TÉKA Project - Cultural landscape heritage inventarisation and mapping in Hungary

The general aim of the project is to complete a comprehensive landscape value cadastre, covering the entire territory of the country, which can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage. The goal of the project is to establish the methodology of landscape value cadastre, collect database, work out the management framework, manage the database and complete the field surveys. Besides those protected by Nature Protection either Cultural Heritage Code, there are numerous landscape values throughout the country which are less significant on a national but highly important on a local level, serving a base for local identity. According to previous surveys the number of these non-protected landscape values significantly exceeds the number of protected ones. Meanwhile their number is continuously decreasing due to the progressing economic environment, life styles and the lack of legal protection. In the framework of the project we are planned to establish a country-wide uniform on-line cadastre. The projected landscape value cadastre would not only integrate the present data of natural and cultural values but also complete the database by field work, surplus using the benefits of public contributions.

At the beginning of the project we are dedicated to analyze and evaluate previous data collections and database building methods. Detailed research would be carried out on the contents of data, management of databases, finance of databases, the overlapping of data and the connection with other databases. Based on the experiences gained by analyzing the database, data resources and its management we projected to carry out a national research and field survey, according to landscape values. The work would include a survey of missing and undefined unique landscape values and also a GIS analysis of cultural heritage, archeological objects and geological sites acceptable on a landscape scale.

The outcomes of the analysis and field work will serve an integrated database which is built within the framework of the project. The function of the projected database is to serve data on landscape values to professionals, researchers, NGOs and decision makers. As a “base” of the database we are planned to work out a system plan and management plan together with the concerned entities and also set up a committee by the end of the project, responsible for the future activity. Besides short term aims, the project’s long term and indirect goal is to establish the frame for a wide-range co-operation among representatives of different practice fields, NGOs and local residents by which continuous data collection, systematization, service and publication of landscape values could be ensured. Rely on the project landscape preservation and cultural heritage protection would gain more importance. Within the project we highly emphasize on the publication and practical use of applicable results (database, field survey and system methods) of scientific research. Therefore we projected to complete a communication plan. Definition of publication strategies and practical use is helped by two pilot projects held on disadvantageous regions of the country.

Altogether the project’s most important output would be the inventory database on landscape values (TÉKA) by which decision makers, experts and the public could gain information about cultural and natural values according to landscape values which can enhance local identity and local environmental conscience.