The Landscape Observatory of Scania in Southern Sweden - Ingrid Sarlöv Herlin

Ingrid Sarlöv Herlin
Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp.

Scania (Skåne) in southernmost Sweden is one of the most densely populated and expanding regions in  the country, with highly productive agricultural soils in the south, forested areas in the north;  sandy beaches,  small picturesque coastal towns and a gently undulating or sometimes flat landscape, rich in cultural heritage and attractive for summer tourism.

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The content of the Regió Metropolitana de Barcelona Landscape Catalogue is available to the public for consultation

The Catalan Government's official gazette, Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC), announced this past April 10th that the two-month period to inform the public about the Landscape Catalogue dedicated to Regió Metropolitana de Barcelona had begun. The document, prepared by the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia, has already received initial approval. The Observatory's series of landscape catalogues are described in the Catalan Law on Landscape as a means to inventory and analyse all the landscape values throughout the Autonomous Community and to propose landscape quality objectives which territorial planning and other related policies have to bear in mind.

The Observatory has published the Landscape Catalogue for Les Terres de l'Ebre

The Landscape Observatory has recently published the Landscape Catalogue for Les Terres de l'Ebre. This publication has been made possible thanks to the cooperation that has taken place between the Department of Territory and Sustainability and the Regional Government of Tarragona. The catalogue, which was approved in 2010, is a technical document that determines landscape types in the Terres de l'Ebre region, their values and conservation status, the quality objectives required and the proposals for attaining these objectives.

Minister Santi Vila inaugurates the Landscape Documentation Centre

On the 19 March, the Minister of Territory and Sustainability, Santi Vila, presided over the inauguration of the Landscape Documentation Centre, which has been opened in an annexe of the Landscape Observatory offices in the 'Hospici d'Olot' building. This new area includes 3,500 publications in one of the most important archives on landscape in Europe. At the inauguration, the Minister stated that the Landscape Observatory "is an internationally-recognised state structure". The event was held after the meeting of the governing council, which was held in Olot, the capital of the region of La Garrotxa for the first time ever

The Rosa Barba International Award - Candidates

The Professional Association of Architects of Catalonia and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, have advertised for candidates for the International Landscape Award as part of the 8th European Landscape Biennial, which will be held from 25 to 27 September in Barcelona. Participation in the event, which involves a single prize of 15,000 euros, is open to any landscape and planning project from around the world created between 2009 and 2014. These projects, which may be presented until 11 May, will be selected by an international panel and will be published in the catalogue of the 8th Biennial and put on display as part of the Rosa Barba Award exhibition.

The Tenth Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche Landscape Conferences

On the 20 and 21 of February, the Benetton Studi Ricerche Foundation, which is based in the Italian city of Treviso, organised the Tenth International Conference on Landscape Studies. Joan Nogué, the Director of the Landscape Observatory is on the institution's scientific committee and took part in the organisation of the seminar "Caring for the Earth, Places, Methods and Experiences". He also gave the conference "The Neo-rural Phenomenon. Towards a New Territoriality". You can consult the documentation regarding the interventions here.

The Observatory assesses a Landscape Evaluation and Planning Project in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The Landscape Observatory of Catalonia forms part of the panel of ten experts who are assessing the MedScapes Landscape Evaluation and Planning Project in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Catalan coordinator Pere Sala, participated in a preparatory seminar that took place from 28 to 30 March in the Cypriot city of Limassol in order to define the methodology to be used. Pilot tests will later be used in several of the countries participating in the project.

An International Symposium on Fringe Landscapes in Narbonne

From the 5 to the 7 of November, Narbonne will be hosting the international symposium entitled "Describing, Inhabiting and Governing Urban Fringe Landscapes". The conference, which is organised by the Landscape and Sustainable Development Programme 2  and by the French Ministry of Housing, Sustainable Development and Energy, will seek to deal with experiences from across Europe in order to manage landscapes that are becoming ever more commonplace. The Landscape Observatory will be part of the scientific committee at this event.

2x1 Landscape Observatory publications

Out of all the months of the year, April is the best month when it comes to book sales, and the Landscape Observatory is therefore presenting a special two for one offer during April to June. If you are interested in this offer, send an e-mail to observatori@catpaisatge.net and let us know what observatory publications you are interested in.

The Results from the Seminar on Landscape Observatories in Europe have been published

The Uniscape.eu, website on the European Network of Universities for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention, published the results from the Seminar on Landscape Observatories, which was held in Florence, last November. The event, which is part of the Careggi seminars, brought together some thirty experiences from across Europe, among them that of the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia. Coordinator Pere Sala exhibited the new roadmap for the CATPAISATGE 2020 organisation.

The Observatory's website includes a gallery of Jordi Bas's images

The Landscape Observatory's website incorporated a gallery of images belonging to the photographer, Jordi Bas. Bas's gallery joins those dedicated to Carlos Albalá and Ignasi López, Jordi Bernadó, Rafael López-Monné, Aleix Plademunt and Jorge Yeregui which have been available on the website for several months. From the outset, the Landscape Observatory has seen photography as an other means to provide information, communicate and raise awareness about landscape policies.

The Proposals and Conclusions of the Energy Congress of Catalonia have been published

The first Energy Congress of Catalonia (CoEnerCat) entitled "Resources, Innovation, Sustainability" was held in Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida and Girona from 25 to 29 November 2013. The event blog details an executive summary with the proposals made and conclusions reached. Over 30 lectures were given at the congress, among which was one from the Landscape Observatory on "Landscape and Energy Infrastructures. Guidelines for the Suitable Implementation of Wind Power in Catalonia". Both the director and the coordinator of the organisation, Joan Nogué and Pere Sala, took part in a discussion panel on landscape and energy infrastructures.

The Landscape of the Rec Comtal, in Eight Digital Publications

The Advanced Technical School of Architecture (the ETSAV) of El Vallès, which is part of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, has published eight digital works on the landscape of the Rec Comtal, which is one of the main historical features with respect to water supply in the city of Barcelona. The documents form part of the "Cultural Landscapes" subject, from an optional course taught at the ETSAV Department of Urban and Regional Planning as part of the Erasmus programme.

Criteris per a la correcta integració en el paisatge de les construccions aïllades en sòl no urbanitzable

This document presented by the Government of Catalonia's Directorate General of Territory and Urban Planning establishes the criteria and guidelines to improve the construction of isolated buildings in lands not suited for urban development.

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