The paper presents a role of defining, evaluating and comparing alternative proposals of particular developing programs as possible mechanism of landscape protection. The main reasons why alternatives should be used in planning process are explained. There are many different interests in space present and with analysing alternatives it can be found out how particular interests are respected. The proponent of an action has a set of aims to be met, which can normally be satisfied in a number of alternative ways, each of which has different effects upon the environment. Forming alternatives and offering possibilities of choosing among them is a way of optimising decision making. The paper deals with themes like: why and how different interests in space should be included in alternative proposals, using alternatives in different levels, how and when alternatives should be established in planning process, how many alternatives there should be and why it is important to define all possible and reasonable alternatives and what distinguishes alternatives one from another.

alternatives; decision making; landscape protection; spatial analysis

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia