Preservation and representation of landscape aesthetic resources in Trakai Historical National Park (Lithuania)

Trakai Historical National Park (8200 ha) was established in 1991 to preserve, manage and use archaeological, urban, architectural, agricultural landscape complexes of the Lithuanian hictorical centre. The relief of the park is a unique standard of the Baltic hilly lansdacpe abounding in lakes. In the period of 2001–2006, the studies of 23 sceneries and their observation spots were performed. Landscape aesthetic resources were evaluated by the Method for Aesthetic and Recreational Assessment of Landscape. Ecoaesthetic quality was rated by means of standardized difference points indicating scenic beauty of each area. To predict the beauty of sceneries, phytocenotic research objects influencing scenic quality were chosen. The goal of the research was to investigate phytocenotic objects that should be preserved, revealed or restored for representation. 29 % of the investigated sceneries and 15 % of the studied observation spots showed high ecoaesthetic quality. Scenic quality ratings are higher due to expressiveness of relief and diversity of vegetation structure, abundance of lakes and architectural accents. Recommendations for preservation, representation and improvement of landscape aesthetic resources in Trakai Historical National Park were worked out basing on the obtained research data. Landscape formation cuttings on forest edges, protective zones along lakes, haying of meadows, restoration and management of green plantations on observation spots are based on ecological restoration principles. That allows to preserve and reveal landscape diversity, restore violated landscape complexes and impoverished agrarian areas as well as increase the quality of landscape aesthetic resources.