Planning Multifunctional Measures for Efficient Landscape Management: Quantifying and Comparing the Added Value of Integrated and Segregated Management Concepts - Landscape Ecology for Sustainable Environment and Culture - page 244

13.3.2 Assessing Landscape Functions and Deriving
Regional Environmental Quality Objectives
13.3.2.1 Assessing Landscape Functions
The assessment of the status quo includes mapping the capacities of the case study
landscape to provide ecosystem services as well as identifying sensitivities,
impacts and underlying pressures. This analysis focuses on four landscape func-
tions: natural yields, water resources, climate change mitigation and safeguarding
biodiversity. The assessment relies on existing data, namely the landscape master
plan of the case study area as well as specific environmental information systems
for soil and water. Procedures for the assessment of the landscape functions are
described in detail in von Haaren ( 2004 ).
13.3.2.2 Deriving Regional Environmental Quality Objectives
Environmental quality objectives (EQO) can be derived from relevant legislation
and directives as well as superordinate planning targets. They serve as operational
objectives for landscape management at the local scale and form the basis for
developing a spatially explicit implementation concept. Furthermore, environ-
mental quality objectives can be used as reference values for monitoring and
quantifying the effects of environmental measures. The environmental quality
objectives used in the case study are listed in Table 13.1 . They were adapted from
regional environmental planning, as much as possible, or directly derived from
legislation. Some objectives were defined as maximum or minimum (threshold)
limits (e.g. maximum N-concentration in percolate water in order to reach a good
chemical groundwater status). They provide a precise quantitative target and make
it possible to quantify the difference between the status quo and the intended final
development status. Here, the assessment indicators refer directly to the envi-
ronmental quality objectives (e.g. a reduction of agricultural nitrogen input). They
are suitable for application in other European regions. Until now existing standards
for environmental quality or acceptable pollution levels do not address the whole
range of landscape functional aspects. Furthermore, some objectives in the EU
Directives or national legislation are not precisely formulated for every conceiv-
able landscape context, e.g. the demand to stop the loss of biodiversity. Such
superordinate general objectives must be operationalized for a specific landscape
situation. In other cases, it may be possible to establish clear and quantifiable
standards for national or European legislation in the future.
The progress made in achieving the quality objectives is assessed by using
indicators (Table 13.1 ). They are described as follows:
• Habitat value points (VP) express the difference between status quo and targeted
status of biotopes. The term 'biotopes' comprises landscape areas with specific