Methodology for the classification and structural characterization of landscapes in Spanish forest districts

Abstract

The Forest Resources Management Plans are basic planning tools of the current Spanish Forest Law. Landscape ecology principles and methods on a regional scale are applicable to these Plans. This paper, part of ECOPORF project, proposes a methodology for the classification of landscapes in forest districts and the characterization of their structure. The definitive Landscape Types integrate the abiotic variables used in a previous Land Classification and the biotic information provided by the Spanish Forest Map (1:50.000). The calculation of certain landscape indices determines the characteristic composition and configuration of each Landscape Type. Finally, a method is proposed for the design of stratified sampling in landscape monitoring studies. This methodology provides a basic starting point for further development of Forest Resources Management Plans.