The evaluation of a planning tool through the landscape ecology concepts and methods

Abstract

Purpose

Landscape ecology represents an area of theoretical and empirical support of spatial planning, providing parameters such as heterogeneity, connectivity and fragmentation. The aim of this study was to use these parameters to evaluate the choices of a real planning tool to protect the biodiversity, to evaluate the applicability limits of concepts and methods used.

Design/methodology/approach

This was achieved by analysing the selected spatial indices and their dependency scale, and by the comparison of these results with regard to spatial biotic parameters estimations (birds and mammals).

Findings

The study confirmed the scale's effect on the indices, unstable at the adopted resolution for extensions up to 6,000‐7,000 meters. The selected indices permitted appreciation of the low effectiveness of the real planning tool in improving conservation of biodiversity. The paper suggests that empirical studies and predictive knowledge at different scales are urgent in this field. To preserve biodiversity, the choices of planning scale should primarily comply with the spatial needs of the various species.

Originality/value

Evaluates a real planning tool to protect biodiversity.

Citation

Franco, D., Bombonato, A., Mannino, I., Ghetti, P. and Zanetto, G. (2005), "The evaluation of a planning tool through the landscape ecology concepts and methods", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777830510574344