Landscape Observatories Networks: a present day challenge. Toward a network in Marche Region

Ancona, Italy

The guidelines for the application of the European Landscape Convention (CM/Rec-3, 2008) point out “Observatories, Centers and institutions” as crucial structures, at any territorial leve/, to carry out the analysis, the monitoring and the management of landscape according with ELC principles.

The network UNISCAPE (European Network of Universities for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention), of which Università Politecnica delle Marche is active part, is convinced that the constitution of a Landscape Observatories network represents, in these years, a key challenge to implement the translation of ELC principles into everyday landscape management.

In Europe are going on several experiences of Landscape Networks and UNISCAPE is committed in promoting a European observatories network. In Italy are now operating several national observatories, especially the Osservatorio per la Qualità del Paesaggio promoted by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali e per il Turismo (MIBACT), and also regional and local observatories with very different characteristics from region to region. In this context, the Universities can carry out a fundamental role that can stimulate the debate on the critical issues to face an integrated and equal landscape administration, in accord to ELC principles. The universities ca n also support, with studying and specific researches, the creation of an efficient, inclusive and participated structure, like Landscape Observatories to all different levels.

In this spirit, the Università Politecnica delle Marche, the Centro di Ricerca sul Paesaggio-CIRP, and UNISCAPE organize this day seminar that wants to be an occasion to reflect upon the constitutive principles and the purposes of observatories, to encourage the construction of new networks and the comparison of different experiences.