GIS BASED ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The need for sustainable rural development is widely recognised and acknowledged as the European social goal. Such concept implies certain mechanisms and procedures that will assure implementation of landscape, environment and nature protection demands. This paper presents an approach for reconciliation of conflicting interests between development and protection from the planning perspective. The methodological approach of suitability modelling is presented in a case study of land-use planning process for a typical rural area of continental Croatia, the area of Samobor-Zumberacko Gorje. The suitability models were developed for a type of rural tourism - Family estate, frequently listed in agro-environment programmes for similar areas. Suitability maps allowed the identification of both conflicting interests to be located in space. Such models are relevant tool for representation of spatial potentials and possible degradations due to a landscape change as well as society's diversified interests and can be a promising starting point for a process of resolving conflicts and reaching the best possible consensus on future land use in rural areas.