Project in brief The integrity of Mediterranean landscapes is currently threatened by a series of common problems: pollution, overgrazing, tourism development and urbanisation. Besides lack of public awareness, political commitment or intersectoral cooperation, the protection of natural heritage is hindered by the fragmentation of actions and approaches implemented so far in the Mediterranean region. Although widely acknowledged in Northern Europe, the importance of Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) as a tool for integrated evaluation, monitoring and protection of natural heritage is still not recognised by relevant authorities and policies in the Mediterranean area. Efforts up to now to address landscape character assessment in the Mediterranean have been somewhat sporadic, under-funded and isolated from each other, raising clear needs for coordination, communication, mutual learning and solidarity amongst key practitioners, as well as for economic resources to enable common progress. All of these needs will be addressed in the context of MEDSCAPES project with a view to integrating LCA approach as an efficient tool in local territorial planning policies, biodiversity conversation and rural landscape protection in Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon and Greece. Specific objective To develop and apply a best-practice methodology for Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in the Eastern Mediterranean area, as an integrative planning and risk assessment tool for sustainable land use decision-making and landscape-scale protection of the natural heritage including biodiversity Expected Results: • Fully tested regionally-adapted methodology for Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) and mapping • Landscape character typologies and finished maps at 1:100.000 scale, in paper and electronic form, for the whole territory of Cyprus and pilot areas of Lebanon (Mount Lebanon, West Bekaa), Jordan (Mujib, Yarmouk) and Greece (Epirus, Lesbos) plus assessment of landscape condition and sensitivity in those areas • A model approach for community participation in landscape-scale nature protection developed • A risk-modelling software package designed for land use decision-making • Trained LCA practitioners in each partner organisation