Units of local and regional self-governments, agricultural holdings, investors, support institutions, development agencies and other institutions that conduct strategic spatial planning
The creation of environmental and natural resources inventory is a necessary basis for spatial planning and decision making in the management of the existing resources. Visualisation of environmental resources space – where they are located and how they impact each other, their environment and development – provides a strong basis for quality thematic planning and environmental protection. The methodology was developed and successfully implemented in several local and regional self-government units.
Changes related to space and environmental resources management set additional requirements for spatial planning at local, regional and state levels. In the newly created circumstances, as a necessary expert basis, those require a detailed analysis of environmental and natural resources of space in the area of the spatial planning interest, with guidelines for protection, planning and management of space from the perspective of the newly emerging needs. The creation of environmental resources inventory is the basis for changes in spatial planning documentation for sustainable development of the research area while recognising its natural and economic potentials, as well as directing its development and preserving it.
The environmental resources inventory presents the expert basis that analyses environmental resources of the researched area in detail, evaluated natural resources as the potential for agricultural production, forestry and use of renewable energy sources, evaluation of the touristic potential of the space, and evaluation of the existing natural-ecological, cultural-historical and visually experiential characteristics of the space, with the aim to identify the most valuable/vulnerable areas and evaluate their sensitivity and vulnerability. The results of the study are guidelines and recommendations for protection, planning and management of the researched area.
The purpose of the environmental resources inventory is to integrate its results into spatial planning documents and other strategic and action documents, so it would serve as the foundation for sustainable development of the space, while recognising its natural and economic potentials, directing its development, preserving it, and emphasising its character and value, or recognising and giving economic value to its natural-ecological, cultural-historical and visually experiential values. The creation of environmental resources inventory allows: