Principles for Creating Ecological Networks

Abstract

Establishing ecological networks is currently one of the main objectives of landscape ecology, nature and landscape protection. In Slovak Republic, the concept of “ecological networks” was institutionally adopted as the territorial system of ecological stability (TSES) by Decision of the Government of the SR in July 1991. TSES represents the most significant integration of landscape ecology principles into real environment policies and spatial planning practice. It has become a part of the legislation, common part of decision making, general ecological regulation of various plannings. The TSES concept is based on a geosystem approach to the landscape. This necessitates viewing the landscape space as an integrated complex of given area. The chapter characterises the functions of the primary, secondary and tertiary landscape structures for the TSES. Basic spatial units for creation of TSES considered the potential representative geoecosystems (REPGES) which are bearers of geoecodiversity, i.e. the diversity of both the conditions and forms of the life. The list of types of representative geoecosystems should serve as an ecologically based systematic framework for proposals of biocentres, as well as for other types of areas to be protected. The chapter deals also with most frequent theoretical landscape-ecological questions related to creation of ecological networks, as the stability of ecosystems and spatial ecological stability of the landscape, spatial configuration and composition of landscape. Specific attention is given to the relation of TSES to traditional nature conservation and to other types of the networks of protected areas. Concept of TSES changes the “classic” idea of the nature conservation based on the division of the landscape to protected and non-protected areas towards a system which maintains the ecological stability of the whole territory by an ecologically suitable spatial structure of the landscape even in the case that it is exploited in a different way. The TSES in Slovakia is legally defined in the act on nature conservation, and it is incorporated to the acts on territorial planning, agricultural land arrangement, watershed management, flood protection, environment impact assessment, integrated prevention and pollution control. The final part of the chapter deals with the development of the TSES and its place in the mentioned acts.