Landscape park (protected area)

Wetlands alongside the Morava River in Záhorie Protected Landscape Area (Slovakia).

A landscape park (Czech: chráněná krajinná oblast, abbreviated as CHKO; Slovak: Chránená krajinná oblasť, abbreviated as CHKO; Polish: Park Krajobrazowy; Slovene: krajinski park; Ukrainian: регіона́льний ландша́фтний (пейзажний) па́рк, abbreviated as РЛП; Hungarian: tájvédelmi körzet, abbreviated as TVK) is a type of protected area in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovenia. It is of lower status than a National Park and with less stringent restrictions on development and economic use (usually IUCN Category V).

Landscape parks are environment-protected recreational institutions of local or regional status that are created with the goal of conservation in natural state typical or unique natural complexes and objects as well as providing the conditions for organized recreation for the population.

Landscape parks are organized with withdrawal or without withdrawal of land plots, water, and other natural objects from their owners or users.

In the event when the withdrawal of land plots, water, and other natural objects is necessary for the needs of the regional landscape parks, it is conducted in order established by the legislation of the specific country.

Landscape parks relies the implementation of such objectives:

  • conservation of valuable natural and historical-cultural complexes and objects;
  • creating conditions for effective tourism, recreation, and other types of outdoor activities in natural conditions in compliance with the regime of protection of preserved natural complexes and objects;
  • promoting environmental education work.