Visual Resource Stewardship—An International Perspective

Abstract

This paper provides an international perspective on visual resource stewardship. It examines the long history of Britain’s love affair with its landscapes and its abandonment of measuring the subjective element of landscape quality, focusing instead on landscape character, which could be objectively assessed. This paper summarises the development of the European Landscape Convention, which has been embraced across much of Europe, and which follows Britain’s emphasis on landscape character. Programs in a range of European countries are reviewed. The recognition of outstanding landscapes under the World Heritage Convention, the UN List of Protected Areas program which includes landscapes, and National Scenic Area programs, are briefly summarised. The key message of this paper is that most of the provisions summarised focus on the character of the landscape and not its quality. Because it has been alleged, particularly in Britain and Europe, that it is too difficult to measure scenic quality, landscape character has become the subject instead of scenic quality.

Modeling the Visual Landscape: A Review on Approaches, Methods and Techniques

“…In the same vein, Ode et al [216] claim that a visual assessment that is objective in its nature can form a robust basis for the subsequent evaluation of landscape visual quality; they suggest an approach for describing visual concepts through measurable visual indicators and for further linking visual indicators to theories of landscape perception and preferences (aesthetics). On the contrary, in a very recent review article, Lothian [217] concludes that the vast majority of academic research and institutional regulations, particularly in Britain and Europe, fixate on the landscape character and not on landscape quality; due to the allegedly intricate manner of measuring landscape/scenic quality (which also encompass subjectivity), landscape character has become the objectively-measured substitute instead. Yet, this pronounced focus on landscape character alone, and the simultaneous neglect of quality or scenic value, "loses the plot" [217] (p. 451).…”

“…On the contrary, in a very recent review article, Lothian [217] concludes that the vast majority of academic research and institutional regulations, particularly in Britain and Europe, fixate on the landscape character and not on landscape quality; due to the allegedly intricate manner of measuring landscape/scenic quality (which also encompass subjectivity), landscape character has become the objectively-measured substitute instead. Yet, this pronounced focus on landscape character alone, and the simultaneous neglect of quality or scenic value, "loses the plot" [217] (p. 451).…”