Landscape characterisation - a

means of incorporating 'sense-of-

place' into traditional spatial

planning tools

Dr Boyd Escott1 and Julian

Kiepiel2 1Manager Biodiversity Spatial

Planning and Information, EKZNW

KZN Wildlife 2Dept. Cooperative Governance and

Traditional Affairs

•Sense of Place quantified

What is Landscape Characterisation?

•Primarily a means of integrating biodiversity (and other ‘marginal’) considerations into mainstream spatial planning

Why is it important?

•Technical breakdown using Kwa-Sani Local Municipality as a case study.

How is it achieved?

• Is this worthy of consideration?

Way forward

What is it?

How is it achieved?

8 Landscape Character Regions

40 Landscape Character Types (LCTs)

655 Landscape Character Areas (LCAs)

(Average size: 247ha; size range: 2980ha -1ha)

Natural variables

• Topography

• Landcover

• Visibility

• Geology

• Irreplaceability

Anthropogenic variables

• View corridors

• Housing Density

• Cultural Heritage

• Settlement Pattern

• Road Access

Determine Wildness

Key Concepts

• Landscape sensitivity: The extent to which the character, including the

visual character, of a landscape is susceptible to change brought about by

tourism development.

• Landscape value: The relative value that stakeholders attach to a landscape

for a variety of reasons including scenic quality, perceptual aspects such as

wildness, remoteness or tranquillity that contribute to a sense of place, and

the presence and influence of conservation interests or special cultural

associations.

• Landscape capacity: The extent to which a landscape is able to

accommodate tourism development without key characteristics being

adversely affected and the values attached to it being compromised.

KWASANI - SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT

• Human influence

• Remoteness and tranquillity

• Settlement and key views

• Visual interruption

• Skyline

• Connections with adjacent landscapes

KEY CHARACTERISTICS THAT MOST STRONGLY DEFINE A

LANDSCAPE & EXHIBIT THE IMPACTS OF A TOURISM

DEVELOPMENT:

• Scale and enclosure

• Visual complexity and order

KEY CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTE SENSITIVITY – LCT38 INCHGARTH RIDGE KEY

CHARACTERISTIC

SENSITIVITY

Very low sensitivity Low Moderate High Very high sensitivity VL L M H VH

1. Scale and Enclosure Small-scale landform/land

cover

Large scale landform/land cover

Human scale indicators Featureless

Coarse grained Fine grained

Enclosed with narrow views Open with broad views

Sheltered Exposed

2. Complexity and Order Complex (visually) Simple

Unpredictable Predictable

Confusion and haphazard Ordered and hierarchical

Rugged and intricate Smooth and flowing

Geometric with linear

features

Organic with variable accents

Irregular mosaics Extensive/consistent land cover

3. Human Influence Working, utilitarian or

industrial image

Wild image and sense of

freedom

Contemporary structures e.g.

masts, pylons, cranes, silos,

industrial sheds with vertical

emphasis

Traditional or historic

settlements, buildings and

structures, living heritage e.g.

San shelters

Functional manmade land

use patterns and engineered

aspects

Natural or dispersed aesthetic

patterns

4. Remoteness and

Tranquillity

Busy and noisy Sense of peace and isolation

Human activity and

development

Remote and empty

Prominent movement No evident movement

KEY CHARACTERISTIC ATTRIBUTE SENSITIVITY – LCT38 KEY

CHARACTERISTIC

SENSITIVITY

Very low sensitivity Low Moderate High Very high sensitivity VL L M H VH

5. Settlement and Key

Views

Unpopulated or sparsely

populated

Densely populated especially

small scale dispersed settlement

patterns

Introspective settlement Outward looking settlements

Inaccessible Landscape focused recreation

routes and/or tourist/visitor

facilities

Ordinary or industrial settings Valued attractive settings,

gateways or public views

No WHS view WHS views in foreground

6. Visual Interruption Rolling and /or broken

topography

Flat/gently undulating

topography or exposed slopes

Frequent vegetative or built

features

Few if any vegetative or built

features

7. Skyline Reposeful landscapes Distinct landmark skylines

Complicated, unpredictable

skylines

Simple, predictable skylines

Existing vertical focal points Bare, uncluttered horizons

Confusion of existing

verticals of variable form and

function

Discrete and well ordered

verticals in coherent pattern with

landscape

Moderating features e.g.

tiered horizons, low contrast

with background

Intensifying features e.g. framed

vistas, valley rims, channelled

views

8. Connections with

Adjacent Landscapes

Gradual transitions in

elevation

Sharp contrasts in elevation

Weak connections Part of a broader scenic

composition and/or contributes

to valued settings

Neighbouring landscapes of

low sensitivity

Neighbouring landscapes of

high sensitivity

Limited views into and out of

landscape

Prospects into and out from high

ground and open edges

Simple, large scale

backdrops

Intricate or dramatic backdrops

2X1 1X3 4X4 27X5

Determine Sensitivity

Determine Value All of the Value

scores were

summed, the

results classified

into 5 classes

(Natural breaks).

Determine Capacity The sensitivity

scores were

weighted as 2/3

that of the value

scores. In all

cases, all values

were rounded up

to the higher class

(again favouring

the sensitivity

index).

Summary • This is managing for tourism (ecotourism) on a

district level, and is not Protected Area centric.

• Pulls in the concept of branding

• Branding relates to marketing (and money), and thus

ascribes value to an entity normally not considered.

• Pulls in all sectors into a systematic conservation

planning framework.

• Aids in land-use zoning; this has already been used in

the development of the Drakensberg World Heritage

Site buffer.

TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS

IMPLEMENTATION

MECHANISMS

1. Creation of

a basis for the

marketing of

regional

products and

tourism.

A strong sense of place is basis for marketing. This is created by means of appropriate

management of the landscape character of the municipality. This involves maintaining

and enhancing the quality and distinctive characteristics of the municipality’s landscape

character types.

Landscape types description.

Landscape character monitoring

criteria.

Management guidelines.

IDP/SDF

Farmers Associations.

2. Definition

and

management

of a gradation

of

development

from urban to

wilderness.

Theoretical and policy principles provide a basis for a gradation of the intensity of

development. For example the Drakensberg Policy Statement says: ‘The further one

ventures from the urban areas, the simpler, more nature oriented will the recreation

alternatives become, ending in the solitude and ultimate simplicity of wilderness’.

Existing, preferred and possible

development gradients (with remedial

measures).

WHS Convention Act Buffer

Zones/ Protected Areas Act.

Gazetted provincial policy.

IGR protocol.

EIA area regulations.

Municipal transport plan.

IDP/SDF.

LUMS gradient overlay.

Municipal by-law.

Municipal bioregional plan.

Municipal rates policy.

TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS

IMPLEMENTATION

MECHANISMS

3. Delineation

and

management

of buffer zone

and sub-

zones

The immediate setting of the WHS is appropriately managed by maintaining and

enhancing the quality of the buffer zone’s landscape and its distinctive local

characteristics.

Management measures recognize the conservation value of the landscape character

of the buffer zone by means of an understanding of the way it is valued (understanding

the element being conserved; why it is important; how it can be protected), giving

attention to:

Intactness;

Scenic quality e.g. area of outstanding natural beauty

Visual quality;

Rarity and representativeness of landscape character;

Conservation interests that add to the value of the landscape; and

Associations (with particular people, artists, media; events in history).

Buffer zone management is located in a spectrum of environmental modification in

which the buffer zone shows identity or similarity (but not different) to the WHS in

respect of the following attributes:

Tranquility;

Wildness;

Primeval character of a cultural landscape;

Remoteness;

Naturalness;

Accessibility in terms of penetration of infrastructure.

Buffer zone landscape (and visual)

management plan.

WHS Convention Act Buffer

Zones/ Protected Areas Act.

Gazetted provincial policy.

IGR protocol.

EIA area regulations.

Municipal transport plan.

IDP/SDF.

LUMS gradient overlay.

Municipal by-law.

Municipal bioregional plan.

Municipal rates policy.

National Heritage Act.

TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS

IMPLEMENTATION

MECHANISMS

4.

Management

of the

landscape

character of

the access

routes as part

of the WHS

experience.

In terms of the WHC nomination, additional protection is required for ‘…..important

views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important as a support to the

property….’ The journeys through the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg approaches are

integral parts of the WHS experience. Therefore, the approach routes (from the urban

axis to Park entrances) should be conceived as heritage routes. This calls for buffer

zones (see rationale above) that extend along the routes. Landscapes are protected to

avoid any visual effects or activities that could damage the landscape character of the

route.

Route landscape (and visual)

management plan.

Gazetted provincial policy.

IGR protocol.

EIA area regulations.

Provincial transport plan.

Municipal transport plan.

IDP/SDF.

LUMS gradient overlay.

Municipal by-law.

Municipal bioregional plan.

Municipal rates policy.

5. Assessment

of the

landscape

capacity for a

trekking trail

in the buffer

zone.

Criteria are to be established from review of literature on heritage routes, pilgrimage

routes and hiking trails. For example, TRPC Report Volume 36 says: "Thus the aim of

the trail zone would be to ensure the enjoyment of hikers by controlling the subdivision

of land in the zone and keeping out such unscenic objects a pylons or altering the trail

route to avoid incompatible development."

Trekking trail capacity.

IDP/SDF

LUMS

PSEDS corridor funds.

KZN DOT transport plan.

KZN Wildlife WHS IMP.

TASK RATIONALE OF MAKING JUDGEMENTS PRODUCTS

IMPLEMENTATION

MECHANISMS

6.

Identification

of areas for

regeneration

of landscape

character in

the buffer

zone.

Public works programmes can be directed towards measures to restore or enhance the

landscape character of areas in the buffer zone e.g. restoration of indigenous forest

patches; erosion control; removal of alien plants; restoration of traditional houses;

restoration of stone walls; re-routing poorly located-power lines.

Policies, programmes and projects for

restoring, maintaining and enhancing

landscape character of buffer zone.

Working for Water.

Extended public works

programme.

IDP/SDF.

Land Care.

KZN Housing.

ESKOM (NEMA sec. 2(4)(p).

Thank you. Comments and

questions most welcome.