EVALUATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES IN THE POZNAN REGION OF POLAND

The Poznan region contains some of the most intensively utilized agric ultural areas. This fact creates conditions for observation and defini tion of the influence of intensive agricultural production on the land scape and the differentiation of the existing ecosystems. In the years 1990-1992, studies were carried out here aimed at the development of a detailed method of landscape inventory and evaluation. Such a method would permit the preparation of landscape studies for large areas whe re land improvement and land management are taking place. These studie s, in turn, would allow us to ensure protection of the most valuable e lements of nature and landscape. The studies have been carried out so far on six objects covering a total area of about 2000 ha. The objects are situated in different physico-geographical regions: they include outwashes, moraine flats and wavy upland, as well as river valleys and the surroundings of lakes. The studies were carried out on the basis of topographic maps at a 1:10 000 scale, i.e. at a scale significantly more precise than those used in regional planning and geographical st udies. In the inventory of the landscape, the focus was placed on the unification of the description of three basic elements, i.e. water cou rses, glacier ponds and afforestations. The inventory in the field was carried out on standard forms. For example, the inventory card of a g lacier pond contains data about its area and shape, its depth and wate r-level oscillations, configuration and utilization of the surrounding area, connections with the hydrographic network, water quality, botto m substrate, water and waterside vegetation and the afforestations. A standard arrangement of data permits us to carry out an evaluation of the landscape elements by a scoring method. In this basis, the evaluat ion of the area has been carried out across a range of geocomplexes (m icro drainage basins).