A new European landscape map as an integrative framework for landscape character assessment

At the Sofia Conference in 1995, the ministers for the Environment decided on the Pan-European Biological and Landscap e Diversity and Strategy (PEBLDS) to enhance the importance of natu re and landscapes. One action theme identified included the establishm ent of a Pan-European Landscape Map and led to the research described in the paper. The production of Landscape maps is becoming an inc reasingly important issue in environmental and social studies in rural areas. The complex nature of the underlying scientific concepts that a re sometimes overlapping and conflicting, require an objective s ystematic and consistent methodology. Data should be utilized that overarch the fragmented regional and national approaches that nevertheless require integration. As there are many regional differences in landscape pr operties, it is crucial to strike the right balance between reducing the inher ent complexity whilst maintaining an adequate level of detail with regard to future applications. Against this background, a European Landscape Map ( LANMAP2) has been produced, making use of existing thematic data se s with a high spatial accuracy and applying semi-automatic segmen tatio procedures. LANMAP2 was fully based upon a conceptual hierarchy of parameters. The following key data sources were selected for th e delineation of the major physiographic landscape units: 1) climate, 2) topography, 3) parent material and 4) land use. This paper describes the establishment of the European Landscape Map and shows its possible appli c tions and further development.