Coherence and fragmentation of landscape patterns as characterized by correlograms: A case study of Estonia

Analysing the spatial structure of the Estonian landscapes: which landscape metrics are the most suitable for comparing different landscapes?

“…These metrics together with contrast metrics (TECI or ECON_MN) can be used in landscape planning as indicators for detecting and predicting changes in the Estonian landscape structure. The previous studies based on the Estonian Basic Map have detected a tendency that human influence makes the landscape pattern in heights more homogeneous and in lowlands more heterogeneous, whereas the similarity between landscape patterns in lowlands and heights is increasing due to human influence (Aunap et al, 2006;Mander et al, 2010). Moreover, urban landscape pattern and expansion of urban areas are increasingly studied in the world (Uuemaa et al, 2009) and also in Estonia as suburbanization has increased very quickly in the last decade (Reimets et al, 2010).…”

“…In Estonia landscape metrics have been used in various studies: Roosaare (1982) applied a system of indices to analyse the landscape structure of the small island of Vormsi; Uuemaa et al (2005) studied scale issues; Palang et al (1998) and Aunap et al (2006) used landscape metrics for studying landscape changes in Estonia; Uuemaa et al (2007) examined how landscape pattern influences water quality in catchments; Mander et al (2010) investigated the coherence of landscapes using landscape metrics; Oja et al (2005) analysed the relationships between bird diversity and spatial heterogeneity of Estonian landscapes at different scales. Uuemaa et al (2009) also gave an extensive overview of various uses of different landscape metrics.…”

Index of Landscape Disharmony (ILDH) as a new tool combining the aesthetic and ecological approach to landscape assessment

“…In the manuscript, the common understanding of harmony as a perceived landscape physiognomy characteristic was enriched with a new variables which in many cases may not have an impact on visual landscape assessment, but are important form the ecological and management point of view (Mander et al, 2010;Van Mansvelt et al, 1998;Tveit et al, 2006). This clearly reflects the result of the study.…”

“…According to Tveit et al (2006), coherence means a reflection of the correspondence between land use and natural conditions in an area. Mander et al (2010) define coherence as the similarity between soil pattern (potential landscape) and land use intensity (actual landscape). The attempt to combine both of the approaches -aesthetic and ecological -was undertaken by Van Mansvelt et al (1998) who divided landscape coherence into three groups: vertical (between biodiversity and local abiotic environmental conditions), horizontal (functional and visual), and the coherence of colours and forms.…”

“…(p. 1017) In other words, natural and anthropogenic forces are in balance creating the sense of "the whole", the "harmony between man and nature." (p. 1018) Coherence Mander et al (2010) Landscape coherence is "the similarity between soil pattern (potential landscape) and land use intensity (actual landscape)." (p. 31) Harmony Han et al (2011) Harmony reflects the character of the relationship between anthropogenic and natural elements of landscape.…”