Nicola Arndt und Matthias Pohl - Neobiota

Map 2: Norwegian agricultural landscape regions (source: PUSCHMANN 1998).
3.3 Dutch landscape types
The main focus of the Dutch approach to landscape mapping is the ‘Maintenance and Strengthening of
Identity’ with regard to the whole Dutch landscape and is hence part of the general policy strategy.
This policy aims at maintaining the identity of the different landscape types and – by doing so – also
the diversity of the Dutch landscape. In concrete terms, ten main landscape types have been
differentiated. These landscape types have been identified on the basis of geo-morphological and
culture-historical criteria that are related to the genesis of distinct regions. For each of these landscape
types, the Dutch government has identified a list of recommendations for planning and advisory
activities.
Regarding the landscape level there is the intention to undertake an analysis of Dutch landscapes on
the basis on a hierarchical structure for physio-geographic regions, series and physiotopes. Physiotopes
are to be defined as landscape units with a more or less same type of abiotic character. Within
the physio-geographic region Heuvelland, for example, three series are to be differentiated, namely
‘plateau’s and edges of plateau’s’, ‘hellingen’ and ‘valleys’. Within the ‘hellings’ three types of
physiotopes have been recognised: ‘dry calceolous hellings’, ‘limestone edges and frames’ and ’chalkfree
loss and greensand-hellings’. For each physiotope, the development of the vegetation is reported
93