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Project title

Reframe: Landscape Character Assessment

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Minogue Environmental Consulting Ltd

Lead Applicant

ruth minogue

Project Abstract

This research seeks to reframe landscape character as a core environmental component in landuse planning and management. The holistic approach of Landscape Character Assessment offers a means to integrate ecosystems services at scale whilst including character, place and cultural heritage considerations. These are frequently separated in assessments with the accompanying loss of opportunity for multiple benefits. This research advances the established LCA methodology by highlighting ecosystem services (natural and cultural) and through scenario planning, identifies and tests a toolkit in conjunction with key actors and at different scales (regional, catchment, small area) as well as landscapes that have been heavily modified in the past and are subject to ongoing change. The interaction between seascape and landscape character is also tested in this research. This research seeks to embed historical landscape characterisation with landscape ecology methods. The toolkit will be refined following testing of same with agricultural advisors as well as other sectoral experts and farmers themselves. Citizen science aspects have also been included as a means to capture place and values at different scales. The key output is a robust LCA Toolkit developed for use in the agricultural context and targeting agri-environmental and rural development schemes. We aim to design our toolkit to have broader uses and applications for example through forward planning, strategic environmental assessment and other landuse sectors such as forestry, tourism and renewables. We propose to pilot our toolkit in a number of areas to include the River Shannon catchment as well as a smaller sub catchment that has been subject to historical modification (eg drainage of wetlands, peatlands) that are also undergoing landscape change through the Just Transition and to adapt and mitigate climate change effects. A pilot area that assesses the interface between landscape and seascape character is also explored as well as a collaboration with the INCASE project mapping to investigate ecosystem services and landscape character. A commentary/review on the toolkit and LCA approach and SEA process particularly through scenario planning forms another component of the research. A training module for CPD that updates and refreshes the Heritage Council LCA CDP course is included and a resource manual for same.

Grant Approved

�137,652.30

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/02/2022

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/08/2023