Landscape Conservation Assessment in the Latin American Tropics: Application and Insights from Costa Rica

Vassiliki Vlami, Carlos Morera Beita and Stamatis Zogaris
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Vassiliki Vlami: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Carlos Morera Beita: Geography School, National University, Heredia 40101, Costa Rica
Stamatis Zogaris: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 19013 Anavissos, Greece

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-28

Abstract: Landscape quality is an important aspect of conservation and sustainable development, yet holistic assessments of landscapes in the Latin American tropics are scarce. Here we employ an onsite survey across Costa Rica using the Landscape Assessment Protocol (LAP), a rapid assessment method, to assess the conservation condition of landscape views. In a survey of 50 landscape view sites in different parts of the country, LAP’s 15 metrics (evaluation criteria) were effective in providing an index for landscape quality showing a gradient of degradation in response to various modern anthropogenic pressures. The response of the index over a variety of landscape types correlates well with the Human Footprint anthropogenic pressure assessment, an independent land degradation index. Urban and peri-urban landscape types showed the most degraded conditions relative to flatland, coastal, and upland types on all metrics. Despite certain subjective attributes, the assessment method seems effective in providing a quality condition index that may assist in quality characterization and in promoting participation in landscape interpretation, landscape literacy, and landscape-scale conservation initiatives, especially in a region where landscape views (scenic resources) are threatened by widespread land-use changes. Finally, recommendations are made for the further application and testing of LAP, specifically for use in the neotropics.

Keywords: conservation; applied geography; landscape ecology; protected areas; biodiversity; land management; Landscape Assessment Protocol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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