Is the increasing interest in landscape at a European level translated to a local level? How is it perceived and mobilized by local actors? Are there lessons to be learned from empirical case studies? To increase our understanding of these issues, an analysis was carried out by using the theoretical framework of the sociology of translation on 8 landscapebased initiatives in an Italian Alpine valley. The initiatives aimed, either explicitly or implicitly, at enhancing the mountainous landscapes in a move toward more sustainable development. The sociology of translation conceives the implementation of an innovation as an attempt to build a working network between human and nonhuman entities such as landscape. Our analysis shows how dynamically different actors can interact with landscape in a rural mountain context. In quite similar places (ie sharing the same problems, rural history, and goals), the same resources were used in different ways by the different initiatives. The outcomes depend on the ability of the promoters of the initiatives to build networks with different actors, in some cases far beyond the valley or province’s borders, around new concepts of landscape. Moreover, an adequate organizational framework that fosters bottom-up approaches can support successful implementation of local landscape projects. Active, two-way communication is also crucial to move from a ‘‘local’’ to a ‘‘participative’’ project and thus mobilize allies for sustainable landscape planning and management. Overall, the research provides insights into how such landscape initiatives can be better implemented and effectively contribute toward the European Landscape Convention.

De Ros, G.; Mazzola, A. (2012). Networking with landscape: local initiatives in an Italian Alpine valley. MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 32 (4): 400-410. doi: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-12-00060.1 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/21643

Networking with landscape: local initiatives in an Italian Alpine valley

De Ros, Giorgio;Mazzola, Astrid
2012-01-01

Abstract

Is the increasing interest in landscape at a European level translated to a local level? How is it perceived and mobilized by local actors? Are there lessons to be learned from empirical case studies? To increase our understanding of these issues, an analysis was carried out by using the theoretical framework of the sociology of translation on 8 landscapebased initiatives in an Italian Alpine valley. The initiatives aimed, either explicitly or implicitly, at enhancing the mountainous landscapes in a move toward more sustainable development. The sociology of translation conceives the implementation of an innovation as an attempt to build a working network between human and nonhuman entities such as landscape. Our analysis shows how dynamically different actors can interact with landscape in a rural mountain context. In quite similar places (ie sharing the same problems, rural history, and goals), the same resources were used in different ways by the different initiatives. The outcomes depend on the ability of the promoters of the initiatives to build networks with different actors, in some cases far beyond the valley or province’s borders, around new concepts of landscape. Moreover, an adequate organizational framework that fosters bottom-up approaches can support successful implementation of local landscape projects. Active, two-way communication is also crucial to move from a ‘‘local’’ to a ‘‘participative’’ project and thus mobilize allies for sustainable landscape planning and management. Overall, the research provides insights into how such landscape initiatives can be better implemented and effectively contribute toward the European Landscape Convention.
Landscape
European Landscape Convention
Rural development
Sociology of translation
Alps
Italy
Settore SPS/10 - SOCIOLOGIA DELL'AMBIENTE E DEL TERRITORIO
2012
De Ros, G.; Mazzola, A. (2012). Networking with landscape: local initiatives in an Italian Alpine valley. MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 32 (4): 400-410. doi: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-12-00060.1 handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10449/21643
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2012 MRD De Ros et al.pdf

non disponibili

Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 13.17 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
13.17 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10449/21643
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact