MAKING SENSE OF SENSE OF PLACE IN EIA Liza van der Merwe and Nigel Rossouw

Transcription

1 MAKING SENSE OF SENSE OF PLACE IN EIA Liza van der Merwe and Nigel Rossouw

2 OVERVIEW 1. Problem Statement 2. Research Strategy 3. Literature Review - Analysis and Conceptual Model 4. Case Study - The Spring Grove Dam 5. Proposed Method 6. Conclusions

3 PROBLEM STATEMENT the simplistic (one-dimensional) application of the concept of Sense of Place in Environmental Impact Assessment.

4 RESEARCH STRATEGY The research process started with first understanding our epistemological stance before developing the theoretical framework, research approach and methods. Epistemology Constructivist Theoretical framework Interpretivism and Relativism Research approach Deductive Research methods Literature Review Case Studies Semi-structured Interviews Narrative Analysis Research findings

5 REVIEW OF CASE STUDIES EIAs STUDY TITLE STAKEHOLDER ISSUES METHOD Landfill (2006) Visual Impact Assessment Impact on tourist train-routes, e.g. Spier Wine Estate and Darling; Visual perspective from Farm Wintervogel; Windblown litter Visual Impact Assessment - Digital terrain modelling; On-site survey; Computer simulation using a digital photographic montage. Wind Farm (2015) Visual Impact Assessment Potential visual impact on residences and homesteads close to the windfarm; Visibility of facility from tourist access routes. Visual Impact Assessment - Visual impact assessment of facility on surrounding landscape. Photovoltaic Plant (2012) Visual Impact Assessment Issues related to night time impacts on surrounding landscape. Visual impact assessment - Viewshed analysis. Water Infrastructure (2009) Chapter in EIR Fluctuating levels of the dam; Inundation of the Inchbrakie Falls; Surface pipeline will create a visual impact; Infrastructure to blend with architectural style of the area. Visual impact assessment - Viewshed analysis. Identification of landscape types, landscape character and sense of place, generally based on geology, landforms, vegetation cover and land use patterns (DEA&DP GUIDELINE, 2005)

6 REVIEW OF CASE STUDIES (cont.) EIA STUDY TITLE STAKEHOLDER ISSUES METHOD Water Infrastructure (2015) Visual Impact Assessment Interested and Affected Parties did not raise any issues related to visual impacts. Visual Impact Assessment - Viewshed analysis Three dimensional modelling Soccer Stadium (2006) Visual Impact Assessment potential visibility of stadium from surrounding terrain and ocean; potential visual effect of stadium on scenic qualities of area, including visual impacts on rest of common, views from surrounding residential areas, e.g. Green Point, apartments along Beach and Bay Roads, and views from tourist attractions Signal Hill, Robben Island, Table Mountain and V&A Waterfront; extent to which stadium will change scenic ambience of area; potential effect of stadium lighting at night; potential positive visual impacts. Visual Impact Assessment - Viewshed analysis Visibility assessment Comparative analysis of sites based on qualitative criteria e.g. importance to tourism, landscape rarity, compatibility with existing landscape and development Production Phase of Natural Gas Field (2001) Impact on Sense of Place What will visual impact of project be? What will visual impact on eco-tourism be? What is Sasol s position with regards to mitigating the visual impact? Visual Impact Assessment - Photographic simulation technique; Assessment of change to visual resource in terms of visual intrusion, visibility and exposure. Eastern Shores of Lake St Lucia (1993) Conservation Perceptions and Symbolic Value Impact on: view and scenery holiday experience wilderness area character and ambiance Social Survey of public attitudes and perceptions; Evaluation of picture or image of St. Lucia described by survey respondents. An awareness that 'visual' implies the full range of visual, aesthetic, cultural and spiritual aspects of the environment that contribute to the area's sense of place (DEA&DP GUIDELINE, 2005)

7 DISCIPLINES AND CONCEPTS DISCIPLINES TERMINOLOGY, ASSUMPTIONS AND PARADIGMS GEOGRAPHY PLANNING PSYCHOLOGY HERITAGE belief place place attachment setting Genius Loci CONSERVATION ARCHITECTURE URBAN STUDIES SOCIOLOGY FORESTRY identity symbolism belonging stories meaning space LEISURE/RECREATION LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY spiritual Rootedness Spirit of a place genius loci presence of a supernatural spirit. Love of a place topophilia. human emotional connection to the physical environment. Atmosphere of a place genius loci - sum of the physical and symbolic values of the physical environment.

8 CONVERGENT THEMES IN THE LITERATURE Authors Convergent Topics Themes Relph (1976) Tuan (1977) Norberg-Schulz (1979, 1980) Buttimer and Seamon (1980) Sarbin (1983) Altman and Low (1992) Entrikin (1991) Brandenburg and Carroll (1995) Butler-Adam and Haynes (1993) Hanson (1997) Cross (2001) Nanzer (2004) Waterton (2005) Nezih (2009) Cresswell (2002, 2006) Homes et al. (2003) Jorgensen (2006) Puren, et al. (2007) Nezih (2009) Sullivan (2009) Alford (2011) Pride, bond, perception, activities, cultural meaning feelings, knowledge, misinformation, impressions, experiences, histories, memories and thoughts Symbolic Attitudes, opinions, personal relationships emotional security, identity, realities, hopes, accomplishments, ambiguities Belonging narrative, commodified, dependent genius loci, spirit of place Place image Inspirational mental interpretation topophilia Physical environment, physical setting,unique, natural, distinctive character perceived through the senses Albrecht (2005) Solastalgia, desolation, dislocated, pain, distress, undermined, stress, destruction, loss of sense of place, mental anguish, depression Meaning (subjective interpretation) Landscape Character (objectively measurable) Loss

9 WHO S SENSE OF PLACE? Social categories for analysing Sense of Place. Individual Family There are as many Sense of Place views as there are individuals, families, social groups, etc. Social Group Community There is no single Sense of Place

10 SPACE BECOMES PLACE THROUGH ATTACHMENT OF MEANING SPACE Setting Relational Arrangement Proportion Shape Orientation Meaning / Value PLACE Recreation Historic Cultural Symbol Livelihood Spiritual Texture Intrinsic Passive Therapeutic Location Aesthetic

11 SENSE OF PLACE VALUES AND SERVICES MEANING/VALUE Recreational Cultural Personal history FUNCTION AND SERVICE Leisure pursuits. Outdoor relaxation. Place for rituals and traditional practices. Cultural identity. Traditional crafts. Personal, family and community rootedness. Place of Burial of ancestors. Religious, spiritual and mystical Spiritual and mystical experiences. Scientific and educational Environmental awareness. Learning environment for students. Conduct field surveys. Natural science, historical, heritage and archaeological research. Artistic and creative inspiration Inspiration for cooking, writing, painting, photography, music, etc. Health and mental well-being Tourism Intrinsic Personal and group development Therapeutic, restorative and healing effects. Mental health benefits. Place for physical exercise. Diversion from the stress of everyday life. Viewing, experiencing and appreciating nature. Existence value reflecting the benefit people receive from knowing that the place exists. Place for team building, bonding, sharing, companionship.

12 THE MULTIPLE FACETS OF SENSE OF PLACE A Sense of Place is something that we ourselves create in the course of time. SPACE + PSYCHOLOGY + TIME = PLACE

13 Consequences SENSE OF PLACE IMPACT SIGNIFICANCE RATING Applying Reductionist Approach to rating Impact Significance Very High Livelihood High History Recreation Medium Memory Aesthetic Image Low Attachment Identity Landscape Character Very Low Very Low Low Medium High Very High Probability

14 BACKGROUND - SPRING GROVE DAM Location: KwaZuluNatal Midlands Mooi River - upstream of Rosetta Impacted 69 landowners with workers Embankment Distinguishing Features: River with fast flowing water and rapids River valleys Commercial dairy farming Lifestyle properties Smallholdings Fly-fishing destination Inchbrakie Waterfall

15 CASE STUDY Work in progress Selected severely impacted landowners lost homestead structures lost primary means of income generation Ten open-ended questions Next phase Farm Workers / Labour Tenants Social Groups e.g. Fly Fishing Community)

16 NARRATIVE ANALYSIS Individual LOSSES lost his diary farm lost his homestead lost the peace and serenity that came from looking at irrigated pastures and the grazing diary herd GAINS Retain portion to live on Retained small portion for income generating activities New homestead on scenic spot of remainder of property Family Social Groups access to the river for - sunday braais fishing river tubing and swimming walking reservoir is fenced-off and not accessible to adjoining landowners or public e.g. fishers and canoists Community conflict and strife amongst community members

17 NARRATIVE ANALYSIS (cont.) I had to make a plan with what I had left. Just live with it! It was private and secluded - the perfect hideout. Come and look at a good investment opportunity I would love to live here forever, if I can get rid of my neighbour.

18 Whose sense of place is it anyway? The Spring Grove Dam will not negatively affect the landscape as it will not include further degradation of the landscape with the establishment of business parks and residential areas. Thus it could be argued that the landscape is in fact improved as the body of water over time could be viewed as a natural area. Excerpt from Spring Grove Dam Environmental Impact Report

19 Whose sense of place is it anyway? altering the site through developing the PV arrays may change the sense of place for the site. This change could be seen as a positive, as the sense of place of the site could allow for the site to be unique in the area. As it currently sits, the sense of place for the site could be seen as low. the visual impact for the operational phase will extend as far as it can be seen While the impacts are going to be long term, they are not permanent The confidence is considered to be medium as the level of judgement is based generally on common sense, general knowledge, the author s field experience and the inherently subjective nature of this type of assessment.

20 PROPOSED METHOD Step 1: Issue Identification I&APs EIA team Step 2: Interviews Directly affected parties Interested parties Step 3: Narratives Storytelling Uncover meaning Analysis and interpretation Step 4: Define Sense of Place Value Function Services Step 5: Define Mitigation Context specific and tailored to value, service and function lost

21 CONCLUSIONS Sense of Place is multi-faceted concept. Sense of Place does not exist in objective reality (it is a social construct), as it is continuously reinvented in the way that people think and talk about it.. In EIA practice there is an over-emphasis on landscape character (measurable objective physical form) and limited awareness of the social construction of the physical environment (experiences, meanings, symbolism, value and beliefs). Protecting Sense of Place is often considered to be positive and the discourse is steered towards retaining the status quo. Sense of Place needs to be addressed in terms of: physical aspects, how it is perceived, how it is understood, and what actions are necessary for I&APs to continue to derive meaning, value and service.

22 CONCLUSIONS disservice to I&APs who participate in EIAs by reducing their issues on Sense of Place to a one-dimensional concept and dealing with it by way of a visual impact analysis current EIA practice and methods are inadequate to assess Sense of Place propose a method to capture impact on Sense of Place that stories of I&APs experiences be documented using narrative technique (capture experience and perceived effect) data gathering, analysis and interpretation of narratives must be undertaken by trained social scientists