Naturalizing the Environment

Abstract

Following the closure of the mines and the crisis in agriculture, an alternative process of cultural and natural `heritagization' has been taking place in certain areas of Andalusia with a marked tourist focus. Productive spaces have been transformed into post-mining and post-agrarian landscapes. The aim of this article is to analyse representations and perceptions of surroundings in these contexts through the discourse of those who have experienced these changes most acutely: farmers and miners. This interpretation invites reflection regarding the concept of nature in the western world. Nature is one of our most genuine cultural creations, but we cannot ignore that, in addition to its discursive dimension, it also has a perceptive component. Hence, the analysis carried out here seeks to gain a more in-depth understanding of the perceptive frames through which nature acquires meaning and significance. The dual perceptive and discursive dimension of nature yields a more comprehensive understanding of how landscapes become spaces for resistance and identity.

Constructing Organic Food through Urban Agriculture, Community Gardens in Seville

“…With regard to the first, we have seen how the productive experience becomes particularly enjoyable insofar as it is embodied within a strongly "naturalised" space. That is, with specific meanings of nature attributed to different means, places, and contexts [32,52]. This implies as we have seen, employing sometimes forced, sometimes imaginative and creative solutions to the recreation of nature.…”

Natures instead of nature—plural perceptions and representations of nature and its challenges for ecological transition: a systematic review of the scientific production

“…Several studies documented experiences and complexities, mostly with farmers, which justify the dominion for using and developing nature through farming methods and technologies. Often, dominion is used alongside or within an understanding of stewardship [153,[159][160][161], which exhorts responsibility towards nature, seeing farmers as co-creators with God, able to make creation more than it was [162,163]. Therefore, and considering this, it is understood that they are not damaging the environment [164].…”