The legal, administrative, and governance frameworks of spatial policy, planning, and land use: Interdependencies, barriers, and directions of change

The article provides an overview of the legal and administrative aspects of spatial governance and planning and of the related challenges. The legal dimension of spatial planning, administrative spatial planning traditions, as well as different frameworks and conditions for the governance of territorial regions are briefly introduced. On this basis, the various contributions that compose the special issue are framed and presented to the readers. In conclusion, a number of directions for further research are identified. Overall, the article serves as an editorial introduction and the various issues it touches upon are further specified in the individual contributions the compose the special issue

From the research on natural environment physiognomy

Values of natural environment in the connection with human activity create various landscape combinations with a specific atmosphere of the place (spirit of the place, genius loci). Spirit of the place is a synthesis of nature and culture based on historical past. The man perceives information about environment thanks to processes formed by stimuli coming from the environment and also, through his motivations and needs, including aesthetical needs. Each type of culture, and, within its framework, particular social groups and, in a sense, every individual, have their own hierarchy of needs. those needs also undergo historical changes. Satisfying aesthetical needs is connected with aesthetical experiences. There are three kinds of those: the ones connected with physiological condition (nice feeling ofrelaxation), tasting nature as a pure show and admiring nature in relation to religious or metaphysical experiences. The aesthetic valuation of landscape is a valuation of actually existing environment and, more precisely, of its aesthetic values, arising in the mind through the process of perception and resulting in a defined experience. Such a valuation is non-relative and subjective. To simplify the procedure the term of visual attractiveness of landscape should by introduced (V AL), connected with an active approach. Visual attractiveness of landscape should be understood as the function of really existing landscape (L) and unified standards defining the system of aesthetic values (AV): VAL= f(L x {AV}) Aesthctic values of landscape in town planning should by considered from two points of view: as visual attractiveness of particular regions (natural and natural-cultural landscapes) and as visual attractiveness of particular views. those elements are supplementary thus they should be considered together. It has been assumed that landscape diversity should by considered as divided into structural (connected with the structure) and functional ( concerning functioning of the landscape). Physiognomic diversity has also been determined through the form (shape and contrast of the landscape) and contents (being the kind of elements within the landscape and the way it is filled with them, determined also by the cultural factor). It has been determined that visual attractiveness of landscape is the average of two factors: diversity of form, defined as the average of the sum of shape and length factor and of contrast; diversity of contents, defined as the average of the sum of horizontal relief extent and horizontal extent of coverage and the abundance of vegetation, diminished by disadvantageous influence of human activity. The valuation has been performed in the vicity of Pińczów (southern Poland), on the are of 77 sq. km. the above mentioned research of attractiveness of view are the development of the method of determining visual attractiveness of landscape on the basis of physiognomic diversification. The research has proven that the vicinity of Pińczów is characterised by special and lexique landscape values. Yet their proper use depends in a large measure on the policy of local authorities and the behaviour of the inhabitants. The presence of high landscape values may contribute the development of tourism

An evaluation of visual attractiveness of landscape in the area of Pinczow

The attempts at evaluating the visual attractiveness of landscape in Poland made so far were usually limited to analysing specific landscapes. In this study, emphasis was also placed on the visual aspect of landscape studies. These elements are mutually complementary and therefore these two approaches should be combined and analysed together. The lack of methodological foundations for determining landscape diversity, particularly physiognomic diversity, made the evaluation more difficult. It was decided that this diversity should be examined when divided into structural (relating to structure) and functional (relating to the functioning of landscape) aspects. The physiognomic diversity was also defined in terms of form (shape and contrast of landscape) and content (that is, type of elements within landscape and the manner they are structured, which is also determined by the cultural factors ). The conducted study of visual attractiveness develop the method of defining the visual attractiveness of landscape based on the physiognomic diversity. Bath methods should be used in conjunction. GIS techniques proved to be particularly useful for the purposes of the study. The progress in the study of landscape aesthetics, particularly its visual aspects, is certainly also due to the improvement of those techniques. A disadvantage of the method of evaluating visual attractiveness of landscape based on physiognomic diversity is a relatively high subjectivity of individual evaluation components. Particularly subjective is the measure of man's impact on the environment. Along with the progress of the study of such impact, it can be expected that the objectivity of the evaluation of this component will increase. At the same time, along with the development of the study of landscape diversity, further formalisation of the aesthetic evaluation of landscape will probably take place. It seems that the procedure outlined in the study can also be applied in other areas. It is particularly well suited for application in diverse, farming areas. However, it should be improved, especially with regard to the evaluation of forest landscape and determining of man's impact on the visual attractiveness of landscape. The study has shown that the area of Pińczów possesses unique landscape assets. Nonetheless, their proper utilisation largely depends on the policies of the local authorities and the attitude of the local population. The occurrence of outstanding landscape assets may contribute to the development of tourism. The study also proves that the aesthetics of landscape has a special role to play in shaping a broadly understood quality of life. It should be hoped that this underestimated direction will be continued in the research conducted by geographers and specialists in related fields of study