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1 May 2008 Evaluation of Landscape Change by Different Social Groups
Marcel Hunziker, Patricia Felber, Katrin Gehring, Matthias Buchecker, Nicole Bauer, Felix Kienast
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Abstract

Landscape is an important resource for mountain regions, particularly for tourism. Guiding future landscape development is necessary to meet the expectations of mountain inhabitants, tourists, and the general public outside mountain areas. The studies presented here show how different societal groups perceive past and future landscape changes in the Alps. The results reveal that it is not landscape change per se that is assessed as good or bad, it is the (related) change in the meaning of the landscape elements that leads to positive or negative assessments. There is a surprisingly broad consensus among different social groups regarding major landscape developments. However, there are also significant and relevant differences between these groups, eg between people living inside and outside the Alps, and between lay people and experts. Both conflicting and compatible views about landscape change are key elements in landscape planning.

Marcel Hunziker, Patricia Felber, Katrin Gehring, Matthias Buchecker, Nicole Bauer, and Felix Kienast "Evaluation of Landscape Change by Different Social Groups," Mountain Research and Development 28(2), 140-147, (1 May 2008). https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.0952
Received: 1 December 2007; Accepted: 1 January 2008; Published: 1 May 2008
KEYWORDS
Alps
experts vs lay people
group differences
landscape history
landscape preferences
qualitative interviews
social science
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