The landscape structure plan is a legal obligation to be met by the rural districts and as a nature conservation expert plan it contains the basic directives for the landscape planning activities of the communities. It constitutes an essential informational source for the nature conservation authorities upon planning nature conservation activities and assessing planning projects. As a structure plan, it has special importance for the sustainable protection of our natural resources.

In 2004, the landscape structure plan for the rural district administration of Vechta (Germany) was furnished and approved by the relevant district government. Producing copies and publication is planned for 2005.

In the course of the landscape analysis required for the structure plan, comprehensive habitat-type mapping (812 km²) was conducted on the basis of CIR aerial images. A detailed mapping of plant and animal species was subsequently conducted in the field. Hansa Luftbild's personnel compiled faunistic data pertinent to groups of bird, amphibian and insect species in approximately 250 referential territories and produced comprehensive plant sociological maps. The subjects of protection, i.e. soil, water, climate/air and landscape image, were also comprehensively surveyed and assessed.

The cartographic representation was performed on a scale of 1:50,000 and complies with the current guidelines for processing landscape structure plans. Altogether, Landscape Structure Plan 14 comprises thematic maps which were processed with the aid of the geo information system ArcINFO. The digital data of the Landscape Structure Plan constitute the basis for the establishment of a GIS database at the rural district administration.

The results of landscape analysis and assessment merge into the development of a target concept. The target concept represents in concise form the objectives of nature and landscape conservation in the planning area, and constitutes the substantial connection between analysis and the formulation of planning measures. Here, especially areas having a high to very high significance for the protection fields are represented as so-called core zones. These are to be secured and enlarged either by the addition of appropriate areas or by joining them together.

The final part of the landscape structure plan represents a comprehensive catalogue of measures for the realization of the target concept. They are both measures applying to selected landscape areas (e.g. hedge bank programs, riverine meadow land) as well as special aid measures for endangered animal and plant species. As further measures, special requirements applying to user groups (e.g. agriculture or soil decomposition) and the realization of the target concept by physical planning and urban land-use planning are shown.

Since the late 80s, Hansa Luftbild works in projects concerned with landscape planning such as:

• environmental impact assessment studies and interventional regulations

• landscape structure plans

• landscape and open space plans

• nature conservation plans

• feasibility studies and position finding

• as well as projects concerned with regional recreation and planning of tourism.