Landscape Aesthetics Capacity as a Cultural Ecosystem Service

authored by

Sónia Carvalho Ribeiro, Olaf Schroth, Eva Konkoly-Gyuró, Johannes Hermes, Thiemen Boll, Christina von Haaren

Abstract

This chapter explores established theoretical and empirical work to identify possible indicators to represent landscape aesthetics capacity (LAC) in landscape planning. Throughout this chapter we argue that visual concepts from landscape perception/preferences studies (formed either on an individual or collective basis), together with experiences from implementing Landscape Character Assessments (LCA) throughout Europe, might help in developing frameworks for the assessment of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES). When compared to provisioning or maintenance/regulating ecosystem services (ES), frameworks for the application of CES are lagging in development. Landscape aesthetics capacity is conceptualized here as delivered ES, which are central to the everyday life of people. The concepts we focus on are derived from landscape preference studies. The empirical cases explored are from LCAs in the United Kingdom (UK) and Hungary, from the Landscape Preferences Spatial Framework in Portugal, and from a formal method for mapping and assessing the visual landscape in Germany. There is also a brief overview of current methodological approaches and suggested indicators regarding the utilization of CES. Finally, the chapter emphasises the ways in which landscape aesthetics capacities can be incorporated into planning, by selecting a group of robust indicators (based on theory as well as on our case studies) that could be applied in different European countries.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

External Organisation(s)

University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
University of West-Hungary

Type

Contribution to book/anthology

Pages

221-252

Publication date

26.06.2019

Publication status

Published

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1681-7_15 (Access: Closed)