Defining the character of the landscape as a basis for restoration and management of the Botič River in Prague

Isidora Elčić

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis, through a modern approach to landscape planning, explores and examines all the characteristics and values of the Botič stream in Prague, which flows along its south-western side and flows into the Vltava River. The desire to preserve a landscape that is under strong pressure from urbanization and globalization raises the question of understanding the multidisciplinarity of landscapes in order to develop guidelines for its preservation and rules of management. Through the established holistic approach in the assessment of the landscape, all the values of the researched area have been identified, by defining its landscape character and the structure as its integral part, later have resulted in defining the rules of its preservation and improvement. Thus, the method of characterization recognizes all those parts of the research area that differ from each other in the unique patterns of landscape/physical structure, that allows the separation of different landscape character types. Within the researched urban area three types of landscape character were singled out as a clear result of landscape transformation due to urbanization, while only one, the type of discontinuous urban tissue, where the Botič stream suffers the most, was selected for further steps of the thesis which represent the creation of its ID card. The ID card of the chosen landscape type, defined its structure, meaning, and changes observed through a retrospective method. The dynamics of development assumed further direction of type development, while the overall result, together with the results of the estimated vulnerability of the landscape, obtained by calculating the values of ecosystem services in the study area and its visual assessment, determined the rules divided into two big groups; morphological-ecological and landscape-design rules. This way of research creates a comprehensive, integrated approach that seeks to preserve, improve and regenerate the landscape. While at the same time confirms the fact that landscapes, which are attractive, diverse, and of great public and social value, must be planned side by side with environmental, social, and economic aspects. Each step in the thesis forms a solid basis for further discussion, consideration, and interpretation of different variations that exist in the type or can be taken into account when applying the characterization method.

Keywords

Landscape Character Assessment, Landscape Sensitivity Assessment, Ecosystem Services, Landscape Planning and Design Rules, Watershed restoration, Watershed preservation, Urban Landscape

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 3. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Peter Kumble, Ph.D.
• Reader: Henry William Andrew Hanson IV.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Master programme / field:
Landscape Engineering / Landscape Planning