Values of rural landscapes in Europe: inspiration or by-product?

Abstract

European landscapes are facing a deep crisis. As a consequence of globalization and the economical
change associated with it, traditional functions like production agriculture are becoming less important.
After the self-evident but inspired landscapes of numerous generations of peasants, monks and landlords,
landscape has now largely become a nameless by-product of the global economy. This paper shows that
the key to developing new living landscapes lies in a participatory process of landscape development
with respect for their inherent values. Today, even in traditionally small-scale farming systems like organic
farming, diverse and sustainable landscapes only develop if they are consciously wanted and when
landscape development is integrated into the objectives of farming. The work that is needed to achieve
such landscapes we call ‘landscape work’. This paper describes a phenomenological approach to identifying landscape values and finding new inspiration for landscape management. It gives examples of the
application of this approach in organic farming in Germany. It is concluded that a living, sustainable
landscape combines the functional effects of producing economic and social benefits with the intertwined
effects of providing identity and inspiration for getting actively involved in it, in accordance with its
dynamic character. Living landscapes will enhance the well being, also of the predominantly urban
European population. In other words: landscape works.