Participatory landscape development: overcoming social barriers to public involvement

Since the early seventies, a considerable part of the Swiss population has perceived the actual development of the landscape as unwelcome and problematic. In spite of the efforts in science and politics this problem could not be reduced effectively. The measures taken concentrated on protecting the landscape. According to our hypothesis a sustainable landscape development does not only require protection, but also and maybe most of all the participation of the local residents in shaping the landscape. So the problem of the landscape is that participation is somehow blocked. This study tried to provide the foundations for a new strategy to a sustainable landscape development by finding answers to the following questions: What prevents local residents from participating in the processes that shape their landscape? How could they be encouraged to participate? These questions were investigated with methods of qualitative social science research (interviews, photo experiments, action research). The investigation was carried out in two rural communities, which differed in their degree of urbanisation. We found that the residents' participation was mainly prevented by the persistent identification with the village community, which is connected with a pressure to adapt to collective standards. To foster participation new communicative instruments are needed, which allow to exchange ideas without risking to be ostracised. Such instruments were evaluated in the two communities and proved to be effective. At the same time, it became clear that fostering a participatory landscape development requires a long-term learning-process. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.