Over time, street landscapes have changed their meaning, from significant gathering, socializing and movement places they have become intense traffic corridors dominated by street transport. Today, however, more and more people are once again beginning to identify streets as more than just corridors for movement and transport, but also as important multifunctional outdoor spaces. Social habits have also changed as the needs for a healthy and safe environment have increased, and people are increasingly choosing environmentally friendly ways of moving, active lifestyles, being outdoors, in nature. The implementation of the needs of modern society on the streets of the historic city centres is complex, influenced by a number of factors: the historical identity of the place, the historic character and elements of the streetscape that are often protected by legal acts; the needs and interests of various interested parties, including accessibility of the streetscape for people with disabilities; the growing need to solve problems of climate in cities – mitigation of heat islands, air pollution, flooding caused by intensive rainfalls, which is complicated by the lack of green areas in the historic city centre. In order to develop the most appropriate solutions for the development of historic streets, it is necessary to identify all the limiting and promotive aspects. The purpose of this study is to develop and to test the methodological framework for the research of historical streetscape as the basis for the development of public space compliant with modern requirements, by performing streetscape analysis based on public needs, historical, ecological and socioeconomic criteria. The developed methodology has been tested in the context of Terbatas Street in Riga city, Latvia. Key results from the study showed that for historic streets it is essential to identify those elements of the streetscape that can be transformed and adapted to modern requirements and societal needs, and those elements that are essential to preserve in order to maintain the historical character and identity of the place. As one of the main conclusions of the study – the overall development strategy of the historic city centre plays an important role in research and development of historic streetscape, which includes both mobility, green infrastructure, public space network, tourism development, as well as functional and ecological links with other parts of the city.

As well as physical reality, the landscape is also an emotionally symbolic structure that closely intertwines with human cognitive perception, self-identification, with the perception of the homeland, as well as affects our daily habits. The landscape, as a cultural expression, forms a close connection with historical and political events, with traditions and customs, with each individual and with the nation as a whole, all of this manifests itself in a symbolic sense of the landscape, often used as a national recognition, for marketing purposes, but the symbols of the landscape are also a close connection between each individual and their native place and ancestors. The research analyses various aspects and phenomena that influence the symbolic importance of the landscape and relate to both cognitive aspects of each individual or community, nation, and collective memory and other expressions of identity and self-awareness. The landscape has a holistic nature that explains the close connection of several processes, both physical changes in landscape and changes in perception of each individual, according to the political and social situation of the country. Not least importance has the history of the development of the landscape perception of each country, which has been formed relatively recently in Latvia and art, photograms and the systematic division of the landscape created by researchers also play a big role in it. The regional context and cultural and historical division of Latvia should also be noted in the creation of landscape symbols. Cognitive processes are therefore associated with such concepts – Genius Locci, memory and event landscapes, landscape identity, place names, landscape biographies, etc. As a result, the author's model for the development and operation of the symbolic meaning of the landscape is presented, reflecting the structure and specificity of the symbolic creation of the landscape, as well as related processes that influence the symbolic meaning of the landscape.

Landscape variability due to anthropogenic pressure poses a risk to the existence of valuable and unique landscapes. It once became the reason for raising the issue of landscape protection in Europe, paying special attention to landscapes of national importance by giving them a special status. In European practice, the granting of the status of a landscape of national importance to certain territories is based on a long tradition. In England and Scotland, it was started in 1949, separating nature protection and landscape protection directly into laws and regulations, and also later by identifying and mapping the country's most important landscapes, developing guidelines for landscape protection, planning and management, and setting up national landscape protection institutions. Later, in 1992, Finland also granted a special status to its particularly important landscapes. In general, this establishing method is similar to the UK experience. The experience of France, on the other hand, is based on exploiting the potential of the landscape for tourism, by branding specific landscapes and linking them in a single network. The traditions of European countries in identifying and managing landscapes of national importance are different, but they are mainly based on the desire of each country to highlight and preserve its special and important landscapes both as real territories and as symbols of national identity. This article analyses the understanding of national landscapes, comparing the examples of individual European countries, as well as the experience of Latvia, with the aim to determine the best basis and method for Latvia to identify, protect and manage national landscapes.

European countries have different experience in landscape characterisation and assessment. Comparing the different approaches used in different European countries, it is proposed to use the method developed and validated in the United Kingdom - Landscape Character Assessment, adapted and modified for the Latvian situation. This approach has also been used in most other European countries, which have chosen to use the UK approach to landscape characterisation, adapting it to their specific national situation. The need for a landscape assessment in Latvia is highlighted in the Latvian Landscape Policy Guidelines 2013-2019 and Latvian Landscape Policy Implementation Plan 2024-2027, taking into account the actions set out in the European Landscape Convention to be taken by all Parties to the Convention. The purpose of the research was to carry out the analysis of Latvian landscape sensitivity within spatial planning scenarios important for local municipalities. It is of high importance to assess landscape sensitivity for changes of build and natural environment influencing pace and scale of development of the rural areas of Latvia. As local municipalities set different goals for their spatial development, common spatial development scenarios were chosen to make analysis of landscape sensitivity in Latvian landscapes. Results from the analysis of landscape sensitivity show variation of suitable actions to be implemented if different places in Latvia. The results also can be used for defining landscape quality goals to harmonise scope of activities to be implemented by local municipalities of Latvia.

Izstrādātās vadlīnijas paredzēts kā informatīvs, metodisks un izglītojošs materiāls par dabas resursu integrētu plānošanu un pārvaldību pilsētvidē, ietverot gan teorētiskās atziņas, gan praktiskus piemērus. Materiālu veido trīs tematiskās sadaļas. Pirmajā iekļauts stratēģiskais un teorētiskais ietvars, kur raksturotas galvenās atziņas par dabas resursiem pilsētvidē, urbāno ekoloģiju un stratēģiskajiem dokumentiem, kas ietver dabas resursu integrētu plānošanu un pārvaldību. Otrā sadaļa apskata galvenās metodiskās pieejas un koncepcijas, bet trešā nodaļa apkopo jau esošos rīkus, kas saistīti ar integrētu dabas resursu plānošanu un pārvaldību. Materiāla noformējums veidots sekojoši – pamatu veido vispārīga informācija par tēmu, kas papildināta ar nodaļai atbilstošās krāsas izceltajām galvenajām atziņām un ar pelēkā fona krāsojumā atzīmētajiem piemēriem no prakses.

Natural grasslands are among the most endangered habitats in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe due to the agricultural intensification, land abandonment and afforestation, urban expansion, and the loss of traditional low-intensity management, on which their biodiversity depends. One way to increase the number of natural grasslands is by integrating them into urban green infrastructure as a nature-based solution to enhance ecological resilience and urban livability: diverse grassland systems support pollinators, improve soil structure and stormwater infiltration, mitigate urban heat and provide restorative, experience-rich public spaces. The aim of the study is to explore opportunities and barriers to integrating different types of grasslands into the green infrastructure of Latvian cities, with a primary focus on public perceptions and institutional aspects of urban grassland implementation and management. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining resident surveys, interviews with municipal experts—territorial development specialists, planners and maintenance managers—and comparative policy analysis. Results show that although residents acknowledge the ecological benefits of urban grasslands, they prefer them in peripheral or underused areas rather than in city centres and residential zones, as these areas are often aesthetically perceived as “untidy” or neglected, conflicting with cultural norms that favour short, intensively mown lawns and raising concerns about insects. Acceptance increases through communication and participatory practices. Municipal approaches range from structured maintenance guidelines, including delayed mowing, biomass removal, and invasive species control, to flexible experimentation. The study contributes scientifically grounded insights into governance, perception, and management interfaces critical for mainstreaming socially accepted urban grasslands.