Landscape carrying capacity approach: Thematic and methodological patterns

The challenges of 21st century reguire more sustainable solutions and processes. Spatial planning is one of the most comprehensive process of structuring and directing of human activities on multiple scales. The shift of spatial planning systems toward sustainability has begun over the past few decades. Landscape carrying capacity approach can be a crutial element of sustainable spatial planning. The scientific methods need to be more integrated into the spatial planning practice to ensure sustainability. Studies related to landscape carrying capacity have increased rapidly over the past three decades. The aim of this study is to provide an initial review of the research field of the landscape carrying capacity approach in relation to spatial planning. 701 studies were assessed, and their evaluation was conducted through thematic and methodological clustering. Results show that land suitability assessments; agriculture sector or agriculture-industry-servicies sectors in parallel; all or most of environmental components in parallel are the most frequently researched topics. Several conventionally applied methods (e.g. analytical hierarchy process), several specialized applied methods (e.g. life cycle assessment), and several rarely applied methods (e.g. DPSIR) were identified relation to landscape carrying capacity. These research findings can support the development of a standardized landscape carrying capacity methodology, contribute to more sustainable spatial planning processes, and facilitate the advancement of sustainable sectoral planning approaches. Therefore, this study may serve as an initial step toward promoting the comprehensive integration of scientific methods and tools—while allowing for flexible adaptation—into spatial planning processes.