Landscape in a Changing World Conference, Lesbos, Greece

Landscape
in a Changing World

19th - 28th, September 2012
Lesvos Island, Greece

UNIVERSITY OF
THE AEGEAN

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Context

 

COURSE CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

Changing land/ resource uses and priorities are gravely impacting 21^st century landscapes globally, and specifically in Europe, which is facing multiple landscape-related crises, at present and in the foreseeable future: economic, environmental, housing, energy, resources, etc. According to the recently formulated by the European Science Foundation and COST (10/2011) Draft Action Plan for the European Landscape, rekindling political action for the European landscape, one of the main assets of Europe’s cultural identity is its great landscape diversity. A repository of culture, nature and history, landscape is always changing, reflecting the goals, values and priorities of the societies that have been shaping it, as these are imprinted on the land and conceived and enjoyed by its users, the people.

Thus, a re-direction of interdisciplinary scientific interest to landscape matters is required, as external (collective, social) and internal (personal, psychological) parameters are currently evolving in new and sometimes unprecedented ways. The latter developments also dictate the investigation a-new of methods, strategies and tools of addressing landscape issues, in today’s multiply changing world, at various geographical scales. Circumstances also demand more comprehensive and democratic ways of dealing with the landscape, as a collective public good, in order not only to secure and safeguard sustainable human/ societal development, but also representation, participation and multi-vocality, in shaping our landscapes of tomorrow. In all of these respects, landscapes constitute key aspects in understanding and shaping social relations, cultural identities, local economies and land-based political agendas. Such understandings of multifunctional contemporary landscapes lie at the basis of this course’s objectives and subject matter.

Accordingly, the course’s focus is on an in-depth and all-around investigation of the relevance and value of Landscape Science to sustainable economic growth and development, quality of everyday life, environmental and cultural preservation, tourism and recreation planning and the formulation of policy. This focus is upheld both because of the timeliness and urgency in dealing with relevant issues, in view of adapting an evolving landscape science, politics and practice to various crises, but also as a requisite for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention (Florence 2000, signed and ratified by Greece on 16/2/10), throughout Europe. The issues mentioned above, however, also have direct relevance for many other current European Union policies, such as CAP 2014-2020, the Renewable Energy Directive, Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, Biodiversity Policy 2020 and—all of which, among several others, touch on the landscape. 

“This Summer School is supported by the University of the Aegean’s Summer School project which is part of «The University of the Aegean, the prominent and driving factor for the economic and social growth of the wide Aegean area» partially funded by the Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (OP EDULLL)”

With the support of: “This Summer School is supported by the University of the Aegean’s Summer School project which is part of «The University of the Aegean, the prominent and driving factor for the economic and social growth of the wide Aegean area» partially funded by the Operational Programme “Education and Lifelong Learning” (OP EDULLL)”