LANDSCAPE-ECOLOGICAL OPTIMIZATION OF HYDRIC POTENTIAL IN FOOTHILLS REGION WITH DISPERSED SETTLEMENTS. A CASE STUDY OF NOVA BOSACA, SLOVAKIA

The article shows how to implement scientific results from a methodology of landscape ecological planning (LANDEP) into integrated river basin management. This methodology creates a framework of integrating research of land use structure with modelling hydric potential by using runoff curve number into the assessment and subsequent optimization of hydric potential in a foothills region of the Biele Karpaty Mts. Analysis and hydric evaluation of the study area shows that foothills region has a relatively high hydric potential. The research question is: could landscape ecological optimization reduce runoff significantly and improve hydric regime in the landscape. The proposed measures are linked to existing land use structure, where they increase the quality of existing hydric elements. They have character of non-technical solutions with maximum exploitation of the potential of ecosystem services, therefore they are economically undemanding. On the basis of our results, the proposed changes in land use will lead to the capture of water in landscape and an overall better use of water in landscape.