Making geographical typologies or regionalizations of Slovenia is complicated because of an exceptional landscape diversity of the country. Namely, in this very small area of Europe, four major natural geographical units (the Alps, the Dinaric Alps, the Pannonian Basin, and the Mediterranean) meet and intersect. Thus we can mark the area as a landscape hotspot. The paper presents a methodological framework and intermediate results of the ongoing analysis of landscape diversity in Slovenia. In order to define areas with the highest landscape diversity inside the country different digital data (e.g. digital elevation model, soil map, rock map, and climate data) were collected. On the basis of the data several diversities are being determined in three different ways: according to the existing geographical typologies and regionalizations of Slovenia; according to the different classifications of relief, rocks, climate, soils, and vegetation; and according to the several natural landscape elements represented by numeric data layers (e.g. slope, curvature). Each diversity map is being defined using quantitative methods. Some of the most diverse areas will be documented on the field. Maps of landscape diversity and landscape hotspots of Slovenia can expose places with high biodiversity, important natural heritage, and areas with heterogeneous natural characteristics. The last issue is especially important. Natural heterogeneity can prevent good practices from being simply transferred from one area to another.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 38753069The landscape that is a combination of abiotic, biotic, and cultural components, consists of landscape structures which significantly contribute in providing designated functions and ecosystem services while on the other hand also increase the landscape diversity. Landscape structures are largely influenced and dependent on human activities. By changing the landscape structures their functions and consequently ecosystem services are changing as well. According to the degree of naturalness, the landscape structures were classified into 6 categories and assigned with ecosystem service assessments. From the matrix of landscape structures (classified according to the level of naturalness) and their ES is clearly showed that the landscape structures with higher degrees of naturalness provide more ecosystem services. We came to the conclusion that the diversity of those landscape structures which provide more varied ESs and at the same time need less energy inputs (in the term of mechanization, chemical fertilizers, etc) is preferred. We predict that the results of what our society is loosing by the loss of individual landscape structures will influence on the future landscape management, particularly on decisions where and how the landscape will be changed. However, this does not mean that the landscape should be changed back to forest, but considering natural givens rather seek for and maintain those landscape structures that require less energy inputs while still providing different ESs for various stakeholders. To facilitate the presentation the results of the matrix are presented in the form of a word cloud, while individual ESs (e.g.ensuring biodiversity) were also presented on the maps.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 38544941Slovenia lies at the junction of the Alps, the Pannonian Plain, the Dinaric Alps, and the Mediterranean, and at the intersection of Germanic, Romance, Hungarian, and Slavic cultural influences. This makes its landscapes very diverse. Four basic landscape types (Alpine, Pannonian, Dinaric, and Mediterranean) and nine landscape subtypes (Alpine mountains, Alpine hills, Alpine plains, Low Pannonian hills, Pannonian plains, Dinaric plateaus, Dinaric valleys and corrosion plains, Low Mediterranean hills, and Mediterranean plateaus) are distinguished. The basic appearance of Slovenia’s cultural landscapes was primarily formed during medieval colonization and later changed only slowly. They are distinguished by their diversity, incorporation into the natural environment, and strong ecological, cultural, and emotional value. Economic and social developments in recent decades have triggered great changes in the appearance and function of the landscape. In Slovenia the study of cultural landscapes has mainly been through landscape architecture, which focuses on the external aspects of the landscape, and through geography, which primarily examines the functional assessment of landscapes and the interconnection of natural and social elements and processes in these landscapes.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 38326061