Towards a general theory of landscape systems: the integration of the geoecological and bioecological approaches

Ever since its beginnings, landscape ecology has been developing in two different directions: the bioecological and the geoecological. While the bioecological approach is focused on the relationship between organisms and their abiotic environment, the geoecological approach is based on the relationship between human society and its, primarily abiotic, environment. Therefore, the geoecological approach can be applied in planning human use of the environment in a long term sustainable manner, while the bioecological approach could represent the basis for the planning of conservational and environmental usage. The merging of these two approaches will result in a comprehensive and more holistic landscape ecology, which will thus gain the potential for coordinating interdisciplinary landscape research and a more prominent role in contributing to spatial planning. The merge will also enhance attempts to create a general theory of landscape systems.