Regulation on criteria for identification of landscapes and on manner for assessment of their significant and characteristic features.

This Regulation defines the necessary criteria for identification of landscapes and sets out the manner of assessment of their significant and characteristic features.
Criteria for landscape identification include: 1) natural characteristics: climatic, geomorphological, geological, hydrological, pedological, vegetation, and other; 2) cultural characteristics: spatial representation of cultural heritage, which includes changes in the environment caused by the interaction of man and space over time that form a unity with work created and tradition transferred to inherited values from the past, and contains immovable, movable and intangible cultural heritage; 3) protected areas, ecological network and cultural goods; 4) socio-demographic characteristics: types and dynamics of settlements, manner of using the area, spatial distribution of line infrastructure; 5) aesthetic and visual values; 6) quality of the state of the environment and activities that affect the environment.
The procedure of landscape identification determines the boundary of the landscape type as well as the description of the landscape. The method of landscape assessment is based on qualitative and quantitative values of selected criteria, in accordance with the rules of the profession. The selection of criteria for identification, description and assessment of identified landscapes is done in order to properly determine the types of considered landscapes. The method of selection of criteria for identification, description and assessment of specific areas is done in relation to the objectives and purpose of the assessment. Assessment of significant and characteristic features of the landscape is performed on the basis of: 1) authenticity, originality, peculiarity and originality of features in terms of origin, origin and distribution; 2) recognizability, representativeness, expressiveness and prominence of the features in terms of size, number, shape and appearance, structure, composition, age and preservation; 3) diversity, representation and interrelation of landscape elements; 4) integrity, completeness and connection of landscape elements in spatial and functional sense; 5) aesthetics, harmony, attractiveness, unusualness and dynamics of observed landscape elements; 6) visual sensitivities of the landscape assessed in relation to a combination of factors: visual visibility from the dominant visual points and the nature of the experience of the landscape; 7) historical stratification and continuity, historical preservation and dynamics of transformation; 8) rarity, uniqueness of landscape elements; 9) potential values for sustainable development; 10) symbolism, spirituality, identity, recognizability in a certain area, defined on the basis of natural characteristics and historical and cultural significance for man; 11) scientific and educational values.