve “Kózki”, Poland

“…Two more primary viewpoints were delimited in the central zone; however, their location favors close-range observation of open sands and Xeric sand grassland, constituting the HNV of the analysis. In 1997, the value of VS became less than 0.1 (0.09), which, together with viewpoint location analysis, can be interpreted as imageability created more by the sequences of landscape interiors and view panoramas [54] rather than stunning openness. Importantly, 1997 and 2006 gradually closed the visual connectivity with the central zone of the research area.…”

“…The Ode et al [19] classification also distinguishes the viewshed size and depth of view as visual scale indicators. Specifically, the visual scale refers to perceptual units of open land delimited by taller vegetation, topography, or human-made objects viewed from a single viewpoint, termed the "landscape room" [20] or "landscape interiors" [54].…”