The use of landscape value assessment in spatial planning and sustainable land management — a review

The aim of this paper is to formulate a conceptual framework for integrating landscape value assessment with planning. Concepts of landscape value, methodological approaches and their possible use for spatial planning are discussed by critically reviewing interdisciplinary literature on the subject. The author analyses 47 papers presenting landscape value assessments. The reviewed research was undertaken in 24 countries in the years 1986–2016. Research papers are analysed in terms of a number of values, calculation methods and use of expert opinion/public participation or combined as well as theoretical frameworks. Methods of enhancing spatial planning and sustainable land management by means of landscape evaluation based on natural, cultural and aesthetic values are critically reviewed as well. Finally, a conceptual framework, that highlights the approach to planning based on landscape value assessment is presented. The framework forms the basis for further interdisciplinary research.