Landscape diversity and land use planning: a case study in Bavaria

A maximum of landscape diversity is to be regarded as a helpful target as well as an analytical tool to detect actual planning deficits. First of all, specific indicators and targets for ecosystem and landscape levels will be defined. Ecosystem types are derived from landscape ecological site conditions, and are combined with the demands of minimal areas related to present and potential ecosystem types. The suitability of management practices for the site conditions, and the requirements mentioned above, will together form the basis on which a target landscape in its pattern, and the management practices suggested can be mapped. In comparison with the present use of the landscape, measures are derived which indicate that the target of a high landscape diversity has real practical meaning: conversion of about 15% of the arable land into forests and grasslands as one result of this study fits into the political and administrative programmes already established. In addition, four modification categories of the actual usage are mapped and described in size and number in this case study. The basic assumptions of this approach will be explained, to provide further working hypotheses for an interdisciplinary and integrative research into landscape ecology in rural landscapes.