dr boyd escott and julian kiepiel - biodiversity...
TRANSCRIPT
Landscape characterisation - a
means of incorporating 'sense-of-
place' into traditional spatial
planning tools
Dr Boyd Escott1 and Julian
Kiepiel2 1Manager Biodiversity Spatial
Planning and Information, EKZNW
KZN Wildlife 2Dept. Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs
•Sense of Place quantified
What is Landscape Characterisation?
•Primarily a means of integrating biodiversity (and other ‘marginal’) considerations into mainstream spatial planning
Why is it important?
•Technical breakdown using Kwa-Sani Local Municipality as a case study.
How is it achieved?
• Is this worthy of consideration?
Way forward
What is it?
How is it achieved?
8 Landscape Character Regions
40 Landscape Character Types (LCTs)
655 Landscape Character Areas (LCAs)
(Average size: 247ha; size range: 2980ha -1ha)
Natural variables
• Topography
• Landcover
• Visibility
• Geology
• Irreplaceability
Anthropogenic variables
• View corridors
• Housing Density
• Cultural Heritage
• Settlement Pattern
• Road Access
Determine Wildness
Key Concepts
• Landscape sensitivity: The extent to which the character, including the
visual character, of a landscape is susceptible to change brought about by
tourism development.
• Landscape value: The relative value that stakeholders attach to a landscape
for a variety of reasons including scenic quality, perceptual aspects such as
wildness, remoteness or tranquillity that contribute to a sense of place, and
the presence and influence of conservation interests or special cultural
associations.
• Landscape capacity: The extent to which a landscape is able to
accommodate tourism development without key characteristics being
adversely affected and the values attached to it being compromised.
KWASANI - SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT
• Human influence
• Remoteness and tranquillity
• Settlement and key views
• Visual interruption
• Skyline
• Connections with adjacent landscapes
KEY CHARACTERISTICS THAT MOST STRONGLY DEFINE A
LANDSCAPE & EXHIBIT THE IMPACTS OF A TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT:
• Scale and enclosure
• Visual complexity and order
KEY CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTE SENSITIVITY – LCT38 INCHGARTH RIDGE KEY
CHARACTERISTIC
SENSITIVITY
Very low sensitivity Low Moderate High Very high sensitivity VL L M H VH
1. Scale and Enclosure Small-scale landform/land
cover
Large scale landform/land cover
Human scale indicators Featureless
Coarse grained Fine grained
Enclosed with narrow views Open with broad views
Sheltered Exposed
2. Complexity and Order Complex (visually) Simple
Unpredictable Predictable
Confusion and haphazard Ordered and hierarchical
Rugged and intricate Smooth and flowing
Geometric with linear
features
Organic with variable accents
Irregular mosaics Extensive/consistent land cover
3. Human Influence Working, utilitarian or
industrial image
Wild image and sense of
freedom
Contemporary structures e.g.
masts, pylons, cranes, silos,
industrial sheds with vertical
emphasis
Traditional or historic
settlements, buildings and
structures, living heritage e.g.
San shelters
Functional manmade land
use patterns and engineered
aspects
Natural or dispersed aesthetic
patterns
4. Remoteness and
Tranquillity
Busy and noisy Sense of peace and isolation
Human activity and
development
Remote and empty
Prominent movement No evident movement
KEY CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTE SENSITIVITY – LCT38 KEY
CHARACTERISTIC
SENSITIVITY
Very low sensitivity Low Moderate High Very high sensitivity VL L M H VH
5. Settlement and Key
Views
Unpopulated or sparsely
populated
Densely populated especially
small scale dispersed settlement
patterns
Introspective settlement Outward looking settlements
Inaccessible Landscape focused recreation
routes and/or tourist/visitor
facilities
Ordinary or industrial settings Valued attractive settings,
gateways or public views
No WHS view WHS views in foreground
6. Visual Interruption Rolling and /or broken
topography
Flat/gently undulating
topography or exposed slopes
Frequent vegetative or built
features
Few if any vegetative or built
features
7. Skyline Reposeful landscapes Distinct landmark skylines
Complicated, unpredictable
skylines
Simple, predictable skylines
Existing vertical focal points Bare, uncluttered horizons
Confusion of existing
verticals of variable form and
function
Discrete and well ordered
verticals in coherent pattern with
landscape
Moderating features e.g.
tiered horizons, low contrast
with background
Intensifying features e.g. framed
vistas, valley rims, channelled
views
8. Connections with
Adjacent Landscapes
Gradual transitions in
elevation
Sharp contrasts in elevation
Weak connections Part of a broader scenic
composition and/or contributes
to valued settings
Neighbouring landscapes of
low sensitivity
Neighbouring landscapes of
high sensitivity
Limited views into and out of
landscape
Prospects into and out from high
ground and open edges
Simple, large scale
backdrops
Intricate or dramatic backdrops
2X1 1X3 4X4 27X5
Determine Sensitivity
Determine Value All of the Value
scores were
summed, the
results classified
into 5 classes
(Natural breaks).
Determine Capacity The sensitivity
scores were
weighted as 2/3
that of the value
scores. In all
cases, all values
were rounded up
to the higher class
(again favouring
the sensitivity
index).
Summary • This is managing for tourism (ecotourism) on a
district level, and is not Protected Area centric.
• Pulls in the concept of branding
• Branding relates to marketing (and money), and thus
ascribes value to an entity normally not considered.
• Pulls in all sectors into a systematic conservation
planning framework.
• Aids in land-use zoning; this has already been used in
the development of the Drakensberg World Heritage
Site buffer.
TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS
IMPLEMENTATION
MECHANISMS
1. Creation of
a basis for the
marketing of
regional
products and
tourism.
A strong sense of place is basis for marketing. This is created by means of appropriate
management of the landscape character of the municipality. This involves maintaining
and enhancing the quality and distinctive characteristics of the municipality’s landscape
character types.
Landscape types description.
Landscape character monitoring
criteria.
Management guidelines.
IDP/SDF
Farmers Associations.
2. Definition
and
management
of a gradation
of
development
from urban to
wilderness.
Theoretical and policy principles provide a basis for a gradation of the intensity of
development. For example the Drakensberg Policy Statement says: ‘The further one
ventures from the urban areas, the simpler, more nature oriented will the recreation
alternatives become, ending in the solitude and ultimate simplicity of wilderness’.
Existing, preferred and possible
development gradients (with remedial
measures).
WHS Convention Act Buffer
Zones/ Protected Areas Act.
Gazetted provincial policy.
IGR protocol.
EIA area regulations.
Municipal transport plan.
IDP/SDF.
LUMS gradient overlay.
Municipal by-law.
Municipal bioregional plan.
Municipal rates policy.
TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS
IMPLEMENTATION
MECHANISMS
3. Delineation
and
management
of buffer zone
and sub-
zones
The immediate setting of the WHS is appropriately managed by maintaining and
enhancing the quality of the buffer zone’s landscape and its distinctive local
characteristics.
Management measures recognize the conservation value of the landscape character
of the buffer zone by means of an understanding of the way it is valued (understanding
the element being conserved; why it is important; how it can be protected), giving
attention to:
Intactness;
Scenic quality e.g. area of outstanding natural beauty
Visual quality;
Rarity and representativeness of landscape character;
Conservation interests that add to the value of the landscape; and
Associations (with particular people, artists, media; events in history).
Buffer zone management is located in a spectrum of environmental modification in
which the buffer zone shows identity or similarity (but not different) to the WHS in
respect of the following attributes:
Tranquility;
Wildness;
Primeval character of a cultural landscape;
Remoteness;
Naturalness;
Accessibility in terms of penetration of infrastructure.
Buffer zone landscape (and visual)
management plan.
WHS Convention Act Buffer
Zones/ Protected Areas Act.
Gazetted provincial policy.
IGR protocol.
EIA area regulations.
Municipal transport plan.
IDP/SDF.
LUMS gradient overlay.
Municipal by-law.
Municipal bioregional plan.
Municipal rates policy.
National Heritage Act.
TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS
IMPLEMENTATION
MECHANISMS
4.
Management
of the
landscape
character of
the access
routes as part
of the WHS
experience.
In terms of the WHC nomination, additional protection is required for ‘…..important
views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the
property….’ The journeys through the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg approaches are
integral parts of the WHS experience. Therefore, the approach routes (from the urban
axis to Park entrances) should be conceived as heritage routes. This calls for buffer
zones (see rationale above) that extend along the routes. Landscapes are protected to
avoid any visual effects or activities that could damage the landscape character of the
route.
Route landscape (and visual)
management plan.
Gazetted provincial policy.
IGR protocol.
EIA area regulations.
Provincial transport plan.
Municipal transport plan.
IDP/SDF.
LUMS gradient overlay.
Municipal by-law.
Municipal bioregional plan.
Municipal rates policy.
5. Assessment
of the
landscape
capacity for a
trekking trail
in the buffer
zone.
Criteria are to be established from review of literature on heritage routes, pilgrimage
routes and hiking trails. For example, TRPC Report Volume 36 says: "Thus the aim of
the trail zone would be to ensure the enjoyment of hikers by controlling the subdivision
of land in the zone and keeping out such unscenic objects a pylons or altering the trail
route to avoid incompatible development."
Trekking trail capacity.
IDP/SDF
LUMS
PSEDS corridor funds.
KZN DOT transport plan.
KZN Wildlife WHS IMP.
TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS
IMPLEMENTATION
MECHANISMS
6.
Identification
of areas for
regeneration
of landscape
character in
the buffer
zone.
Public works programmes can be directed towards measures to restore or enhance the
landscape character of areas in the buffer zone e.g. restoration of indigenous forest
patches; erosion control; removal of alien plants; restoration of traditional houses;
restoration of stone walls; re-routing poorly located-power lines.
Policies, programmes and projects for
restoring, maintaining and enhancing
landscape character of buffer zone.
Working for Water.
Extended public works
programme.
IDP/SDF.
Land Care.
KZN Housing.
ESKOM (NEMA sec. 2(4)(p).
Thank you. Comments and
questions most welcome.