Landscape Diversity and the Directions of Its Protection in Poland Illustrated with an Example of Wielkopolskie Voivodeship

As part of the implementation of the provisions of the European Landscape Convention, a landscape audit of the provinces has been underway in Poland for a few years. The main objectives of the audit are the delimitation of landscape units, assessment of their values, and identification of the priority of landscapes to be protected. This study presents the results of research on the landscape division of the Wielkopolskie voivodeship and a geostatistical analysis of the differentiation of ecological units. With reference to legal regulations in force in Poland, the landscape diversity of the province was characterized using two divisions: geophysical regionalization and landscape typology. In the case of regional division, the meso- and microregions of physical and geographical rank are referenced. The proposed microregional division is the first example in Poland of such a detailed landscape analysis completed for the area of the voivodeship. In the case of typological division, the study conducted in cooperation with the Wielkopolska Bureau of Spatial Planning in Poznań was used. The statistical analysis included metrics to quantitatively characterize landscape composition, including the landscape division index (DIVISION), Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI), and Simpson’s diversity index (SIDI). The results of the study were then compared with the distribution of areas associated with different forms of landscape protection such as national parks, landscape parks, and protected landscape areas. The applied methodology and the results obtained indicate the important role of physical and geographical microregions in the complex analyses of landscape diversity and their broad application in procedures connected with landscape planning and environmental protection.

Climate, Land use and Plant Richness Differently Shape Herbivory on Major Plant Functional Groups

Interactions between plants and herbivorous invertebrates drive the nutritional quality of resources for higher trophic levels, nutrient cycling and plant-community structure. Thereby, shifts in functional composition of plant communities particularly impact ecosystem processes. However, the current understanding of herbivory is limited concerning climate, land use and plant richness, as comparative studies of different plant functional groups are lacking. This study was conducted on 81 plots covering large climatic and land-use gradients in Bavaria, Germany. We investigated foliar invertebrate herbivory rates (proportional leaf-area loss, following ‘herbivory’) in three major plant functional groups (legumes, non-leguminous forbs, grasses). As drivers we considered multi-annual mean temperature (range: 6.5–10.0 °C), local habitat type (forest, grassland, arable field, settlement), local plant richness (species and family level, ranges: 10–50 species, 5–25 families) and landscape diversity (0.2–3-km scale). Our results largely confirm higher herbivory on legumes than on forbs and grasses. However, herbivory in forests was similar across plant functional groups since herbivory on legumes was low, e.g. lower than on legumes in grasslands. We also observed differential responses of herbivory among plant functional groups in response to plant richness (family level only), but not to landscape diversity. Temperature did not affect overall herbivory, but in grasslands higher temperature decreased herbivory on legumes and increased on forbs and grasses. We conclude that climate, habitat type and family-level plant richness likely assert different effects on herbivory among plant functional groups. This emphasises the importance of functional groups for understanding community-level herbivory and ecosystem functioning.

Identification And Characterization Of Geoheritage Resources At Hulu Langat, Selangor

Identification and characterization of geodiversity for sites need more systematic approach for the purpose of conserving site with high geoheritage value. The present of igneous and metamorphic rock at Hulu Langat creates diversity in rock, features and geomorphological features includes hot spring, waterfall, hill and mountain that hold potential as a protected geosite of heritage value. Besides, the previous tin mining activities created by the contact metamorphism, left series of lakes and ponds while the nearby mountain is susceptible area as watershed that turn into dams around the area. Analysis on topographical maps, satellite image and aerial photograph interpretation aided in identification potential geosite based on geomorphological diversity. A total of 31 potential geosites with geological-scientific value have been identified in this study compare to 10 from the previous study. The potential geosite have been classified into rock diversity, natural landscape diversity and anthropogenic landscape diversity. Characterisation recognise 6 of these potential geosite are best example or tip location to illustrate the geological element, 4 of these geosites are the only occurrence of the geological element, 27 of the potential geosites are well preserved and 4 hold the scientific knowledge written in the international journal. The identification and characterisation of geoheritage resources are crucial steps before evaluation or assessment, ranking and conservation or development being propose, while strengthen the conservation geology approach.

Importance and Problems of Landscape Diversity Conservation in the Environmental Policy of Poorly Developed Regions

The environmental strategy for regional development is implemented through regional environmental programs. Their list of indicators that track the effectiveness of planned tasks shows that the most important regional aspects are not always properly reflected. The specificity of spatial and temporal trends in the development of regions, the peculiarities of territorial changes in geosystems, and the dynamics of the ratio of disturbed and undisturbed territories are of particular importance in highlighting the tasks in the context of the application of particular indicators. In the context of increased economic activity in the Russian Far East, facilitated by the policy of improving priority social and economic development areas, the regions identify their own tasks for sustainable development. From the perspective of the geographical approach, the content of the concept of landscape diversity, contained in the environmental program of Khabarovsk Territory to reflect spatial changes, is briefly presented. Landscapes as integral systems are considered from the point of view of their positions in the system of taxa of the regional hierarchy. The significance of “landscape diversity conservation” criterion for solving the same problem as a priority for this territory has been shown. The necessity of its application in the region has been considered due to the concentration of natural complexes of a high hierarchical rank, their significant share within the region, the uniqueness and at the same time a high degree of landscape vulnerability to anthropogenic impact due to increased economic activity, the imperfection of the PA network etc.

LANDSCAPE APPROACH METHODOLOGY IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ABOUT. SAKHALIN

The landscape diversity of Sakhalin Island is considered. The classification, the internal content of taxa, the possibilities of practical implementation of the landscape approach in the development of Sakhalin Island.