The role and importance of forest watercourses and water reservoirs in designing landscape values of forests

This paper presents some issues related to designing forest landscape located close to the areas of watercourses and water reservoirs. Surface waters, beside forests and diverse terrain relief, constitute the main element deciding about tourist and recreation attractiveness of every such area. Some surveys on the evaluation of forest recreational potential prove that the forest attractiveness is closely connected with the quantity and quality of water reservoirs and watercourses. Due do their functions (environmental, hydrological, economic and social), and the fact that over the past decades both their number and surface area have decreased, water areas require particular protection and concern. The aim of this paper is to highlight the necessity of defining the principles of designing forest landscape, with the consideration of the role of forest water areas in recreational and tourist develop-