Policy context
Landscape policy: implementation, impact and effectiveness
| Authors: | Hong Hu Liu |
| Coordinating authors: | Constantinos Kosmas, Ruta Landgrebe, Sandra Nauman |
| Editors: | Alexandros Kandelapas, Jane Brandt |
Editor's note 20Mar14: Source D142-7.
Landscape ecology is generally regarded as an additional requirement for the construction sector, with no specific landscape legislation. Several policies are engaged with enhancing the tourism value and ecological harmony of the landscape, for example through scenic area protection regulations and development plans. Specialized environmental policies focused on landscape in particular are different from general policies with landscape elements.
Landscape planning is part of urban public policies. It has a wide coverage, so generalized city planning now includes the urban landscape decrees, rules, plans, programs, policies, and action measures. Like other public policy for cities, it is a dynamic, interrelated policy that includes policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring and a feedback program.
Goals and objectives of landscape policy
| Type | Goals / Objectives |
| Urban planning backbone law | In 1989, the “PRC City Planning Law" was created in order to protect the historical and cultural heritage, city scenes, local character, natural landscape, etc. |
| Urban planning supporting regulations | Urban Planning regulations (1991) and the "urban planning approach to the implementation details" regulations (1995) were formulated separately from the overall planning and zoning to control construction of detailed planning stages. |
| Urban planning technical standards | The law adopted in 1990, amended in 2012, adopted "urban land classification and land use planning and construction standards" and related professional norms. It provides various types of land use indicators, including landscape uses and other specifications. |
| Regulatory documents related to urban planning | n 1985, the "provisional regulations on scenic area management" were developed, mainly related to the natural landscape. In 1992, the "PRC regulations on urban greening" were passed, mainly related to greening urban landscapes. |
| Other relevant laws and regulations | 1992: Urban environment and hygiene regulations 1994: Historical and cultural city protection planning requirements |
| Local laws and regulations | Include planning regulations, regulations regarding appearance of the city, construction management practices, management practices of other outdoor advertising, etc. |
Source: authors
The decision making of current urban landscape policy is normally provided by the government or the relevant departments, experts and industries.
The usual practice, which has just been implemented in recent years, is to put urban landscape planning and design into the detailed planning or urban design as a sub-key to proposed guidance, control and management measures providing the basis for urban development and construction management. The main problem however, with China's urban landscape, is the fact that there is a lack of necessary evaluation before the policies and assessment are implemented. Policy objectives might change according to an office’s will and such changes may lack democratic oversight, comprehensive research.