Agricultural Development and Environmental Research: American and Czechoslovak Perspectives: Proceedings of a Bilateral Workshop (1987)

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Basic Premises in Landscape/Ecological Planning MILAN Ru2idKA Institute of Experimental Biology and Ecology (SAV) Within the framework of comprehensive ecological research, it is necessary to elaborate new theoretical and methodological ap- proaches in individual scientific disciplines as components of inter- disciplinary research on the ecological characteristics of the land- cape. The present experience—especially in landscape ecological planning—shows that the methods of study of abiotic components are being successfully worked out, whereas the methods of study of biotic components are lagging behind. This is due to the complexity of biotic phenomena and processes which makes research and spatial expression of these phenomena time-consuming. All planning activity aimed at utilization, protection, and de- velopment of an area, the associated environment, and the available natural resources must be based on knowledge of the ecology of the landscape. Until now, efforts have been focused on learning the preconditions for ecologically optimum utilization of an area. Methodological approaches differ with respect to the complexity and heterogeneity of landscapes and optimization of uses. Interactions between man and nature have not yet been clearly defined, and more concentrated efforts are needed in this regard. BIOTIC COMPONENTS IN LANDSCAPE RESEARCH There is a need to develop simplified and applied methods of botanical and zoological research which rapidly clarify the structural and spatial distribution of vegetation and animals. At the same time SO

31 there should be a basis for gradual intensification of knowledge of the properties of vegetation and animals as components of the ecosystem and landscape. These biotic components are the basic parts of a landscape complex, and they are indices of the ecological properties and processes in the landscape. The significance of resolving the roles of biotic components in a landscape system is reflected in worldwide and particularly European interest in ecological optimization of utilization of nature. Attention is focused on two basic natural formations, vegetation and grass- lands; landscape greenery and swamps are considered separately. A special unit for analysis is the cultural vegetation agroecosystem, which integrates the ecological evaluation and utilization of land- scape components in the study of the landscape structure and the function of the individual formation units. In particular, research has focused on the production functions of the above mentioned vegetation formations within the framework of various projects and programs of organizations such as UNESCO, UNEP, and IUCN. More studies are now being directed toward is- sues of landscape ecological stability, creative aspects of biotic ele- ments and components, carrying capacity, and ecological corridors and barriers in the landscape. However, these studies are not yet well developed. CREATION OF LANDSCAPE ECOLOGICAL PLANS Landscape ecological planning is one of the most important as- pects of landscape ecological research and is developing due to the increasing problems in the interaction between society and nature. Global changes in the environment, especially in the natural envi- ronment, are reflected both in the development of individual na- tional economies and in the development of human civilization and the world economy. Socialist countries are developing their efforts for scientific and technical cooperation under the coordination of the CMEA Council for Protection and Improvement of the Environment. Among the Council's fourteen topics is one entitled "Protection of Ecosystems and Landscapes," which concentrates on ecological prob- lems of landscape. A special theme concerning landscape ecological planning is included within this framework. The following landscape and ecological problems are of particular interest:

32 • Rational utilization of natural resources; • Creation of ecologically optimum landscape structures and col- lection of ecological data for territorial planning; • Creation of favorable living conditions for inhabitants of towns and settlements, and harmonization of the urbanization process with ecological conditions; • Transformation of nature according to the needs of different branches of the national economy with consideration of ecological conditions; • Preserving the natural genofund of nature and nature conserva- tion. International research and cooperation are developing in these areas. First is the cooperation organized by the central United Na- tions institutions, with the focus on UNEP and UNESCO—the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program. The promotion of cultural contacts is involved in the program of IUCN. The International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) focuses on the problems of ecological planning. It was established in 1982 at the Sixth International Sym- posium on the Problems of Ecological Research of Landscape as a result of long-term Czechoslovak activity in this field. Scientists from 29 countries from all continents participated in the preparatory work for the IALE constitution. The efforts of the socialist countries—and particularly of Czechoslovakia—were aimed at application of ecolog- ical principles to the solution of problems in relationships between man and landscape. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGICAL PLANNING (LANDEP) An analysis of foreign concepts of applied research studies of landscape/ecological interactions underscores that the Czechoslovak concept comprises application methods from different scientific dis- ciplines, from a comprehensive ecological analysis of a landscape through the synthesis and evaluation of the territory up to the pro- posal for optimum land use. Individual aspects of such a method- ology also appear in the foreign concepts, but there is no single comprehensive concept. In Czechoslovakia during the last two decades the theory and methodologies of landscape ecological planning (LANDEP) devel- oped as a specific form of complex landscape ecological investiga- tions. A degree of application to the requirements of planning has

33 been worked out. The knowledge so far obtained opens possibilities for developing a new branch of basic research as well as for more complete application of ecological viewpoints in the elaboration of documentation for territorial planning (Ru£iCka edit. 1970, 1973a, b, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1985). In the sphere of theoretical research, LANDEP helps plan the optimal utilization of ecological properties of the landscape to create conditions for harmony between man and the landscape. In territorial planning, LANDEP offers a simplified form of ecological evaluation of territory (EET), which becomes a part of the data base, and in this manner, also a part of the planning process. The LANDEP concept stresses the need for complex evaluation of the landscape as a territory in which activities of man and soci- ety develop on the basis of natural phenomena and processes. The essence of LANDEP—which presents a methodological approach to the solution of problems related to ecologically optimal landscape utilization—has been fairly well elaborated (RuSicka, Miklos 1979a, 1981, 1982). LANDEP contains two parts, as illustrated in Figure 1: • Landscape ecological data which focus on inventories and as- sessments of abiotic and biotic components, current landscape configuration, ecological phenomena and processes, and effects and consequences of man's activities on the landscape. • Ecological optimization of landscape utilization which relies on landscape ecological data, particularly ecologically homogeneous spatial units. Types of landscape/ecological complexes and eco- logical regions are compared with the requirements and needs of the society in the development of the particular territory. Fol- lowing the evaluation of the degree of appropriateness of the eco- logical properties expressed in the various landscape/ecological complexes for the particular social activities, a proposal is made on the most suitable location of the social activities in the land- scape in accordance with ecological considerations. LANDEP is a complex system of applied scientific activities. It includes biological, ecological, geographical, agricultural, silvicul- tural, and other research methods. These methods are united by the combined methodologies of LANDEP, which is directed toward landscape optimization (Ruz'iCka, Miklos 1979a, b). Optimization through LANDEP may result in a proposal for the most suitable locations of planned social activities in the land- scape from the standpoint of landscape/ecological features. Because

34 Societal needs and require- Landscape ecolog cal ments for territory properties t * Determination of aims and delimitation of territory of interest J 1 . Ecological data on the landscape Landscape ecological analysis ; i i Landscape ecological synthesis §. <G 8 Q. UJ Q TJ W S* 1 «| It 11 2. Ecological optimization of the 5 •§ utilization of the landscape c % Evaluation of landscape ecological data 1 Landscape ecological proposal Territorial and branch planning FIGURE 1 The LANDEP concept.

35 landscape optimization should not in any case retard the economic development of the landscape, the optimization may mean choosing the "lesser evil," i.e., choosing locations where a given activity will be in the least conflict with the natural conditions. This choice can be made by means of the complex process of LANDEP (Ru2iCka, Miklos 1979a). LANDEP results in the optimal location of social activities in the landscape, taking into account several very important points: • The choice, extent, and mode of elaboration of data on natural conditions is not left to good intentions, professional knowledge, or common sense of the urbanist. Rather, an integrated proposal of spatial organization is developed from ecological data and contains clear-cut views on the ecological proposal. • LANDEP does not contradict economic development because it respects all categories of landscape utilization required by society. The role of LANDEP is to facilitate an ecological ar- rangement of such societal requirements in a given territory. Although LANDEP is applied to socioeconomic categories of territorial development, natural indices play a crucial role in the localization of these categories. This is motivated by an effort to preserve the "life" of the landscape in harmony between economy and ecology. LANDEP, as part of landscape ecological research, can be de- veloped only on a team basis. The composition of the team reflects the needs of LANDEP. Each member of the team must possess the skill to obtain the necessary published and unpublished data and to elaborate their topic from the standpoint of its use in the LAN- DEP program. The amount and quality of data on the landscape employed in LANDEP and EET must be modified according to their significance and their use for theoretical and practical aims. To verify and modify the LANDEP methodology, approximately 90 projects were designed for different purposes from small to large territories (scales from 1:500 to 1:500,000). Close collaboration with territorial planning activities makes it possible to elaborate simplified methods of LANDEP which could be used by design institutions. To work out these simplified methods, more ecological working teams are being included in design institutes for territorial planning and for planning the development of agricultural production.

36 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH For solving the questions of ecological evaluation and utilization of the biotic components of the landscape, simplified and applied research methods on vegetation and animals should be developed. A better understanding of the characteristics of their ecological struc- ture and spatial expression is needed. Biotic phenomena and pro- cesses should be investigated as indicators of ecological landscape characteristics. The principles and methods used in the creation of landscape ecological plans should be focused on harmonization of landscape uti- lization with ecological conditions, on guiding controversial interests of the society, and on creating prerequisites for rational utilization and conservation of natural resources. On the basis of the results achieved thus far in the field of compre- hensive research of landscape which have been verified in planning and design practice, principles of landscape ecological planning as a system of applied multidisciplinary scientific methods should be more clearly defined. The methodology of a systems approach to the landscape should be elaborated in a creative way and should be developed on the basis of remote sensing, mathematical methods of evaluation of spatial relationships, and application of computing sys- tems. Formalized methods of ecologically optimum utilization of the landscape should also be defined. They could result in proposals for a new landscape structure and in principles for landscape conservation and creation. It is necessary to work out various models of landscape ecological plans from general plans to detailed solutions for ecologically diverse territories and different uses. On the basis of these model solutions, a framework for ecological landscape planning should be elaborated at the level of basic research. For the purposes of territorial planning, economic and regulatory practices are necessary to define a simplified method of ecological evaluation of the territory as well as methods for practical application of such evaluations. APPLICATIONS IN SOCIAL PRACTICE Knowledge of the ecological properties of biotic components of the landscape can be applied in practice through ecological land- scape planning. Such direct application is possible when solving the

37 problems of conservation and rational utilization of the soil fund, op- timization of agricultural production, landscape protection against erosion, increased ecological stability, and a number of other ques- tions connected with environmental protection. Landscape ecological planning and the associated systems ap- proach have social importantance. At present, there is great pres- sure to solve important problems connected with the national econ- omy and with the development of individual territories. The results achieved in this area have stimulated a number of institutions to cooperate in employing the newly developed methodologies. The widest application possibilities have been found within the framework of regional planning. This is followed by branch planning when seeking ecologically optimum solutions for use of the land by agriculture, by water systems, by industry, by power engineering, for transportation, or for recreation. Ecological aspects of the utilization of nature and natural resources should be an integral part of the governmental policy for the development of society. REFERENCES Ruziika, M., edit. 1970. Theoretical problems of biological landscape research. Quaestiones geobiologicae 7. Ruzicka, M., edit. 1973a. Problems of applying landscape ecology in practice. Quaestiones geobiologicae 11. Ruziika, M., edit. 1973b. Content and object of complex landscape research in the protection and formation of human environment. Collection of papers for Third International Symposium on Problems of Ecological Landscape Research, November 28 - December 1, 1973, Smolenice, Czechoslovakia. Ruzicka, M., edit. 1976. Ecological data for optimal landscape utilization. Collection of papers for Fourth International Symposium on Problems of Landscape Research, November 22-26, 1976, Smolenice, Czechoslovakia. Ruziika, M., edit. 1979. Ecological stability, resistance, diversity, potentiality, productivity, and equilibrium of landscape. Collection of papers for Fifth International Symposium on Problems of Ecological Landscape Research, November 19-26, 1979, Stara Lesna, Czechoslovakia. Ruziika, M., edit. 1982. Ecosystem approach to the agricultural landscape. Collection of papers for Sixth International Symposium on Problems of Landscape Ecological Research, October 25-30, 1982, Piestany, Czechoslo- vakia. Ruziika, M., edit. 1985. Topical problems of landscape ecological research and planning. Collection of papers for Seventh International Symposium on Problems of Landscape Ecological Research, October 21-26, 1985, Pezinok, Czechoslovakia. Ruziika, M., L. Mikl6s. 1979a. Simplified methods of biological planning of landscape for the requirements of territorial planning. Collection of papers for Fifth International Symposium on Problems of Landscape Ecological Research.

38 Ruiieka, M., L. Miklos. 1979b. Example of simplified method of biological landscape planning of the residential area Rimavska Sobota. Ruiiika, M., L. Mikl6s. 1981. Methodology of ecological landscape evaluation for optimal development of territory. Proc. Int. Cong. Neth. Soc. Landscape Ecol. Veldhoven, Padoc, Wageningen 1981:99-107. Ruiiika, M., L. Miklos. 1982. Landscape ecological planning (LANDEP) in the process of territorial planning. Ekologia 1:297-312.