Evaluation of potential of woody species vegetation components in objects of landscape architecture

Abstract

Potential of woody species vegetation components is defined as the total ability of existing woody species vegetation components (hereinafter referred to as WSVC) of a particular object (or its parts) to ensure the composition stability. The main criteria for evaluation of this potential at all levels are: (a) current (relevant) characteristics of WSVC; (b) expected development of ability of WSVC to preserve, renew and develop its desirable characteristics; (c) expected length of biologically conditioned existence of WSVC (in an acceptable condition); and (d) expected length of desirable existence of WSVC.Evaluation is based on mutual confrontation and interpretation of especially these woody species characteristics: taxon, age or development stage and landscaping value. These characteristics are surveyed during the evaluation of woody species as standard in the Czech Republic, or at least at a fairly regular basis. It proceeds from the lowest level (individual) to the highest level (the whole object). Especially in case of larger objects and their parts is used as a basis the spatial distribution of the aforementioned characteristics in the evaluated unit (terrain layout) as well as statistical evaluation of these characteristics.The focuses of this paper are methodological issues of determining and expressing the potential of woody species components.

Keywords

• woody species vegetation components
• potential
• composition stability
• landscape architecture