Seventeenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

This research is a case study that investigates the concept of cultural landscape, which is seen as a strategic resource for sustainable territorial development and its integration in the planning practice by testing the use of participatory co-design methods. In Apulia Region (Southern Italy), the study area is characterised by a widespread cultural landscape, which is experiencing a period of major socio-economic, environmental and cultural changes due to natural and human- influenced factors. The challenge that emerges is to identify how to adapt to these changes in a sustainable and resilient way - and what role heritage management can have in that. In the last decades, both heritage and planning disciplines have pursued a democratisation process of values attribution and decision-making processes. Accordingly, it becomes essential to learn people’s perceptions, definitions, needs, and design ideas in the cultural landscape planning practice. Hence, this research aims to test the integration of participatory co-design methods to plan a local cultural landscape, favouring adaptation and resilience to contextual changes. For this purpose, a map-based questionnaire (through Maptionnaire) and co-design tool (using ArcGIS online) are used to investigate these concepts with the local population and stakeholders, and co-create a strategic plan for the area’s future.