Landscape linkages and biodiversity in European landscapes

Abstract

Linear features are structuring landscape elements. We change our landscapes and rebuild them into new linkages, and landscapes are even constructed around these linkages. Landscape linkages are important for species migration and dispersal on a large scale and a small scale: storks, bats and badgers. There is, however also diversity within landscapes and landscape elements: plants species, insects and breeding birds. History and land-use development hampered both biodiversity at the European level and at the landscape level. As landscapes are dynamic, cultural landscapes are not only historic, but they will be constructed and reconstructed. History has had an impact on the regional diversity. Reconstructing European linkages should take into account large-scale structures and ecosystems such as mountain ranges, wetlands, forests and rivers and small-scale structures such as hedgerows, ponds, stonewalls and small forests. Landscape construction is not a simple making of landscape elements. The reconstruction of biodiversity is much more complex as it does not seem to return so easily. We can learn from European experiences and exchanges that it is important to exchange and share experiences and disseminate results. To link the different aspects of landscape planning and the conservation of landscape diversity requires interdisciplinary research programmes.