The preparation of a proper zoning plan or landscape-ecological plan requires taking into account recognition of the natural values of an area covered by the plan and evaluating its abiotic and biotic diversities. The aim of the paper is to present the new approach to the procedure of geodiversity and biodiversity assessment. This procedure is used to characterise abiotic and biotic heterogeneity of the postglacial landscape modified by a man, tested on Dębnica River catchment (Western Pomerania, Poland). This catchment is a representative example illustrating the landscape of Central European Plain. The analytical algorithm of the geodiversity assessment is based on appropriate selection of the evaluation criteria: lithological, relative heights, landform fragmentation, hydrographical elements and mesoclimatic conditions. Biodiversity was assessed on the basis of real vegetation, potential natural vegetation and the degree of anthropisation of the natural vegetation with respect to syngenesis of plant associations. Seven factor maps were obtained: five for the diversity of abiotic elements, and two for the diversity of biotic elements, which became the basis for the creation of total geodiversity and biodiversity maps. Maps produced in accordance with given methodology may find a wide range of applications.

This paper presents an approach to geodiversity assessment based on spatial multicriteria analysis. Instead of relying solely on weighted linear combination (WLC) for aggregating factor ratings and weights to compute a synthetic measure of geodiversity, the approach employs WLC in concert with its local version called L-WLC to provide a more comprehensive assessment approach. As part of the approach, the assessment input data comprised of geodiversity factor ratings and weights were obtained through crowdsourcing. A geoinformation crowdsourcing tool called the geo-questionnaire was used to obtain data from 57 Earth science researchers worldwide. These data served as the bases for a group assessment of geodiversity. The reliability of assessment was evaluated by means of spatially explicit uncertainty analysis. The results showed the efficacy of local spatial multicriteria analysis techniques (L-WLC) used in concert with a global technique (WLC) on the example of geodiversity assessment for Karkonosze National Park in southwestern Poland.

The paper reports on a geodiversity assessment method at the local scale based on spatial multi-criteria analysis (S-MCA). The study area consists of two geomorphosites: Derborence and Illgraben, located in the Swiss Alps and representative of different types of morphodynamics. Apart from glacial and fluvial landforms, the morphology of these two sites is largely due to extreme phenomena (rockslides, torrential processes). Both areas were incorporated in the list of Swiss geosites for their geomorphological interest. The geodiversity assessment criteria were selected and presented on five factor maps: the relief energy (relative height), the landform fragmentation, the landform preservation, the geological setting and the hydrological factor. The factor maps were aggregated using the weighted linear combination (WLC) technique. The accuracy of the final geodiversity maps of Derborence and Illgraben was verified during a field inspection. The final maps were qualitatively assessed in terms of the geodiversity value of specific areas within the selected geomorphosites. The proposed method allows assessing the intrinsic geodiversity differentiation of large geosites, in particular in protected and conserved areas (PCAs). The results can be used for purposes such as the designation of most valuable parts of the area for the preservation of certain abiotic features, spatial planning or tourism management, at least in the alpine fold mountains.

Artykuł przedstawia analizę porównawczą metody przestrzennej analizy wielokryterialnej w dwóch technikach do oceny georóżnorodności wybranych parków narodowych reprezentujących zróżnicowane typy krajobrazu Polski: obszar górski, wyżynny i nizinny. Pierwsza technika dotyczy globalnie ważonej kombinacji liniowej (G-WLC), natomiast druga – lokalnie ważonej kombinacji liniowej (L-WLC). Oceny georóżnorodności zlewni elementarnych wykonano w oparciu o siedem komponentów środowiska geograficznego wybranych parków narodowych. Do analizy porównawczej uzyskanych wyników ocen georóżnorodności obydwoma technikami wykorzystano indykator georóżnorodności. W artykule wykazano, że technika globalnie ważonej kombinacji liniowej (G-WLC) jest bardziej czuła na georóżnorodność obszarów jednorodnych środowiskowo, np. wyżynnych i nizinnych, natomiast technika lokalnie ważonej kombinacji liniowej (L-WLC) powinna być przeznaczona do badania obszarów heterogenicznych, bardzo zróżnicowanych, szczególnie hipsometrycznie, np. do obszarów górskich.

Human impact in the form of reservoir construction and river regulation downstream of reservoirs, is causing irreversible alterations to hillslope and river channel connectivity in river catchments. This disruption in the dynamic equilibrium of the river is attributed to sediment accumulation upstream of the reservoir's dam, limited sediment outflow from the reservoir, and increased downcutting downstream of the dam. Consequently, these alterations necessitate further human interference in natural environmental processes through the construction of various river engineering structures designed to reduce the intensity of downcutting. The purpose of the present study was to assess the impact of a small mountain reservoir and additional river regulation structures on the Wapienica River in southern Poland, focusing on the structural and functional connectivity of the river channel in terms of sediment transfer. This assessment was based on erosion and connectivity modeling, as well as field mapping. A high‐resolution digital elevation model (HRDEM) was examined in the study along with survey data on suspended sediment accumulation sites along the river. The study utilized open‐source tools, including SedInConnect for connectivity index (IC) calculation, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for ArcGIS software. It was found that the Wapienica reservoir permanently retains the floating material, making the likelihood of this material flowing out of the reservoir minimal. Within the reverse delta of the reservoir, the entire load of bottom material (sand) is also retained. Thicker bottom material (gravel, boulders) is deposited in the riverbed within the delta, leading to the shallowing of the bed upstream of the delta. These processes disrupt longitudinal connectivity. Six connectivity zones have been identified within the catchment. The first four are situated in the southern part of the catchment: strong connectivity, reduction, concrete channel, and damage area. The remaining two, situated in the northern part are: artificial channel and drainage channels. Each of the six zones is characterized by different sediments and river processes. It was demonstrated that a more detailed and more probably connectivity pattern for hillslopes and river channels may be obtained through the use of several tools and parameters at the same time (i.e., fieldwork, SWAT, IC).