Abstract
European landscapes have been shaped over the centuries by processes related to human land use, which
are reflected in regionally distinct landscape patterns. Since landscape pattern has been linked to
biodiversity and other ecological values of the landscapes, this paper explores landscape pattern as a tool
for ecological sustainability assessments at the regional (Austrian Cultural Landscapes), national
(Austria) and European (European Union + Norway, Switzerland) level with focus on agricultural
landscapes. A set of landscape metrics served as a basis to assess naturalness and geometrisation of
Austrian and European landscapes as a proxy for their sustainability. To achieve an accurate spatially
explicit assessment, we applied a spatial reference framework consisting in units that are homogeneous
in biophysical and socio-economic contexts, adapted the regional approach for its application at
European level, and developed relative sustainability thresholds for the landscape metrics. The analyses
revealed that several landscape metrics, particularly the ‘‘Number of Shape Characterising Points’’
showed a high correlation with the degree of naturalness. The sustainabilitymap of Austria based on an
ordinal regression model revealed well-known problem regions of ecological sustainability. At the
European level, the relative deviation from the average pattern showed clearly the simplification
processes in the landscapes. However, a better spatial resolution of land cover data would add to the
refinement of pattern analysis in regions and therefore the assessment of sustainability. We recommend
the combination of information of different scales for the formulation and implementation of
sustainability policies.
Originalsprache | Englisch |
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Seiten (von - bis) | 39-48 |
Seitenumfang | 10 |
Fachzeitschrift | Ecological Indicators |
Jahrgang | 10 |
Ausgabenummer | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - Jan. 2010 |
ÖFOS 2012
- 106026 Ökosystemforschung
- 1060 Biologie
- 405001 Agrarökologie