Cyprus Landscape Mapping Project Final Report December 2008

Transcription

Cyprus Landscape Mapping Project
Final Report
December 2008
The Landscape Mapping Group, The
University of Reading, UK
Steven Warnock, Geoffrey Griffiths
& Ioannis Vogiatzakis
Table of Contents
1.
Background .................................................................................................................... 3
2. The Characterisation Process: ......................................................................................... 4
3. Review of Current work: .................................................................................................. 5
4. Reconnaissance Field Visit - June 2008 .......................................................................... 8
5. Classification & Description .............................................................................................. 9
6. Discussion and Further Work ........................................................................................ 17
The Consultants .................................................................................................................. 19
Address for correspondence:
Dr GH Griffiths
The Department of Geography
The School of Human & Environmental Science
Whiteknights
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 6AB. UK
Email [email protected]
Tel +44 (0)118 378 8737
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THE LANDSCAPE MAPPING GROUP
1.
1.1.
Background
There is increasing recognition at a European level of the need to manage
landscapes in an integrated and sustainable way.
European
Landscape
Convention
operation/Environment/Landscape),
As a signatory to the
(http://www.coe.int/t/e/Cultural_Co-
Cyprus
is
required
to
demonstrate
compliance, including:
-
to recognise landscapes in law as an essential component of people’s
surroundings, an expression of the diversity of their shared cultural and
natural heritage, and a foundation of their identity;
-
to establish and implement landscape policies aimed at landscape
protection, management and planning through the adoption of certain
specific measures;
-
to establish procedures for the participation of the general public, local
and regional authorities, and other parties with an interest in the
definition and implementation of landscape policies;
-
to integrate landscape into their regional and town planning policies and
their cultural, environmental, agricultural, social and economic policies,
as well as any other policies with possible direct or indirect impact on
landscape.
1.2
This report describes a programme of work to initiate the mapping of landscape
character across the whole island of Cyprus.
The work has grown out of a
proposal developed during a Training Workshop on the techniques and
application of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) at the initiative of the
Laona Foundation, held in Pafos, November 2007. Government officials from the
Antiquities, Forestry and Town Planning Departments participated in the
Workshop as well as representatives from four NGOs. The conclusion reached
was that it would be extremely useful for Cyprus if a programme of work was
undertaken in cooperation with Government to map the landscape character
across the whole island of Cyprus (see project proposal in Appendix I).
1.3
As a result of the above the Department of Town Planning and Housing invited
the Landscape Mapping Group based at the University of Reading, to lead a
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workshop for all government departments whose work relates to the Cypriot
landscape to demonstrate how the interdisciplinary process of LCA is put into
practice.
2. The Characterisation Process:
2.1 The process of landscape character assessment involves a number of distinct
stages, viz.
-
Stage 1. Characterisation
-
Stage 2. Evaluation of areas emerging from Stage 1
-
Stage 3. Decision-making: responding to the pressures affecting each of
the different landscapes by e.g. developing landscape strategies;
developing management guidelines; assessing the capacity for
landscape change; assessing the degree of protection to conserve
landscape distinctiveness.
2.2
Stages 2 and 3, viz. the evaluation and decision-making components, were not
included in the specification for the present work which has concentrated on
Stage 1, characterisation. This involves the process of identifying and mapping
areas of distinctive character and describing their key characteristics:
Step 1: Defining the scope - the purpose of the LCA will determine the
scale and level of detail of the assessment and the resources
required.
Step 2: Data collection and analysis - this stage involves a review of all
relevant background reports, existing mapped information and
other data sets used to sub-divide the study area into a series of
Land Description Units (LDUs).
Step 3: Field survey - field data is collected to validate and describe each
of the Land Description Units defined by the desk study.
Step 4: Classification and description - the final step is to classify and
describe the character of each type/area.
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3.
Review of current work:
This report describes and summarises the following programme of work:
3.1
Defining the scope of the study. The scope of the current project was
determined following discussion with the Laona Foundation and the Department
of Town Planning and Housing.
The decision was made, given the current
availability of resources, to map the character of the landscape for the whole
island of Cyprus at the Level 1 scale (Figure 1).
The mapping was to be
supported by a limited, reconnaissance level field survey (6 days) to develop a
meaningful landscape typology for Cyprus.
Figure 1. Assessment hierarchy at different levels of spatial resolution
Assessment of
visual & cultural
associations to
define Landscape
Character Areas
3.2
Level 0
BIO-CLIMATIC ZONES
(1:1,000,000)
Level 1
REGIONAL (1:250,000)
LAND DESCRIPTION UNITS
Level 2
LOCAL (1:50,000)
Level 3
LANDCOVER PARCELS
(1:10,000)
Classification of
visually significant
attributes to define
Landscape
Character Types
Data collection and analysis. The desk study requires expertise in the analysis
of digital map data within a GIS (Geographical Information System), combined
with an understanding of the elements of the landscape that define its character.
Mapping is undertaken visually and requires an understanding of the historical
evolution of different landscapes within the context of their physical setting.
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3.3
A series of map overlays at approximately 1:100 000 scale, were produced for the
whole island using the spatial data derived from digital maps provided by the
Cypriot authorities and stored within the GIS. These maps were used to assist in
the identification and description of relatively homogenous units of land, each with
a similar pattern of physical, ecological and historical attributes. These units,
termed Land Description Units (LDUs) (Χαρακτηριστικές μονάδες τοπίου), are the
building blocks of the landscape and they form the framework on which all
subsequent description, classification and evaluation is based.
3.4
The Cyprus LDUs were defined by a series of definitive attributes (topography,
geology, soils, landcover and settlement pattern). The systematic analysis of map
overlays enables broad patterns to be distinguished and mapped. The first step
in the characterisation process of the Cypriot landscape was to collate all the
relevant, readily available information onto a series of simplified map overlays.
These included:
3.5
-
Physiography: combined geological (structure) and landform
-
Ground type: combined geological (rock type) and soils
-
Land cover
-
Cultural pattern (settlement) from topographic maps
Landscape is the result of the shaping of the land through a combination of
natural and man-made processes. Thus most landscapes in Europe (even if
today, they are uninhabited forest) contain cultural elements. The term cultural
(πολιτιστικό) is used here to signify those aspects of the landscape that have
resulted from man-made initiatives such as farming practices, built structures
(e.g. terraces), engineering works – old and new – and settlement patterns.
3.6
Landscape character is a description of general patterns (typologies) at a
landscape scale. The desk study therefore, does not include information about
individual ancient sites and monuments. However, where information about the
location of ancient sites and monuments is available in a digital map form it can
be overlaid to enhance the final landscape mapping. By contrast, information
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about cultural patterns (e.g. land use, settlement patterns, field size & shape) are
of critical significance for Landscape Character Assessment.
3.7
With the exception of land cover (which provides knowledge of produce grown on
the land), the non-availability of cultural data for the whole island, in digital map
form, meant that it was not possible to include a complete cultural component of
the landscape for the landscape character map produced. However, preliminary
interpretation of 1:50 000 scale topographic maps from 1975 provided an
overview of differences in settlement pattern, itself a reflection of the evolution of
landscape, for incorporation into the typology. In particular, a distinction was
made between the following three types:
-
A strongly nucleated village pattern with few outlying dwellings:
this pattern is typical of the northern and eastern parts of the
cultivated lowlands of the Mesaoria plain and in the limestone area
to the south west of the Troodos. This landscape feels and often looks
relatively empty with unsettled land between tightly nucleated villages.
-
A dispersed pattern: the remaining settled areas are a mixture of
nucleated villages with moderate to high level of scattered dwellings.
This more dispersed pattern of farms and dwellings gives the landscape
a‘ settled’ feel and is typical of the more undulating and hilly topography
of the island.
-
Mostly unsettled with few, if any, settlements. Typically the Troodos
and Keryneia ranges of high elevation and steep topography and
forested but alos including the Low Hills Maquis of the Akamas.
3.8
We are particularly aware of the importance of dry-stone structures in the Cypriot
landscape which however, are not yet recorded systematically in map form and
could not be mapped at this stage. Thus future work is needed to collect, collate
and map this missing information (see Discussion, below).
3.9
By overlaying contour height data on top of the geological/soils data the island
was divided initially into broad Physiographic Units.
These units were then
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overlaid on the ground type/land cover data and subdivided, where appropriate,
to distinguish the ecological character and inherent capability of the land. This in
turn can be used as a framework for understanding and mapping the historic
pattern of land use and settlement where this information is available. The end
result was a thematic map at a scale of approximately 1:100,000 divided into a
series of discrete Land Description Units.
3.10 We are indebted to the Department of Town Planning for the provision of data in
digital form. Spatial data-sets for the definition of LDUs were collected from the
following sources:
-
CORINE Land Cover (http://reports.eea.europa.eu/COR0-landcover/en)
-
Cyprus Soil Map (1:250 000 scale)
-
Cyprus Geology Map (1:250 000 scale) (Cyprus Geological Survey)
-
Cyprus 20m contours (Department of Lands and Surveys)
-
Cyprus Topographic Maps (1:50 000) (Department of Lands & Surveys)
4. Reconnaissance Field Visit - June 2008
4.1
A six day familiarisation visit throughout the island was undertaken in June, 2008
to learn more about variations in the character of Cypriot landscapes. Pafos
District had been visited on previous occasions and the consultants were already
familiar with the landscapes of this area. During the visit the two specialists from
Reading were accompanied by Cypriot specialists in ecology, geology and
forestry. The field sample points for the field visit are shown on Figure 2. Almost
100 points were sampled and key landscape features were recorded, including:
dominant vegetation communities; landform; geology and specific cultural
features (land cover and settlement pattern). A field photograph and GPS (Global
Positioning System) were also recorded at each point.
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Figure 2. Location of field sample points with GPS positions (red) and
without GPS positions (green)
5. Classification & Description
5.1
A critical component of LCA is the amalgamation of individual Land Description
Units into Landscape Types (Figure 3). Landscape Types share similar natural
and cultural patterns and are described according to their shared character
attributes (Table 1). From our analysis based on the information made available
to us and our own observations during the familiarisation visit, 17 landscape types
have emerged (excluding large urban centres). We would like to stress that this
is no more than a provisional conclusion and we depend heavily on input from
local experts with a more intimate knowledge of the island in order to finalise the
map.
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Figure 3. Landscape Types
Table 1. Description of Regional Landscape Character Types in Cyprus (the descriptions were
derived from a seminar held on 6 November 2008 for the presentation and discussion of the
preliminary “Map of Cyprus’ Landscapes”, attended by representatives from all relevant
government departments)
φωτογραφία
1.
High Mountain Forest – Δασώδες τοπίο σε ψηλό υψόμετρο
A sparsely wooded, unsettled landscape with steep slopes and peaks on ultra-basic igneous
rocks generally lying above 1.200m. Characterised by open forest of Pinus nigra with many
endemic plant species.
Ακατοίκητο, ως επί το πλείστον, τοπίο με αραιά φυτοκάλυψη σε έντονα επικλινή εδάφη,
συνήθως πάνω από 1200μ., αποτελούμενα από υπερβασικά πυριγενή πετρώματα. Στο τοπίο
αυτό απαντάται κυρίως μαύρη πεύκη σε αραιές συστάδες καθώς και πολλά ενδημικά είδη
χλωρίδας.
2.
Mountain Forest - Δασώδες ορεινό τοπίο
A heavily wooded, largely unsettled, highland landscape associated with steeply/sloping, high
(mostly above 500m) mountains, found typically on resistant volcanic (e.g Troodos) or
metamorphic (e.g Pentadactylos) geology. Prominent rocky features (e.g cliffs, ridges) appear
in places.
Πολύ επικλινές πυκνά δασοκαλυμμένο, ως επί το πλείστον ακατοίκητο ορεινό τοπίο, ύψους
άνω των 500μ., σε ηφαιστειογενή (λ.χ. Τροόδος) ή μεταμορφωμένα (λ.χ. Πενταδάκτυλος)
εδάφη με εμφανή απογυμνωμένα βραχώδη μορφώματα κατά τόπους.
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3.
Mountain Maquis (Scrub) – Ορεινή θαμνώδης βλάστηση
Steeply sloping, largely unsettled, high (mostly above 500m) mountains with a covering of
shrubs, typically, the endemic Quercus alnifolia above 100m, and other semi-natural
vegetation. Prominent rocky outcrops and cliffs are a feature of this landscape in places.
Έντονα επικλινές τοπίο, ως επί το πλείστον ακατοίκητο, συνήθως ύψους άνω των 500μ.,
καλυμμένο με θάμνους και άλλη ημιάγρια χαμηλή βλάστηση και με εμφανή απογυμνωμένα
βραχώδη μορφώματα κατά τόπους. Σε υψόμετρο άνω των 100μ. είναι χαρακτηριστική η
ενδημική δρυς, Quercus alnifolia (Λατζιά).
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4.
Cultivated Mountains – Καλλιεργημένο ορεινό τοπίο
A settled and cultivated landscape on higher ground, with an undulating, in places steeply
sloping topography, often covered with narrow, stone walled terraces with mixed cultivation,
including a greater or lesser proportion of fruit orchards and vineyards, which thrive on the
mineral rich volcanic soils. Small towns and villages are a characteristic feature of this
landscape, often situated along steep valley sides. Houses are stone built with tiled roofs.
Κατοικημένο και καλλιεργούμενο τοπίο σε ψηλά εδάφη, με έντονα επικλινές και κυματοειδές
τοπογραφικό ανάγλυφο, χαρακτηριζόμενο από ξερολιθικές δόμες, όπου αξιοποιούνται τα
πλούσια ηφαιστιογενή εδάφη για την καλλιέργεια οπωροφόρων δέντρων και/ή αμπελιών
(μεικτές καλλιέργειες). Η παρουσία μικρών οικισμών διεσπαρμένων σε επικλινείς πλευρές
κοιλάδων χαρακτηρίζει το τοπίο αυτό. Τα σπίτια είναι πετρόκτιστα και κεραμοσκεπή.
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5.
Limestone Hills Maquis (low forest & scrubland) – Ασβεστολιθικό ορεινό τοπίο με
χαμηλή βλάστηση
An undulating, in places steeply sloping, limestone landscape with a covering of
low
woodland (usually Pinus brutia) shrubs and other semi-natural vegetation, often dissected by
deep rocky gorges. Although largely unsettled, there are often small patches of cultivated
land.
Μορφολογικά κυματοειδές και κατά τόπους έντονα επικλινές τοπίο σε ασβεστολιθικά εδάφη,
που καλύπτονται κυρίως από χαμηλά δάση πεύκης (Pinus brutia), ή άλλη χαμηλή ημιάγρια
βλάστηση, και που συχνά τέμνεται από βαθειές, βραχώδεις χαράδρες. Μολονότι είναι εν
πολλοίς ακατοίκητες περιοχές, υπάρχουν κατά τόπους μικρές εκτάσεις καλλιεργούμενες σε
αναβαθμίδες.
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6.
Limestone Hills Vineyards – Ορεινό τοπίο με αμπελώνες σε ασβεστολιθικά εδάφη
An undulating, in places steeply sloping, cultivated limestone landscape, with discrete rural
villages and frequent vineyards, often located along narrow, stone walled terraces. Τhe
settlements are composed of small houses built of local stone, in some areas flat-roofed and
in others pitched and tiled.
Κυματοειδές και κατά τόπους έντονα επικλινές τοπίο σε ασβεστολιθικά εδάφη με διάσπαρτους
μικρούς οικισμούς, και με αμπελώνες καλλιεργημένους σε στενές αναβαθμίδες με ξερολιθικές
δόμες. Οι οικισμοί αποτελούνται από μικρές λιθόκτιστες κατοικίες με άλλοτε επίπεδες στέγες
(δώμα) και άλλοτε επικλινείς στέγες με κεραμίδι
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7.
Limestone Hills Cultivated (with rain-fed tree crops) - Καλλιεργημένο ορεινό τοπίο σε
ασβεστολιθικά εδάφη
A settled and cultivated upland limestone landscape, characterised by discrete rural villages,
surrounded by a well defined pattern of small, walled fields and terraced hillsides. Typical treecrops are carob, almond and olive intermixed with other cultivation.
Κατοικημένο ημιορεινό τοπίο με ξηρικές καλλιέργειες σε ασβεστολιθικά εδάφη που
χαρακτηρίζεται από οικισμούς και διακριτούς μικρούς αγροτικούς κλήρους, διαμορφωμένους
σε βουνοπλαγιές με
λιθοδομές και αναβαθμίδες.
Κύριες καλλιέργειες είναι η ελιά, ή
αμυγδαλιά κι η χαρουπιά ανάμεικτες με άλλα είδη.
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8.
Low hills forest – Ημιορεινό δασικό τοπίο
A largely unsettled landscape heavily to sparsely covered with low woodland of coniferous
species associated with an undulating, in places steeply sloping topography. This landscape
often has patches of shrubs and other semi-natural vegetation intermixed with the woodland.
Δασοκαλυμμένο, με χαμηλή πεύκη ή άλλα κωνοφόρα βλάστηση, κατά το πλείστον μη
κατοικημένο τοπίο με κυματοειδές και κατά τόπους απότομο επικλινές τοπογραφικό
ανάγλυφο. Συχνά εμφανίζονται ανάμεσα στις δασώδεις εκτάσεις, μικρές εκτάσεις (ξέφωτα), με
ημιάγρια χαμηλή βλάστηση.
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9.
Low Hills Maquis (Scrublands) – Ημιορεινό μακιά
Undulating, largely unsettled, low (below 500m) hills, with a covering of shrubs and other
semi-natural vegetation.
Κυματοειδή, ακαλλιέργητα και ακατοίκητα ημιορεινά εδάφη, ύψους κάτω των 500μ.,
καλυμμένα με ημιάγρια χαμηλή βλάστηση.
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10. Lowland Maquis – Πεδινή μακία
A rolling, largely unsettled, lowland landscape with a covering of shrubs and other seminatural vegetation.
Ήπιο λοφώδες, ακαλλιέργητο και, εν πολλοίς, ακατοίκητο πεδινό τοπίο, καλυμμένο με
θαμνώδη μακία, ή άλλη ημιάγρια βλάστηση.
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11.
Low Hills Cultivated (mixed cultivation, mostly rain fed) – Ημιορεινό τοπίο με ξηρικές
καλλιέργειες
An undulating, cultivated landscape of low (below 500m) hills, characterised by olive, almond
and carob trees, with patches of shrubby semi-natural vegetation.
Settlement is largely
restricted to discrete rural villages.
Κυματοειδές, αραιοκατοικημένο και καλλιεργημένο τοπίο σε λόφους κάτω των 500μ., με
ξηρικές δενδρώδεις καλλιέργειες όπως ελιά, αμυγδαλιά και χαρουπιά, με παρεμβαλλόμενες
μικρές ακαλλιέργητες εκτάσεις χαμηλής φυσικής βλάστησης.
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12. Lowlands Cultivated – Καλλιεργημένο πεδινό τοπίο
A settled and cultivated lowland landscape, with discrete rural villages. Although mostly low
lying, with a gently rolling topography, this landscape also includes a scattering of prominent,
small hills.
Kαλλιεργούμενο, ελαφρά λοφώδες, πεδινό τοπίο με διάσπαρτους οικισμούς, μέσα από το
οποίο ξεπροβάλλουν και εμφανή υψώματα.
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13. Lowland citrus (Irrigated Perennial Cultivation) – Πεδινό τοπίο με φυτείες
εσπεριδοειδών
A settled and cultivated, low-lying landscape, typically on the coastal plain (Paphos Pissouri),
but also extending up some valley flood plains (e.g Polis, Diarizos) with large groves of
irrigated, intensely cultivated, tree crops such as citrus, avocado, banana, pecan.
Κατοικημένο και καλλιεργούμενο πεδινό τοπίο, χαρακτηριστικό των παράκτιων πεδιάδων
(Πάφος Πισσούρι), που επεκτείνεται και στις κοιλάδες που προέκυψαν από τις διευρυμένες
κοίτες ποταμών (λ.χ Πόλη Χρυσοχούς, Διάριζος). Καλλιεργούνται εντατικά αρδευόμενες
φυτείες εσπεριδοειδών, μπανανιών, αβοκάτο και πεκάν.
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14. Alluvial flats – Τοπίο σ’ επίπεδα εδάφη με προσχώσεις
A flat, largely unsettled, low-lying landscape, associated with seasonal river channels and
their flat plains. Much of the land is cultivated, but patches of pastoral grazing land are a
feature in places.
Επίπεδο, ακατοίκητο, πεδινό τοπίο σχετιζόμενο με τις διευρυμένες κοίτες ποταμών. Μεγάλες
εκτάσεις καλλιεργούνται, αλλά κατά τόπους υπάρχουν και ακαλλιέργητα βοσκοτόπια.
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15. Salt lake – Αλυκή (υφάλμυρη λίμνη)
Bare land in an undrained natural basin, periodically inundated with salt water.
Απογυμνωμένα εδάφη σε φυσικές λεκάνες χωρίς αποστράγγιση με πολύ χαμηλό υψόμετρο
που περιοδικά γεμίζουν με αλμυρό νερό.
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16. Coastal Dunes – Παράκτιες αμμοθίνες
Low hills of unconsolidated sand, associated with a strip of bare sand/pebbles, along the
coast. This is an unsettled, ‘wild’ landscape with a covering of shrubs and other semi-natural
vegetation, although patches of bare ground are a feature in places.
Λοφίσκοι αποτελούμενοι από χαλαρή άμμο που βρίσκονται σε παράκτιες περιοχές. Κατά
μήκος της παραλίας παρατηρείται λωρίδα από αμμώδες ή χαλικώδες έδαφος. Μπορεί να
χαρακτηριστεί ως φυσικό ‘’άγριο’’ τοπίο, που συχνά καλύπτεται με πόες, αλλά απαντώνται και
εκτάσεις απογυμνωμένου εδάφους.
17. Urban – Αστικό τοπίο
Larger built up areas.
Κατοικήσιμες περιοχές μεγάλης έκτασης.
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6.
Discussion and Further Work
6.1
Level 1 Mapping. The provisional Landscape Types at Level 1 (1:100 000) are the first step
towards the development of a full Landscape Character Assessment. Further work is now
needed to:
-
validate the Level 1 mapping, including the spatial pattern of landscape units and the
typology.
-
6.2
incorporate additional information on cultural patterns.
Validation of the Level 1 Land description Units and associated landscape typology will follow
consultation with interested bodies in Cyprus, including the Department of Town Planning and
other departments whose work relates to the landscape and its future management and
protection. The limited cultural component, particularly in relation to farming systems and
associated field patterns, will need to be considered in future work. It is likely that this will
involve the use of a combination of information from a variety of sources, including
documentary evidence, old maps and additional field survey.
6.2
Level 2 Mapping The Level 1 mapping provides a robust and consistent framework within
which to map landscape character at a finer (1:50 000) scale at Level 2 (see Figure 1). In the
absence of other data, especially on cultural patterns, Level 2 mapping in Cyprus would
require a combination of historical air-photography and modern, fine scale satellite imagery.
These data sources would enable the detailed patterns of settlement and field systems to be
combined with improved land use mapping at the appropriate scale for Level 2 mapping.
Improved land cover information is now available as part of the CORINE programme.
6.3
Evaluation & Applications. The main purpose of the evaluation stage is to give a consistent
and informed approach to:
-
defining landscape and land use strategies;
-
developing management guidelines;
-
evaluating landscape sensitivity/capacity for development;
-
attaching status to landscapes, including the degree of protection.
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The evaluation and decision making stage therefore, should provide the information required
to answer the following questions:
-
What needs to be done to retain/enhance pattern and diversity in landscape?
-
Where resources should be targeted to achieve the greatest landscape benefit?
-
How can change and development be accommodated, with minimum impact on
regional diversity and local distinctiveness?
The LDUs provide the framework within which to collect additional field survey information to
determine landscape condition, an essential component of the Evaluation Phase and other,
more detailed information on land use, habitats and settlements as part of a full Landscape
Character Assessment.
6.4
Conclusion. The present Level 1 map, when completed with comments from local experts, is
a first-ever exercise in identifying and mapping the various landscapes that make up the
picture of Cyprus. So far a variety of single dimension maps had been developed, which have
now been combined to demonstrate:
-
the wide variety of typical landscapes;
-
the fact that this variety will be greater when the missing cultural elements (e.g.
field systems, dry stone walls and terraces) are mapped;
-
the need to proceed with the recording and mapping of these cultural elements;
-
that the same type of landscape appears in various parts of the island cutting across
administrative boundaries, and will in due course call for an integrated approach to
management.
6.5
Clearly this Level 1 map needs to be enhanced with contributions from local experts to
complete missing or inadequately understood elements. The next step will involve mapping,
on the basis of this map, a more detailed one at a scale of 1:50 000 before proceeding to the
evaluation stage (see para 6.3). In many countries the process of Landscape Character
Assessment is conducted with assistance from local academic institutions, not only because
of the valuable training it provides, but also because such institutions are an ideal repository
for the data generated which remains accessible to scholars from different disciplines.
18
The Consultants
The Landscape Mapping Group (formerly the Living Landscapes Project), based at The
University of Reading, was established in 1999 as a partnership between local authorities,
academic institutions and national government agencies. The aim of the Group has been to
develop and apply a consistent and objective approach to landscape character assessment at
a range of spatial scales and across a variety of environments. The approach to landscape
mapping developed by the Group has been widely adopted in the UK and is now being used
as a framework for a wide variety of land management and planning policy applications. The
Group have also worked abroad, especially in the Mediterranean, and have been successful
in winning research and project funding from many sources including national and
international agencies.
19
APPENDIX 1: Cyprus Landscape Mapping Project Proposal
Background
There is increasing recognition at a European level of the need to manage landscapes in an integrated and
sustainable way. This proposal describes a programme of work to map differences in landscape character
across the whole island of Cyprus. Landscape character is defined as a distinct and recognisable pattern of
elements (including landform, geology, soils, land use and settlement) that occur consistently in a particular
area. These patterns can be mapped at a range of spatial scales.
Landscape character can be used to:
-
protect and enhance the natural and historic environment;
-
facilitate and promote sustainable urban and rural development
-
protect biodiversity, natural habitats, the historic environment and landscape character.
Landscape Character Assessment
[source: Landscape Character Assessment –Guidance for Scotland & England,
2002].
Stage 1: Characterisation
The process of identifying and mapping areas of distinctive character and describing their key characteristics:
Step 1: Defining the scope. The purpose of the LCA will determine the scale and level
the assessment and the resources required.
of detail of
Step 2: Desk study. This stage involves a review of all relevant background reports, existing mapped
information and other data sets, in order to sub-divide the study area into a series of
Land
Description
Units (LDUs). These units can then be used to develop a series of map overlays to assist in the identification
of areas of common character.
Step 3: Field survey. Field data is collected in a rigorous way in order to check, and then
describe
each of the Land Description Units defined by the desk study. The aim is to
highlight
the
essential
characteristics of each LDU, to identify the aesthetic and perceptual
qualities which are not usually
evident from desk study, and to identify the current condition of landscape elements.
Step 4: Classification and description. The final step is to classify and describe the character of
each
type/area. These descriptions often emphasise ‘forces for change’, such as key development pressures and
trends in land management.
Stage 2: Evaluation
The evaluation stage is designed to establish:
- landscape strategies;
- management guidelines;
- evaluate landscape sensitivity/capacity for development;
- attaching status to landscapes, including degree of protection.
20
The Current proposal
The current proposal is to initiate the Characterisation Stage of the assessment process, specifically:
-
To define the scope of the study in consultation with the funding agency and other, in-country experts.
As part of this process, a familiarisation visit will be undertaken to allow those involved in carrying out the
assessment to learn more about variations in the character of Cypriot landscapes. This is sufficient to
establish the spatial framework of Land Description Units.
The LDUs provide the framework within which to collect additional field survey information to determine
landscape condition, an essential component of the Evaluation Phase (see below) and other, more
detailed information on land use, habitats and settlements as part of the full Landscape Character
Assessment.
-
Desk study: to include the collation of spatial data (landform, geology, soils, land use, settlement
patterns) and the generation of a regional (Level 1) map of LDUs, within a Geographical Information
System (GIS) framework, across the whole island. Landscape character is a description of general
patterns at a landscape scale. The desk study therefore, does not include information about individual
ancient sites and monuments. However, where information about the location of ancient sites and
monuments is available in a digital map form it can be overlaid onto the landscape mapping.
The desk study requires expertise in the analysis of digital map data within a GIS combined with an
understanding of the components of the landscape that define its character. Mapping is undertaken
visually based upon the Consultant’s considerable experience of different landscapes types across
Europe, including the Mediterranean. This requires an understanding of the historical evolution of
different landscapes within the context of their physical setting and the experience to recognize and map
this complex interrelationship.
-
Field survey. At this stage only a reconnaissance survey will be undertaken (see above) to ensure
familiarity with the range of landscapes that characterise the island of Cyprus.
-
Classification & description. A series of map overlays, at approx. 1:100 000 scale, will be produced for
the whole island using the LDU based spatial data stored within the GIS. These maps will be used to
assist in the identification and description of areas of common character.
The maps and report will be presented at a one-day meeting in Nicosia in the Autumn of 2008. This meeting
will involve members of the Landscape Mapping Group (Dr Geoffrey Griffiths, Steven Warnock and Dr Ioannis
Vogiatzakis).
21

Cyprus Landscape Mapping Project Final Report December 2008

Transcription

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