Landskapsplaner

Landskapsplaner are strategic planning documents used to guide the long-term development and management of landscapes within a municipality or region. Their aim is to integrate ecological, cultural, aesthetic and recreational values with social and economic considerations to create resilient and coherent landscapes. Landskapsplaner often address multiple land uses—agriculture, forestry, housing, infrastructure—while safeguarding high-value landscapes and ecosystem services such as biodiversity, water regulation and cultural heritage.

A typical landskapsplan includes descriptions of the landscape character, notable landscapes and land cover, identified threats and conflicts, and set objectives and targets for change. It outlines prioritized measures and actions, such as protection or restoration of natural habitats, preservation of cultural landscapes, facilitation of outdoor recreation, and guidelines for green infrastructure, climate adaptation, and sustainable mobility. Analyses may rely on GIS data and landscape assessments, including visual impact and connectivity studies.

The planning process usually involves mapping and inventories, stakeholder workshops, public consultation, and alignment with higher-level plans such as comprehensive plans and detailed plans. In many jurisdictions landskapsplaner function as a supporting instrument rather than a binding map; they inform zoning decisions, development control, and land management programs, and are periodically updated to reflect changed conditions and policy priorities.

Outcomes of landskapsplaner can include mapping of landscape units, proposed protection or preservation zones, development guidelines, restoration projects, and financing or monitoring programs. They play a central role in sustainable land use, landscape-based climate adaptation, and the maintenance of cultural and recreational values in the built environment.