GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Agenda 21 A term now commonly used to refer to all sustainability issues, it derives from the UN Conference on Environment and Development (the "Earth Summit") held in Rio in 1992, where the 21st item to be discussed was a set of guidelines, based around 27 basic principles, to assist countries in developing frameworks and approaches to sustainable development. Since it was designed to be applicable to countries throughout the world, the Agenda 21 document is inevitably very broad in its coverage, and is commonly 'customised' to suit a country or region's particular circumstances, giving rise to the sub-term "Local Agenda 21".
Aggregation The process of dealing with the different landscape elements in a given area in a combined manner, resulting in a landscape character area or landscape character type.
Attribute The different classes within a landscape parameter. For example, 'woodland', 'scrub', 'grassland' are attributes within the 'Vegetation'parameter.
Badlands Landscapes formed where the chemical weathering of soils forms soils which are subsequently deeply eroded by rain. This results in a series of ridges and gullies of bare earth and rock.
Coastal Landscape Landscapes which immediately adjoin the sea and whose character is therefore significantly influenced by the proximity of the sea. 
Dis-aggregation  The process of dealing with different landscape elements in a given area as separate elements rather than as a landscape character area or landscape character type.
Elements Physical components of the landscape, such as woodland, roads, buildings.
Features Particularly prominent or eye-catching elements in the landscape.
Footpath Thoroughfare not wide enough for vehicles.
Gei wai Intertidal pools and bunds formed in coastal areas for the harvesting of shrimp, fish, oysters, algae and sedges.
Highway Public highway with two or more lanes.
Landscape The aggregate effect on an observer, produced by the natural and man-made features on land. It is defined by natural features (such as geology, soils, hydrologic features and vegetation); by human features (such as land-use, buildings, roads, etc) and by its cultural associations.
Landscape Appraisal  The process of appraising a particular landscape, landscape type or landscape feature, by reference to specified criteria.
Landscape Assessment A general term for the process whereby landscape is described, classified and evaluated.
Landscape Character A distinct pattern or combination of elements that occurs consistently in a particular landscape.
Landscape Characterisation  An umbrella term for landscape classification and description
Landscape Character Area The individual geographic areas in which there may be a number of LCTs, combining to create a distinctive pattern. They may share the characteristics of other areas of similar type but have their own particular identity. LCAs may be defined at a strategic or broad level (SLCAs) or at a detailed or local level (LLCAs).
Landscape Character Type Generic areas of landscape which have a broadly similar patterns of landform, vegetation, land use and urban settlement in every area where they occur.
Landscape Character Unit The smallest individual geographic unit with its own distinctive landscape character: a specific geographic manifestation of an LCT.
Landscape Classification The process whereby the landscape is sorted into different types or units each with a distinct, consistent and recognisable character.
Landscape Condition  The index of the integrity or intactness of the basic pattern of landscape features, which constitute the landscape character of that type.
Landscape Description The process of collecting and presenting information about the landscape in a systematic manner.
Landscape Evaluation The process of attaching a value to a particular landscape, landscape type or landscape feature, by reference to specified criteria.
Landscape Sensitivity Tolerance of change. Sensitivity is not absolute, but varies according to the type of landscape being considered.
Landscape Quality The condition of landscape. Its state of repair or integrity.
Landscape Value  The reasons why a landscape is considered to be important.
Lane Single land public highway.
Mangrove  a specific coastal plant community found on areas of intertidal mud.
Marine Landscapes Areas of sea visible from the land, containing few or no terrestrial elements.
Nullah an artificial water course or stream or river canalised for the purposes of drainage.
Parameter Aspects of landscape, which influence its character, such as soils, topography and vegetation. Parameters are mapped and taken into consideration during the process of landscape classification.
Resources See 'Elements' above.
River A natural water course where the water body is greater than 10m in width.
Rural Landscape Landscapes which contain an extremely low level of built development. They may be 'natural' in the sense that they exhibit very low levels of human interference or may be agricultural.
Rural Fringe Landscape Landscapes which overwhelmingly retain their rural characteristics together with a very low ratio of built to unbuilt space. At the same time, they are subject to change in traditional rural land use and low levels of non-intensive development or urbanisation (such as abandoned agricultural land, golf courses, highways development or storage yards) 
Stream A natural water course where the water body is less than 10m in width.
Track Thoroughfare not wide enough for one vehicle - usually unsurfaced and not a public highway.
Urban Landscape Landscapes defined largely by the relationship between buildings / built structures and unbuilt space or which lie within towns or cities, characterised by high density of development.
Urban Fringe Landscape  Landscapes on the edges of towns or cities characterised by lower densities and land uses requiring greater space; a more or less equal relationship between built and unbuilt spaces.

Go to main page