Agenda UV

During the last years the citizens interest for landscape issues has increased. The open space with coherent and in harmony structures generates wellness to the population. This is why there is a social demand of quality landscapes; that is to say, a desire for living in decent landscape environments. This situation contrasts the irrational management and use of the territory in the last years and that produced a progressive trivialisation of landscapes. The Convención Europea del Paisaje (European Convention of Landscapes) defines landscape as: “any part of the territory, as perceived by the towns, whose character comes from the action of natural and human factors and their interrelations”. Landscape as understood, is important for the general interest, from an environmental point of view as well as from a cultural and social perspectives. It constitutes a resources that favours the economic activity, contextualises the cultural and natural heritage and is part of the living environment of the population, helping to reinforce their own identity. Due to all of these reasons, landscapes must be considered in spatial planning and town planning works. Planning the territorial model we desire in a participative way and with landscape criteria, guides us to the people’s landscape aspirations and to the democratisation of the landscape quality objectives. In this context, the Chair for Citizen Participation and Valencian Landscapes is conceived as an academic platform that aims the reflection and research around subjects related with the conception and valuation of the Valencian landscapes by the citizens. But also the dissemination and transference of knowledge in terms of landscape and citizens participation. All this within a collaboration framework between the Valencian Department of Housing, Public Works and Territorial Structure and the Universitat de València for the promotion of knowledge and diffusion of Valencian landscapes. This event, organised by the Office of the Vice-Principal for Territorial Projection and Participation, is open to landscape agents (politicians, technicians, groups and individuals interested in territorial problems...), students and the general public. Without a doubt, it aims to be the precursor of an ambitious work programme where the landscape becomes a matter of everyone. The first session looks for the reflection about the advances in the last landscape policies at different levels and in different territorial areas and on the paper that had been influenced by the citizens participation. The role of the University in its commitment with landscape and the experience of Catalonia with the Observatori del Paisatge will also be tackled. The second session will be around the landscape situation in the Valencian territorial planning in order to end the present and future challenges of the Valencian landscape.