Skip to main content
. 2021 Jun 1;9:e11449. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11449

Box 1. Value criteria of six factors derived from the geomorphological landscape section of the National Natural Environment Survey guidelines used in this research (Cha, Cho & Kim, 2019).

Key Definitions of terms related to landscape used in this research

  • Landscape

  • Landscape is comprised of diverse physical products that result from interactions between different phenomena and human behaviors within an ecosystem.

  • Landscape is a single system perceived and recognized by humans which comprises natural scientific, social scientific, and anthropological dimensions (Zonneveld, 1989; Zube, Sell & Taylor, 1982) and is influenced by diverse land use approaches such as ecological, historical, political, economic, and cultural processes and activities (Denier et al., 2015).

  • Landscape Type

  • Fundamental framework for prioritization of susceptible areas based on a landscape conservation value assigned by landscape experts for enhanced landscape management.

  • It is the properties of landscapes which consider biophysical dimensions, human-aesthetic dimensions, user participation, and policy dimension (Groom, 2005).

  • In this study, landscape types are classified based on a combination of 5 different landform and seven different land cover types.

  • Landscape Conservation Value (LCV)

  • LCV is the general idea and goal of prioritizing conservation efforts to landscape types based on six factors described below. More values are added to landscape types with cultural and natural aspects that are likely to become damaged and fragmented when exposed to human induced activities.

Meanings and Value criteria of six factors

  • Representativeness: Noticeability of characteristics and form of specific landscape. More values are added as the landscape clearly shows the cause of development and formation of the region.

  • Specificity: A sign of unique natural phenomena and a developing process. More values are added if the landscape has a distinctive formation and structural materials.

  • Diversity: A degree of how different landforms are scattered within a region. More values are added if there are diverse components of landscape clustered together.

  • Rarity: A relative scarcity of landforms and landscape components due to regional characteristics. More values are added if the landscape only appears in a specific region.

  • Irreproducibility: Vulnerability of the landscape or landform when exposed to natural or artificial environmental change and degree of difficulty for restoration. More values are added if the landscape seems to be sensitive to external factors and is associated with previous climate or environmental change.

  • Educational Value: Possibility of the object to be used for a research and environmental education. More values are added if the landscape provides usability for a research and provides a great accessibility.