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EUROSCAPE 2020: Press release
REFRAMING THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN LANDSCAPE:
– POLICY VISIONS AND RESEARCH SUPPORT –
Seminar in Stresa (Italy) May 23rd-24th 2008
LANDSCAPE EUROPE, a network of institutions devoted to landscape
research and policy development, has taken the initiative to
organise a High Level Landscape Seminar in Stresa (Lago Maggiore,
Italy) on 23/24 May 2008. In preparation of this event, the
organisational committee consisting of Bas Pedroli and Dirk
Wascher of Alterra Wageningen UR and Maria Luisa Paracchini of
the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre had prepared an
illustrative pocket book entitled “Blueprint
for EUROSCAPE 2020”. Offering objectives and visions
for putting European landscapes on international and national
agendas, the book had been distributed to all participants prior
to the event.
The invitational seminar was opened by the Minister of
territorial policies and environmental resources, Regione
Piemonte, Italy, Mr Sergio Conti, followed by Giovanni Bidoglio,
Head of the Rural, Water and Ecosystem Resource Unit at JRC’s
Institute of Environment. The European Commission was further
represented by Ms Carolina Raes (DG Agriculture and Rural
Development) and Michaela Gensheimer (ESPON) who highlighted
forthcoming issues in rural development and spatial assessments
with regard to the role of landscape. From the national
perspective, Mrs Anita Wouters of the Netherlands Ministry of
Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality demonstrated commitment and a
‘broader view’ when presenting the Dutch perspective on
landscapes in an European context. Mrs Beate Jessel, president
of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, called for
strengthening the links between biodiversity and landscapes when
reporting back from the 6th Conference of the Parties on CBD
which was taking place at the same time in Bonn.
The following roundtable discussion and parallel sessions where
mainly focused on the Blueprint’s three headline topics:
(1) establish a policy monitoring for rural development on the
basis of landscape criteria and functions;
(2) introduce new spatial planning instruments to support the
concept of Rural Retreat, Remote Areas and Vital Bridges; and
(3) develop new forms of governance involving local and regional
authorities, people and decision-makers.
The parallel sessions – facilitated by a professional team –
succeeded in initiating problem-oriented discussions and
generated pro-active input by many participants pointing at a
number of opportunities for enhancing the cooperation between
research and policy. Great attention was given to the local
dimension of landscape impact and knowledge, to awareness
raising and to potential input of landscape science in EU policy
implementation (rural development) and knowledge transfer (reporting
and monitoring).
The
Blueprint can be downloaded here.
The Proceedings can be downloaded here
