Last edited 22 Apr 2022

Landscape protection

Assessing landscape value outside national designations, Technical Guidance Note 02/21, published by the Landscape Institute in 2021, defines landscape protection as: ‘Actions to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic features of a landscape, justified by its heritage value derived from its natural configuration and/or from human activity.’ (ref European Landscape Convention).

Glossary of the Information System of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, Spatial planning and landscape, No. 106, published by the Council of Europe in 2018, states: ‘According to the Council of Europe Landscape Convention, landscape protection “means actions to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic features of a landscape, justified by its heritage value derived from its natural configuration and/or from human activity”. It concerns in particular landscapes “considered outstanding”, in respect of which it does not seek to halt the passage of time or to restore their lost natural or man-made character; it may, on the other hand, guide the way in which sites change in order to pass on to future generations the heritage value which was the reason for their protection.’