The implementation of the Landscape Atlas of Flanders in the integrated spatial planning

Since the federalisation of Belgium in 1993, the regions became responsible for spatial planning, environment and landscape protection. In Flanders region an inventory was made of the relics of the traditional landscapes from 1995 to 2001. The main objective was the assessment of the cultural and historical heritage values of the landscape, complementary to the already existing biological valuation map. The aim was to realise a GIS-based map at scale 1/50.000, linked to a database describing different types of relics of the traditional landscapes, i.e. the characteristics that refer to the landscapes that existed before the important changes of the 20 century. A global coverage of the Flemish region had to be made in a short period of five years using all existing datasets, without new fieldwork in the first phase. The historical map of de Ferraris, made during the Austrian period (1770), reflects the situation at the end of the Ancien Régime and was used as a base reference for the traditional landscape. The orthophotomap of 1990 was used as the reference to assess the actual condition. Relics of ancient landscape structures were identified and selected using a holistic method similar to the one used in aerial photo interpretation. A typology of relics was defined based on structural and spatial characteristics rather than using their nature or age. Four main types were recognized: relic zones, anchor places, linear and punctual elements. Relic zones are vast areas containing ancient landscape structures such as settlement and field patterns and land zonings. They were indicated on the map with fuzzy borders: 515 zones were selected covering 39% of the area of Flanders. Anchor places are complexes made by related elements of different nature sharing a common history; 381 were selected and cover 16.3% of the area. They are clearly delineated using material features on the terrain for an easy recognition. Linear elements consist of ancient roads, fortifications, water works etc. Punctual elements mainly consist of monuments of architectural important buildings. 544 linear elements with a total length of 4851 km and 4607 punctual elements were selected. The final atlas was widely distributed to regional and local authorities in electronic format. The importance of the atlas for a renewed policy in integrated landscape management was rapidly recognised, partly because the results fitted very well in current international actions such as the one initiated by the European Landscape Convention. In 2001, the Flemish government adopted the landscape atlas as an important policy instrument for the landscape management and protection policy. The decree on landscape protection was amended so funding for farmers and local authorities became possible for initiatives to conserve or restore the characteristic features in relic zones and anchor places. Although relics indicated in the atlas were now on a priority list for protection, this legislation was considered to slow and not appropriate anymore in a fast changing environment. According to the guidelines in the European Landscape Convention an integration of landscape management in the spatial and structural planning was proposed. Recently, in January 2004, a new amendment makes it possible to develop management plans for anchor places, which receive then a new status of heritage landscapes.