Landscape Geoecology as a basis for the selection, planning, and management of Protected Areas: Theoretical-methodological aspects

The establishment of Protected Areas (PA) as a counterpart to the advancement of societal pressures on ecosystems and natural landscapes is considered the principal strategy for the preservation of biodiversity on our planet. Several principles and methods have been formulated and applied in the last decades to optimize the selection, planning, and management of these areas. On the other hand, Landscape Geoecology as an integrative and transdisciplinary scientific approach offers an essential basis to understand the complex dynamics between society and nature, providing, through specific criteria and indicators, the analysis and diagnosis of landscape units, which allow the proper development of this process. Therefore, this work aims to exposit and analyze the theoretical and methodological aspects used by Landscape Geoecology for the selection, planning, and management of PAs, providing the basis for its application to specific cases.