UNISCAPE is the European Network of Universities dedicated to landscape studies and education according to the principles of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ELC, Florence, 2000). It was created in Florence in January 2008 as a result of the joint initiative of 23 European Universities. Founding members of UNISCAPE are 42 universities from Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Belgium, Slovakia and France.
UNISCAPE has been granted participatory status with the Council of Europe as from 28 December 2009. This reinforces the image and the position of UNISCAPE in the European context.
The aim of UNISCAPE is to support and reinforce scientific interdisciplinary co-operation among European universities regarding landscape issues, especially in the areas of research and teaching. Concerning research activities, UNISCAPE promotes study and experimentation activities relating to landscapes, their evolution and transformations.
UNISCAPE encourages and assists its members to provide each other technical and scientific assistance in landscape matters through exchange of experience and the results of research projects; to promote the exchange of landscape specialists, in particular for training and information purposes; to exchange information on all matters covered by the ELC.
More than 70 universities from across Europe have participated as active members of the network over time. Currently, the network has expanded to include private foundations whose mission is the study and protection of landscapes at a European level. Uniscape also collaborates with European organizations that share similar goals, fostering new synergies and creating opportunities for the growth and development of the landscape concept, particularly in terms of protection, management, and planning.
UNISCAPE is legally registered as a free association in Italy, and is subject to the laws of this country. See details on the contacts page.
For an overview of UNISCAPE activities over time see the reports here below: