4.10.2 Landscape Assessment

The European Landscape Convention, also known as the Florence Convention, promotes the

protection, management and planning of European landscapes and organises European co-

operation on landscape issues. The convention was adopted on 20 October 2000 in Florence

(Italy) and came into force on 1 March 200473.

73 Council of Europe.

Prepared for: Transport Infrastructure Ireland

SEA of the National Cycle Network Plan SEA Environmental Report (Updated)

Ireland has signed the European Landscape Convention and by law, Ireland is required to

undertake general measures to recognise landscapes, establish landscape policies with public

participation and to integrate landscape into its existing policies.

In 2015, a National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2015-202574 was published, in line with

the European Landscape Convention.The key objectives of this Strategy are the recognition

of landscape in law and the provision of a policy framework to put measures in place for the

management and protection of landscape and the production of a national Landscape

Character Assessment (LCA). Goals of producing LCAs at local and intra-local level have

made little progress. These LCAs act as guides to inform landscape policy, action plans and

local authority development plans.

Without national or regional guidance, local authorities currently conserve and protect scenic

value as areas of high amenity, high sensitivity and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

However, this approach is uncoordinated and can lead to different prioritisations in

neighbouring counties.