ABSTRACT
The progressive interest in landscape studies eventually resulted in the emergence of landscape ecology as a separate scientific discipline incorporating both geographical and ecological studies with landscape planning and management aspects. The interactions between natural and human-induced processes are fundamental to understanding conflicts between ecological and human systems. The optimization of human activities directed toward specific goals in coordination with properties of natural systems is a fundamental assumption of successful environmental protection. The recognition of feedback mechanisms between the functions of landscapes and the exploitation of goods or services needed by human society should form a first step in developing strategies for sustainable development of the countryside. The functions that are of the utmost significance for landscape management, such as partition of solar energy for evapotranspiration and air and soil heating, are rarely considered in landscape studies. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
