This research analyses how aesthetic and ecological evaluations of the landscape studied overlap and interrelate in the attitudes of local people and natural resource professionals. The analytical framework adopted, built on Canter’s Theory of Place, explores the people–place relationship by examining the interaction of three components: physical attributes, conceptions and activities. The findings show that the two groups differed in how they ascribed meaning to landscape and how they interpreted its ecological and aesthetic qualities. Both groups expected managed landscape to appear well cared for and to some degree understood this appearance as a sign of good ecological management. However, while they shared a positive perception of some signs of care, they differed in their evaluation of other characteristics. Several implications for landscape management, especially in the detected areas of conflict and synergy, are identified.

Residents' concerns about the impact of high-voltage power-lines often lead to conflicts in urban, suburban and rural areas, affecting the acceptance of projects and leading to additional implementation costs. This paper presents analysis which is intended to serve as a useful tool to aid decision-makers in managing these concerns, while taking the economic consequences into account. It was applied in the selection of an alternative to rerouting and/or undergrounding two 220 kV power-lines in the urban fringe. The influence of the power-lines' visual significance on perceived health and safety risks was estimated using visual factors and expert assessment. The estimated effect of visual significance was then integrated in economic analysis that linked the initial investment effort, its effectiveness and potential reinvestment costs. This analysis unblocked the process of selecting routing alternatives, informing the parties involved about the trade-offs of each option. Introducing the above-mentioned variables in the decision-making process helped make decisions more socially sensitive.

The interface between ecology and esthetics does not only exist but is often vaster than thought at first sight. The implications of one for the other are diverse and often subtle, but both dimensions share a link that is as elusive as it is significant because of its influence on human behavior and on the landscape itself. Therefore, it is increasingly viewed as one of the aspects in the complex human–nature reality that should receive serious consideration to better manage the landscape. However, this relationship can be approached in different ways, and each of these perspectives will shape certain outcomes and different ways of intervening in the landscape. This article presents a generic framework of the models of analysis and intervention in the landscape from the point of view of how they address the ecological and esthetic component, with the aim of defining the limits in which each one moves, the differentiating nuances, and the repercussions they can have on the landscape. Likewise, the strategy that would best incorporate a more effective and meaningful relationship between ecology and esthetics in landscape planning is suggested.

Information about the paper titled "RAILTOLAND, A COLLECTIVE IDEATION PLATFORM TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE TOOLS TO COMMUNICATE THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES BY TRAIN" at IATED Digital Library

Aesthetic and ecological qualities overlap and interrelate in people’s attitudes towards landscapes. Additionally, the way a landscape manager is perceived, as well as the way a landscape is managed, usually play a significant role in the interpretation of these dimensions and how they are evaluated. A qualitative study was conducted in a Mediterranean agroforestry landscape (Sierra Oeste, Madrid) to understand how different components of a landscape (ecology, aesthetics, and management) influence the way that itis understood and valued by local stakeholders. Based on the results of a series of semistructured interviews and focus groups, a detailed analysis of the participants’ discourse was conducted. A series of guidelines for land planning and management were derived to reinforce the social perceptions of the landscape and enhance its ecological and aesthetic conditions.

Information about the paper titled "DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN THAT LANDSCAPE? A TECHNOLOGICAL TOOL TO LEARN HOW TO INTERPRET THE EUROPEAN CULTURAL LANDSCAPES BY TRAIN" at IATED Digital Library