Resumen de Landscape analysis for sustainable land use policy: A case study in the municipality of Popielów, Poland
Iga Solecka, Beata Raszka, Piotr Krajewski
Analysing landscape units and their characteristics is essential for understanding the interaction between landscape assessment and land use policy. By identifying the groups, types and sub-types of landscape character units, we attempt to qualify the characteristics and values of the landscape in the municipality of Popielów, Poland. Due to a variety of natural and cultural heritages in the research area, land use policy requires a holistic approach, and preserving landscape values remains a top preservation task. Priority landscapes were calculated by assessing three evaluation criteria: unique cultural values, unique natural values and representativeness. The results showed that land use policy and development plans have negative, neutral and positive impacts on priority landscapes. Negative impacts largely occurred on agricultural landscapes through the introduction of new functions, such as the area of exploitation, service buildings and production facilities. Neutral impacts included new residential housing, tourism services and production in small villages. Positive changes in the landscape included the expansion and increased connectivity of forest areas.
