The e-participation in tranquillity areas identification as a key factor for sustainable landscape planning

Abstract

Landscapes are multifunctional and adaptive systems in which ecological and human processes interact continuously. Moreover, they are characterised by various functions and values provided to communities in terms of goods and services. The importance and meanings of cultural and perceptual dimensions in landscape assessment are strongly recognised in the European Landscape Convention (ELC) and normally analysed considering the way people appreciate the landscape values. The involvement of the public is one of the important pillars of landscape policy. In this paper, a research case-study based in the natural park of Serre (Italy) and concerning the e-participation in tranquillity areas identification and mapping is reported. The first results of an e-survey carried out in 2012 concerning people's perception of landscape tranquillity are here presented as they emerge from the analysis of 422 questionnaires. The open questions on the use of this issue on sustainable landscape planning are also discussed. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.