Assessing the potential impacts of climate change on traditional landscapes and their heritage values on the local level: Case studies in the Dender basin in Flanders, Belgium

The Landscape Atlas of Flanders describes the traditional relic landscapes in Flanders (Belgium), characterized by important heritage values and more specifically by natural-scientific, historical, sociocultural and aesthetic values. These heritage landscapes constitute a considerable part of the common cultural heritage and are therefore managed by specific landscape management plans. However, these plans do not address climate change vulnerability and adaptation, while this is considered as an important driving force of landscape change. This change may impact on the unaffected traditional character of heritage landscapes and cause these valuable landscapes to deteriorate. In this study, we assess and map the potential overall impact of climate change on two relic landscapes in Flanders and map possible adaptation measures on a detailed level to allow insertion in the landscape management plans. Detailed synthesis vulnerability and adaptation maps are elaborated in a GIS, based on the results of impact- and model studies. The vulnerability maps indicate that both case studies are sensitive to climate change. In particular, forest desiccation, wind throw, crop deterioration, soil erosion and flooding might affect the landscape quality and threaten the natural-scientific, historical and aesthetic heritage values of the landscapes. In order to preserve these heritage values, the adaptation maps present possible adaptation measures, which are sustainable and nondestructive with respect to the landscape quality. Although adaptation will cause change as well, it offers more chances to preserve the heritage values of the landscapes. To be effective, detailed climate change vulnerability and adaptation maps should be included in the binding landscape management plans. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.