Identity-shaping landscapes

Santi Vila i Vicente
Ministry for Territory and Sustainability, Government of Catalonia

The geographer and anarchist, Elisée Reclus, had a significant impact on Catalan libertarian ideals in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1866 he wrote that landscape is, above all else, the common ground through which human beings as both individuals and collective subjects are capable of recognizing each other. A beautiful thought, corresponding to a moment in time in which human activity's effective transformational power over the territory had still not gone beyond the tenacity of work and direct physical force.

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International seminar called Rediscovering the Landscape from a Local Perspective

The Landscape Observatory has organized an international seminar called Rediscovering the Landscape from a Local Perspective to be held in Olot on September 26th and 27th. The objective of the seminar is to learn more about and share some of the most interesting experiences in the landscape field at the local level, both here and across Europe, all within a context in which the local world increasingly sees landscape as the driver of its development and a means to increase citizens' self-esteem and quality of life. You can consult the programme here.

The Observatory and the Government of Andorra to jointly study the relation between landscape and the local world in Europe

The Landscape Observatory of Catalonia and the Government of Andorra have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly study landscape planning tools that have an impact on local planning initiatives in Europe. The first part of the study will consist of creating an inventory and analysis of the main norms existing at the local level in Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the region of Wallonia. The two will also study the main cases in which these instruments have been applied and can be considered references in the field. The second part will attempt to find examples that can be applied and adapted to the local Andorran context. The research will end with an easy-to-consult document enabling researchers to compare instruments and cases.

The Landscape Observatory and the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability jointly define guidelines to satisfactorily install wind turbines in the landscape

The future energy model of our country necessarily implies the development of wind power. However, the balance between developing this energy source and preserving the landscape is not an easy one, especially given the transformation wind turbines represent. Now that, for the first time ever, Catalonia has a landscape map and taking advantage of tools with great potential to ensure that wind turbines are appropriately installed in the landscape, the Landscape Observatory and the Environmental Planning Office within the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability are working together to draft guidelines to achieve this objective, bearing in mind the wealth and diversity of the landscape. The first results are expected in November.

UNESCO declares Terres de l'Ebre a new Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO has declared Terres de l'Ebre a new Biosphere Reserve. This United Nations agency highlights the diversity of the area's ecosystems and that a large part is dedicated to ranching and alternative energy sources (wind, solar and hydroelectric power generation), respecting the environment and the landscape. These Biosphere Reserves are places in which, with the local population's conformity, innovative practices are applied to balance human activity and environmental conservation. In this case, civil society was responsible for Terra de l'Ebre's candidature, sponsored by seventy social and economic institutions and organizations in the four local counties, including organizations such as the Consortium of Agro-Environmental Services (CODE) in Baix Ebre and Montsià, counties which also collaborated in preparing the Terres de l'Ebre Landscape Catalogue.

Augmented reality technology applied as a tourism resource to increase appreciation for landscapes

Approximately 180 students from the UOC Cultural Heritage class took advantage of the Landscape Catalogues to enrich more than 400 points of touristic interest through augmented reality technology. The project aims to train students to be able to generate added-value information about landscapes in different tourist destinations. For this they use augmented reality via mobile technology at the sites described in the Catalan Landscape Catalogues.

Documents from the Rome LE:NOTRE Landscape Forum 2013 now available

In April, the city of Rome hosted the Roma LE:NOTRE Landscape Forum 2013, gathering approximately 170 people from institutions both within and outside the LE:NOTRE network, including the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia. Those attending took part in lectures, roundtable discussions, excursions and workshops centered on four topics: "Urban growth and peri-urban sprawl", "Sustainable tourism", "Heritage and identities" and "Rural fringe". Documents are available via the LE:NOTRE website.

The 2013 International Carlo Scarpa Prize for Gardens

Skrudur garden, located in northwest Iceland, won the 2013 International Carlo Scarpa Prize for Gardens organized by the Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche. The garden was created in 1909 as part of a project designed to improve the wellbeing, education and social relations between the local population in this barren area with extreme environmental conditions located very close to the Arctic Circle. The garden was abandoned for some time though later revived in the last decades of the 20th century. It can now be visited once more.

The participatory process launched in Vall de Camprodon

On Wednesday, April 17th, a participatory process called "Order and spread landscape guidelines regarding good practices for the tourism industry in Vall, the scope of which will be defined jointly" was launched. This process represents the willingness to work for and by Vall's tourism industry, sharing what landscape is with others, its strengths and weaknesses, how landscapes can be appreciated and identifying good practices and improvement guidelines for landscapes, guidelines which are real, feasible and agreed on consensually. A blog is now available gathering all the documentation on this participatory process.

The Cornish Landscape Observatory launches a new newsletter

The Cornish Landscape Observatory was officially founded in February 2013 though it had already been active since 2011. It has just recently launched its first newsletter. The aim is for this newsletter to serve as a meeting point for the organisation's members to share their ideas, resources and important projects. The Cornish Landscape Observatory was created with the objective of sharing information and fomenting debate on the landscape and culture of this area in the UK, and bring groups, organisations and people with a common interest together. This project is an initiative of the Centre for European Research within Cornwall (CERES) and has the support of the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia.

Historic Landscape characterisation in Ireland: Best practice guidance

Best practice guide on historic landscape character by The Heritage Council (Ireland).

Paisatges culturals a la Reial Séquia de Montcada

Through a rich and multidisciplinary view, this 2.0 web project is aimed at the promotion and conservation of the cultural landscape of the Horta de València, its irrigation union and everything related to the different cultural landscapes that shape and have shaped this land.

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