Landscape Planning as Instrument of Long-range Sustainable Landscape Development within the Current European Environmental Legislation

Transcription

1 A future task in good hands Landscape Planning as Instrument of Long-range Sustainable Landscape Development within the Current European Environmental Legislation Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel President German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) International Conference Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for Mediterranean Islands, October, Malta

2 European landscapes have been used by agriculture and forestry and are subject to human influence by hundreds of years.. Co-evolution of men and the landscape

3 . Co-evolution of men and the landscape

4 Man cannot encounter nature without changing it. (Lucius Burckhardt, 1978)

5 Stability of human-influenced cultural landscapes Example: Cinque Terre, Italy

6 Outline of Presentation Some remarks on sustainability Landscape planning within the national and European planning system Examples:. Enhancing sustainable regional development. Using landscape planning approaches for watershed management. Management of Natura 2000 and tourism Conclusions

7 Understanding of Sustainability General principles, i.a.: o Intra- and inter-generative equity o Long-term compliance of ecosystem functions o Use of renewable resources within their regenerative possibilities o Substitution of resources which are running out by renewable resources Economy Production, goods, services, employment, Ecology Natural resources, water, air, soil, species/biotopes, health Social issues Community, social, political and cultural systems

8 Greening of Sustainability Following basic ecological principles is needed, e.g. o Recycling management o Networking o Precautionary principle o Multifunctionality Social issues Economy Ecology Ecological principles are determining the limits of sustainability

9 Sustainability From a guiding principle to implementation The implementation of the principle of sustainability is governed by normative rules -> Concrete objectives and indicators need to be defined -> Evaluation needs clear structures, knowledge of landscape planning Need for factual and spatial specification -> The relation to a concrete area (region, landscape) needs to be established Identification needs to be complemented by moderation -> Involvement and participation of local population is needed

10 Legal Framework for Biodiversity Conservation - European and German Law EU Nature Conservation Law: Birds Directive, Habitats Directive: NATURA 2000 Network, species and habiats protection EU Wildlife Trade Regulations Water Framework Directive German Federal Nature Conservation Act: landscape planning designation of protected areas mitigation of impairments of nature and landscape, compensatory measures impact assessment (NATURA 2000) access to justice for NGOs 16 Nature Conservation Acts of the Provinces ( Länder )

11 Environmental planning according to the German planning system

12 Landscape Planning Area-Wide Planning Instrument for Nature Conservation and Landscape Management Its Purpose is to Translate General Nature Conservation and Landscape Management Objectives into Spatial Terms and Provide an Instrument for Implementation

13 Landscape Planning - Procedure Inventory and analysis MATION, PLAN Formulation of goals Formulation of goals for the development of nature and landscapes and where necessary of alternatives 3 Plan of Action Definition of requirements and measures for the achievement of goals Conflict solution alternatives Information for implementation measures 4 Landscape programme Landscape master plan Landscape plan Open space struture plan Assembly of protected resource data stock, impact, protection, development possibilities Analysis of the ecological and aesthetic compability of existing and planned land uses 2 Review, Revision Documentation of experience, measures, results and changes Judgement of success if necessary Correction of objectives and measures 6 Definition of Problem Determination of the general planning Context problems requiring solution Defined goals and objectives 1 Implementation Authorities and bodies Nature conservation agencies Sector authorities Communes Nature conservation associations Public institutions Individuals Means Inclusion in the local development plan Sector planning Association and private-sector activities Link with economic developments 5 Source: Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, 1998.

14 Planning is not only making plans, but is an iterative process based on the dialogue amongst relevant stakeholders.

15 Objectives in Landscape Planning according to planning levels Nation Planning level Federal State / Province Objectives of landscape planning Guidelines for policies on conservation and resources use Normative directives for the use of resources: Legal framework (and and planning rights) Drafting national programs for the use and the protection of land resources (e.g. tropical forest action plan, desertification control programs, investment guidelines) Establishment of national conservation areas (national parks) Co-ordination of activities also relevant to landscape planning (comprehensive spatial planning) Considering and transmitting the need for action articulated at lower level Political and administrative acceptance of landscape planning activities Establishment of institutional and organisational structures Translating national and regional guidelines into strategies Formulating basic directives of landscape planning at lower level (translating regional guidelines into strategies) Identifying areas with potentials and areas with risks Establishing protected areas Co-ordination of activities relevant to landscape planning Considering and transmitting the need for action articulated at lower level Source: GTZ (1998): Land Use Planning. Methods, Strategies and Tools

16 Example of Federal State / Province Level: Landscape Programme for the Federal State of Brandenburg Beispiel für eine Maßnahmenplanung auf örtlicher Ebene Preservation of Core areas for nature conservation Large undisturbed areas Development of Large low bogs and floodplains Supplementary areas for biotope connection / habitat networks Recultivation of mining areas Development of green spaces in the surroundings of urban areas Preservation of dry grasslands Protection of beaver (as a target species) Special protection of water birds Preservation of rest areas for water birds

17 Objectives in Landscape Planning according to planning levels Planning level Region / District Objectives of landscape planning Regulation of land use and of checking procedures Establishmant of technical services Training for participants (capacity building) Promoting dialogue Putting strategies for land use in concrete terms Offering solutions to problems (problem resolution platform) Establishment of mechanisms for transmitting the needs identified at lower level Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel, German Federal Source: Agency GTZ for (1998): Nature Land Conservation Use Planning. Methods, Strategies and Tools

18 Example for a landscape master plan on the region level (Region Potsdam-Mittelmark) Agriculture Water Forestry resources

19 Objectives in Landscape Planning according to planning levels Planning level Region / District Community / Village Objectives of landscape planning Regulation of land use and of checking procedures Establishmant of technical services Training for participants (capacity building) Promoting dialogue Putting strategies for land use in concrete terms Offering solutions to problems (problem resolution platform) Establishment of mechanisms for transmitting the needs identified at lower level Conciliation of interests Offering concrete solutions to concrete problems (higher degree of concreteness) Decisions on the implementation of landscape planning Articulation the need for action for superior levels Source: GTZ (1998): Land Use Planning. Methods, Strategies and Tools

20 Example: Planning of measures on the local level Requirements For Arable agriculture: land General requirements for an environment sound agriculture Structuring of the open country through installation of woods and minor waters For fruit growing and horticulture Orchards: General requirements for an environment sound management Horticulture: General requirements for an environment sound management Preservation and development of old fruit tree stocks: Supporting the basis for flora and fauna Development/Creation of fruit tree meadows For grasslands Development/Creation of grassland Extensfication of grassland especially in wet hollows: review of wetland restoration Preservation, development and extensification of wet grasslands Fens and wet areas: transformation of arable land in grassland Preservation and development of complex societies of wet meadows and reeds For the structure of the agricultural landscape Development of buffer zones Installation of hedges and tree rows

21 Stakeholders in landscape planning The city council The mayor The citizens J. Purps

22 Example I: Enhancing sustainable regional development Example: The Commune Berching

23 Implementation measures developed from a local landscape plan Management of oligotrophic grassland by local farmers Purchase of biotopes and their optimization Grouping of funds Management of valley meadows Use of state funding Training of nature and landscape guides (concept for guiding tours) IMPLEMENTATION Regional initiative Altmühltaler Lamb and marketing of other regional products Other cultural activities photo exhibition, involvement of schools Wood pellet heating station Environmental friendly timber work enterprise Permanent citizens forum for implementation Management and pasture concepts for oligotrophic and dry locations Management and use concepts for the valley meadows Concepts for sustainable tourism Marketing of nature friendly products City projects on climate protection and energy Involvement of church and culture Integrated management and use concepts (participative development) with integration of agriculture and tourism Landscape plan

24 What is the benefit of a landscape plan? HOW DOES THE COMMUNE BENEFIT FROM A LANDSCAPE PLAN? Preservation and enhancement of life quality for the local population drinking water quality landscape esthetics Recreation Soil protection Image and profile improvement Model role for ecological and economic development Enhancing the identification with the home land Commune and its citizens Enhancing regional value adding Development of a diverse tourism structure Preserving employment in Agriculture Creating new jobs Indirect added value from agriculture Requirement for local tourism soft locational factor for commercial development Herre, 1996

25 Example II: Using landscape planning approaches for watershed management The Havel River Basin: Inundations (caused by rising groundwater tables) in late winter and spring.

26 but also rather dry summers (annual precipitation approx. 580 mm)

27 Matter imports from intensive agriculture into the receiving water streams

28 Many protected areas for water birds

29 GIS-based andscape ecological units on different scale levels Hierarchical approach Possible management options (land use changes) can be related to spatial units to picture different scenarios

30 Development of Scenarios according to the aims of WFD All relevant guidelines are put into practice according to the legal requirements (e.g. requirements of good practice in agriculture, legal requirements in protected areas) State-of-the-Art Min All management options together are focused one single aim, the maximal improvement of the water quality Maximal improvement of water quality Status quo The current state is extended into the future, considering predictable changes (e.g. agricultural policy) Max Maximum innovation in different fields of action Maximum utilisation and implementation of all professional requirements in different fields of action (i.e. land use, domestic water services, hydraulic enginieering)

31 Examples for Options within the Scenarios Action Strategy Option for action e.g. State of the art Maximum contribution by land use Best possible water quality Cessation of land use due to high dewatering or possibly landscape conservation On well preserved low bogs with low ground water levels On deep as well as on well preserved low bogs with low groundwater depths On low bogs and alluvial plains Extensification of grassland without fertilisation In the recent alluvial plain In flood plains In flood plains and flood risk areas Change of arable land into grassland On low bogs Outside protected areas: On anmoor sites and flod-endangerd areas Area-wide: On groundwater-influenced mineral sites Provision of edge strips at waters m with cessation of land use and planting of trees and bushes 50 m with cessation of land use and planting of treed and bushes Woodland modification --- Areas specified in forest framework design All coniferous woodland inventories, not appropriate to the site Necessary: - Implementation into hydrological modelling has to be possible (parametrisation) - Possibility to calculate the costs for economic analysis

32 Development of Scenarios Integration of different Data for mapping the Land Use Scenarios

33 Results of the Scenarios Land use and corresponding ground water levels in the Hammerfließ watershed Land use: State-o-the-Art Contribution of different fields of action land use and resouce management Maximal improvement of water qualitiy Corresponding ground water levels: State-of-the-Art Contribution of different fields of action land use and resouce management Maximal improvement of water quality

34 Land use scenarios as an important interface within the project Land use scenario State-of-the-Art All relevant guidelines are put into practice according to the legal requirements (e.g. requirement of good practice in agriculture, legal requirements in protected areas) e.g. permanent grasslands on low bogs, ground water levels cm in summer, close to the ground in winter Feedback Effects on Matter imports (concentrations of nitrate and phoshate in surface and ground water) Water resources (ground water recharge, depth of ground water tables, frequency of inundations) Socio-economic situation (losses of income for the farmers, requirements for compensation payment) Interview-guideline: Structured interviews with relevant stakeholders to evaluate the scenarios in regard to their acceptability and feasability Scenario 1 Status quo + Trends Scenario 2 State-ofthe-Art Scenario 3 Fields of action Scenario 4 Maximal improvement - Visualisation of possible changes in land use - comparative illustrations of possible effects Multicriterial Evaluation Scenario Optimised water quality management

35 Example III: Management of Natura 2000 sites and tourism Birds Directive (Council Directive 79/409/EEC) Habitats- Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EC) Natura 2000 EU Protected area network U. Riecken Objective: Preservation of biodiversity in the EU Instruments: Establishing a European Network Natura 2000 with SAC (special areas of conservation) and SPA (Special protection areas) Species conservation

36 Tourism & Natura 2000 How do TOURISM and Natura 2000 relate? Tourism destinations are often sensitive natural areas with habitats for rare plants and animals. Jürgen Bienert Michael Pütsch Georg Fritz Michael Pütsch Björn Klaassen

37 Natura 2000: Management plans... Integrating tourism

38 Example: Assessment of a New Wellness Facility Hotel location: Allgäuer Alps in Germany small-scale extension was planned Surrounded by valuable habitats rock faces, rough pastures, forests Natura 2000 site pre-assessment was required The regional nature-conservation authority decided that the planned extension will not considerably affect the habitat types of the site. Implementation of mitigation measures during construction -> The extension was accommodated into the landscape as gently as possible.

39 Management and zoning of protected areas Example: National park Berchtesgaden Examples for typical conflicts erosion, mountaineering and paragliding

40 Management plan for the alpine national park and Natura 2000 site Berchtesgaden - Vegetation -

41 Management plan for the alpine national park Berchtesgaden - sensitiveness of different biotopes- Sensitiveness of different biotopes towards trampling and erosion Very low Low Average Above average High Very high No information Water body Boundary of the National park German-Austrian frontier

42 Management plan for the alpine national park Berchtesgaden - Zoning - Zoning / Functional units Core zone Buffer zone Development zone Boundary of the community Boundary of the National park German-Austrian frontier

43 Natura 2000: Cooperative Ways Management planning Not obligatory BUT: very useful in the case that different land use forms shall be managed Content: Conservation and maintenance measures Use restrictions (if needed) Should be developed in cooperative ways All local stakeholders should be involved. Should be formulated clearly and in an easy way. > Might also be based on landscape planning approaches

44 Conclusions Landscape planning approaches can be used for multiple purposes, incl. fulfilment of different requirements set by European legislation can integrate different kinds of data as well as stakeholder involvement can form a base for decisions as well as for long-term development

45 A future task in good hands Thank you! Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel President German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) International Conference Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for Mediterranean Islands, October, Malta