LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY OF THE DANUBE PLAIN – EXPLORING THE PECULIARITIES IN LOM MUNICIPALITY, NORTH-WESTERN BULGARIA Rositsa Yaneva, Georgi Zhelezov National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Finally, the landscape diversity is depicted on a landscape character map in scale 1:150 000 (Fig. 5). BACKGROUND RESULTS In the ongoing process of global natural changes and socio-economic adaptation, we cannot discuss sustainability without taking into consideration the natural conditions and their impact over the environment. This paper reviews the landscape diversity into fragmented landscape units, defined by the analysis of the unique liaison in the landscape components in situ. 63.7% of the territory is occupied by non-irrigated arable land and 84.2% of the total area provides high natural potential for the enhancement of the agronomic sector The study area is allocated in North-western Bulgaria, bordering to the north with the Danube River (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Study area The identified landscape units are arranged into a classification system that presents the deterministic role of the different components. Figure 5 Landscape character map of Lom municipality MATERIALS AND METHODS CONCLUSION Pivotal for the research process is the development of the landscape character map and typology system defining the importance of the landscape components and level of subordination between the landscape units (Fig. 2). The sustainable and efficient use of the natural-resource capital of a specific territory concomitantly needs profound analysis of the environmental components and of the liaisons and interdependences in between them. This complexity of the landscape depicts the basis for further analysis of the structure, functions, and dynamics of the landscape units and their natural capacity to provide certain benefits to the human well-being. Fig. 4 Land cover/Land use classes in Lom municipality (CORINE 2012) Based on the landscape peculiarities in regard to the taxonomy levels, the landscape diversity patterns of Lom municipality is arranged in 10 landscape configuration units (Tab. 1). Table 1 Classification system and landscape diversity of Lom municipality REFERENCES Farina, A. 2006. Principles and Methods in Landscape Ecology. Springer Netherlands. Forman, R. T. T., Godron, M. 1986. Landscape ecology. Wiley&Sons, New York. Mücher, C., Klijn, J., Wascher, D. M., Schaminée, J. 2010. A New European Landscape Classification (LANMAP): A Transparent, Flexible and User-Oriented Methodology to Distinguish Landscapes. Ecological Indicators 10:87–103. Velchev, A., Todorov, N., Assenov, A., Berouchashvili, N., 1992. A Landscape map of Bulgaria of the scale 1:500 000. Annuaire de l’Université de Sofia «St. Kliment Ohridski», Fac. de Géologie et géographie, Liv. 2-Géographie, T : 84, Sofia. Fig. 2 Typology levels and diagnostic criteria Conceptual framework (Fig. 3), describing the data collection and analysis steps in the mapping process. rossitza.y@gmail.com @GeoYaneva 17th International Symposium – LANDSCAPE AND LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 27-30 May, 2015 Nitra, Slovakia