Regionalization of the Croatian Landscape: An Integrative Approach to Methods and Criteria for Defining Boundaries

The purpose of this paper is to examine how existing regionalizations in the Republic of Croatia differ in their criteria for region separation, to identify their similarities and differences, and to outline the key characteristics of each defined region. As landscape research is broad and interdisciplinary, regionalization plays an important role in developing landscape typology. This is particularly relevant in Croatia, where landscape studies are still at an early stage, making it necessary to establish clear starting points for a unified approach in future research. The method included overlapping two landscape, four geographic, one natural, and three cultural regionalizations in two subject areas in Lika and in Bilogora and the Kalnik foothills. The results showed that there are greater similarities between regionalizations based on natural features (relief and hydrological features), while there are greater differences between cultural regionalizations, as these also include human perception of the landscape. Furthermore, there are greater similarities between regions in the Lika area, while in Bilogora and the Kalnik foothills a quite different understanding of regional boundaries through various aspects is evident. It was determined that the scope of areas carrying the identity of both regions (obtained by an intersectional methodological approach) differs from the scope of regions as perceived by the local population. In conclusion, the contemporary identity of the landscape is subject to constant review due to new scientific knowledge and changes in perception, where it is crucial to consider all available data and include the public in defining regional boundaries.