B: International Case Studies on Ecological Landscape Modelling for a More Sustainable Development

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1 Conference Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for Mediterranean Islands October, 2010, Gozo - Malta Hochschule Anhalt (FH) Anhalt University of Applied Sciences Prof. Erich Buhmann in cooperation with Prof. Alex Torpiano, University of Malta and Vincent Cassar, KTP Supported by DFG BU 2105/3-1 LIST OF ABSTRACTS A: Landscape Ecology and Sustainable Strategies in Malta Introduction Secretary Hon. Mario De Marco, Office of Prime Minister : The National Strategy Integrating Sustainable Measures in Governmental Policies Prof. Dr. Beate Jessel: President Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Germany: Landscape Planning as Instrument of Long-range Sustainable Landscape Development within the Current European Environmental Legislation The Ecology of Gozo Dr. Avertano Role, University of Malta: Geomorphology of Gozo, Introduction to Soil Erosion and Desertification Kevin Gatt, University of Malta, Malta: Water Resources in Malta Chris Attard, Malta Enviromental Planning Agency MEPA, Malta: Introduction to Gozo Development Plan The Vision of a Sustainable Malta Dr. Tonio Sant, Director of the Institute of Sustainable Energy, University of Malta, Malta and Advisor to the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, Malta: Using Renewable Energy in Malta Prof. Erich Buhmann, Damian Perez and MA MLA Matthias Jähne, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany : Managing Runoff Water in Gozo, Opportunities and Constrains B: International Case Studies on Ecological Landscape Modelling for a More Sustainable Development Contribution of Ecological Landscape Modelling and Management for a More Sustainable Development Prof. Dr. Diedrich Bruns, ECLAS President, University of Kassel, Germany: Participatory Landscape Assessment for Sustainable Landscape Management Prof. Dr. Michael Koch, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany: Sustainable Strategies in Environmental Planning in Integration of Landscape Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 1 of 32

2 Prof. Dr. Kai Tobias, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany: Sustainable Landscape Development in Regional Parks Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Haase, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Dessau, Germany : The chances of nature to enhance culture - a methodical approach: Practice - theory and making Antoine Gatt, Landscape Architect AGL Design Malta: Expanding Ecological Niches into the Maltese Urban Landscape Climate Change and Ecological Development Prof. Dr. Stefan Heiland, TU Berlin, Germany: Ecological Planning Response to Climate Changes Dr. Baris Ergen and Zeynep Ergen, Bozok University, Turkey: Management of Conflicting Habitat Needs in the Mediterranean Interdisciplinary Case Studies on Ecological Development Anemone Beck Koh, Oikosdesign Landscape + Architecture Wageningen, The Netherlands: Design for Transformative Experience: Fostering Ecological Awareness and Stewardship, Wageningen, Netherlands Prof. Rainer Schmidt, Beuth Hochschule Berlin, Frank Kiessling, Rainer Schmidt Landscape Architects, Germany: Landscape Design Response to Climate Changes C: Sustainable Development and Participation Visual Landscape Resource Management Prof. Dr. James Palmer, SUNY Syracuse, N.Y., United States: The Successful Implementation Strategies of VRM in the US Dr. Saviour Formosa and Stephen Conchin, University of Malta, Malta: Visualisation of Digital Landscapes as a Potential Instrument for VRM in Malta Dr. Thomas Schauppenlehner, University for Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria: The Landscape Puzzle - Making Land Use Modelling Data spatially Explicit for Structure and Visual Analysis Frank Roser, University of Stuttgart, Germany: Adapting Methods for Improving Large Scale Visual Landscape Evaluation in the Mediterranean Applying GIS in Environmental Planning Dr. Maria Attard, Director, Institute for Sustainable Development, University of Malta, Dr. Muki Haklay, Director Chorley Institute and Dr. Claire Ellul University College London. UK: Supporting Sustainability through Geographic Information and Public Participation: Civic Science and Stakeholder Involvement in the Eco Gozo Project Carol Agius, MAGI and Dr. Saviour Formosa, University of Malta, Malta: Access of Governmental GIS data versus Private data for the Benefit of Environmental Monitoring: the Aarhus Impact Prof. Dr. Roman Lenz, Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt, Nürtingen-Geislingen, Germany: GIS-based Landscape Modelling and Participation Sustainable Development and Participation Prof. Dr. Jusuck Koh, University of Wageningen and Anemone Beck Koh, Oikosdesign Landscape + Architecture, Wageningen, Netherlands: On a Landscape Approach, Cultural Identity and Sustainability Daniele Fantechi, Consultant, Gozo Action Group Foundation, Malta and Italy: The LEADER Programme for Gozo, Malta. A bottom up approach for the local sustainable development Chris Falzon, Architect, Malta: San Lawrenz - A Sustainable Locality Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 2 of 32

3 Kevin Gatt, University of Malta, Malta: Water Resources in Malta Abstract The sustainability of water resources in Malta pose a challenge to any hydrologist not least because of Malta s climatic characteristics and its geographical position. Over the years, successive Governments have sought to maximise Malta s natural resources but have also been forced to augment available supplies through technological interventions such as desalination. Desalination today constitutes nearly 55% of total water produced evidencing a demand which cannot be supplied through freshwater sources alone. This situation has in turn led to increasing pressures on groundwater not solely due to abstraction for potable water production but also through uncontrolled abstraction. This has resulted in a scenario which today leaves most of Malt s groundwater aquifers in a poor qualitative and quantitative state in respect of the provisions of the Water Framework Directive. Malta s natural water resources are being threatened by an estimated 11 million cubic metres of water which is being extracted over and above established levels to ensure its sustainability. Climate change scenarios, on their part, indicate that the situation can only become worse with increase mean temperatures which will contribute amongst others to increased evapotranspiration rates, changes in precipitation patterns which will bring higher intensity storms consequently lowering infiltration volumes and a possible rise in sea level which can deteriorate existing sea level aquifers. A number of strategies have been developed centrally which all correlate to the problems Malta is facing in terms of its scarce water resources. Change is not an option. However the call for action cannot be directed solely at a series of centralist interventions but also ensuring that good practices and conscious actions are mainstreamed throughout society. Sustainable development is based on the economic, social and environmental well-being. Concepts regarding principles of resource efficiency, polluter pays and cost recovery are a must if change is to be stimulated. The status quo will only further the damage that has resulted today. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 3 of 32

4 Prof. Erich Buhmann, Damian Perez and MSc GIS Matthias Pietsch, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany : Managing Runoff Water in Gozo, Opportunities and Constrains INTRODUCTION Landscape, considered as...an area perceived by people whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors (ELC 2000) have, according to Drury (2002) an...historic and a cultural dimension, the first consisting of the surviving physical impacts of people, and the second consisting on the intangible meanings, values, attributes and associations their people attach to its physical components.... Natural factors and cultural behaviours of past societies have slowly shaped the characteristic anthropogenic Mediterranean landscape through millennia (Makhzoumi 2000). People modified their habitat in order to obtain arable land, water or areas for shepherding; terraced slopes, cisterns, channels, windmills are only a few examples of the extensively modified Mediterranean landscape. European and particularly Mediterranean landscapes are increasingly changing, blurring the regional distinctiveness and consequently their particular heritage is being eroded (Drury 2002). Island communities are particularly sensitive to anthropogenic pressures, experiencing challenges and vulnerabilities that arise from factors such as small populations and economies, weak institutional capacity, remoteness from international markets, susceptibility to natural disasters and climate change, fragility of land and marine ecosystems, high cost of transportation, limited diversification in production and exports and dependence on international markets among others. Traditional resource management and practices relevant to the sustainable use of island ecosystems are at risk of breaking down as a result of modern economic and social pressures, and require actions for revitalization and protection (COP ). The greatest asset of the Mediterranean islands is landscape, in which is embodied the basin s geomorphologic, biological and cultural diversity, and reflect the historical coexistence of people and environment (Makhzoumi & Pungetti 2008). Landscape cultural values include both the inert and living infrastructures that form the rural landscapes as well as the collected knowledge on the use of resources (Gómez-Sal et al. 2003), by means of which that coexistence was possible. In the case of the Maltese archipelago, rapid population growth and related development over the 20th century poise a great challenge to preserving its landscape cultural values. GOZO ISLAND On Gozo, preservation of the rural landscape characteristics has come to be considered of strategic importance (MEPA 2002). The traditional rural landscape of Gozo, as with all of Malta, is predominantly anthropogenic. The unique scenery of the rural areas on the island, because of the complexity and variation in the landscape, is produced by a combination of geomorphologic characteristics, agricultural practices and the multiple strategies used to address problems related to soil and water conservation (Buhmann et al. 2005) (MEPA 2004) (Jones & Hunt 1994). While agriculture has progressively been diminishing in importance as an economic activity in Malta, tourism and service industries have been increasing (Government of Malta, 2002). Additionally, built up areas have been constantly increasing at the expense of both cultivated land and natural countryside in the last decades. Furthermore, soil erosion and succession are causing considerable changes in the vegetation in some areas. Modern agricultural practices have also introduced a number of elements which were not present in the traditional landscape such us greenhouses, tunnel cloches, pump rooms or agriculture stores among others (MEPA 2004). In the semi-arid climate of the insular area, water management is one of the most critical issues. Rainfall is the only natural source of water while agriculture is the main single user. Rainfall is mostly concentrated in winter when crops grow slowly and do not need as much water as in summer. Almost 85% of the annual rainfall falls between October and March. Local watershed characteristics are favourable for the storage of rainwater; nevertheless, groundwater depletion takes place. Illegal wells account for a significant portion of the extracted ground water. Drinking water comes mostly from expensive desalination processing and unconfined aquifers, the most important of which is in contact with seawater. Groundwater doesn't have the required quality to be solely used as drinking water, mainly as a result of agricultural pollution and over-abstraction (Mangion & Sapiano 2003). Water scarcity along with high labour costs and cost of land are the major constraints facing agricultural activity (Government of Malta 2002). Gozo is already affected by an emerging need for sustainability and to face the challenge to adapt to climate change uncertainties. Even though quantities can t be predicted, the likely direction of climate change over much of the Mediterranean basin has been estimated. The general tendency is decreasing rainfall with changes in the distribution patterns (Van Grunderbeeck & Tourre 2008) (Giannakopoulos et al. 2005). The predicted increase in the mean sea level would affect the availability of water from freshwater lens, the main source of water for agriculture. The impact in the very few local freshwater habitats will probably be quite severe (Axiak 1992). Adaptation is therefore necessary to address the resulting impact. The particular area addressed by this study is a watershed comprising a steep valley of Gozo, on the edge of which lies a former fishing village. This site has undergone major changes as the result of tourism and development in the last decades. Agricultural land-use comprises most of the area of the watershed whose outlet point is located in the village, although the upper levelled areas are urbanized. Because of its location, and because of failure to recognize the impact of development, the village is prone to flash flooding. Changes in the precipitation patterns and increase in sea mean level have a great meaning here. The added uncertainties represent new challenges to landscape planning, which at Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 4 of 32

5 the very least should translate into precautionary measures based on the knowledge about the increase of extreme weather events (Heiland & Demuth 2009) A recent proposal for storm-water management in the Xlendi Valley put forward two alternatives to alleviate flooding problems, for public consideration. Although the general proposal considers the construction of several small dams in the Xlendi Basin for harvesting storm-water, both alternatives are structural measures. The first involved the construction of a 600m tunnel and the other a large culvert under the town's main street. (Water Services Corporation 2010). SEARCHING FOR AN INTEGRATIVE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND WATER MANAGEMENT The International Hydrological Programme recognizes that water problems cannot be solved by quick technical solutions but rather they require the consideration of cultural, educational, communication and scientific aspects. Planning for water management has evolved from a paradigm of domination in the 19 th century to one of sustainability in the 1990s with the introduction of approaches like the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). In recent years, ecosystems management has been gradually incorporated into IWRM as a way to truly attain sustainability. (Sousa Ferreira & Botequilha Leitão 2005) An early integrative approach combining a planning methodology with the hydrological approach was developed by Van Buuren (1991). The methodology aimed mainly at the identification and understanding of problematic situations between land-use and water flow. It recognized the contribution of flowing surface water and ground water to the occurrence of landscape interactions. Taking the catchment area as the main spatial and functional unit, an analysis of the interaction of water flow in time and space revealed patterns of landscape units called water-related landscape structure. These units helped later in formulating different zoning principles for allocation and relocation of land-use (Van Buuren 1991). Sustainable landscape-planning (Botequilha Leitão & Ahern 2002), evolved from Jack Ahern's landscape ecological planning (Ahern 1999), proposes a set of principles and guidelines for integrating landscape ecology into planning. More recently, Sousa Ferreira & Botequilha Leitão (2005) proposed adapting the sustainable landscape-planning framework to include hydro-geological models describing water flow and water quality. On it, the landscape was to be analysed for spatial and non-spatial relationships between landscape structure, associated human activities and the quantity of groundwater. LANDSCAPE DESIGN, CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AND SUSTAINABILITY One proposed paradigm, aimed to integrate the natural and cultural evolutionary processes into a landscape design theory, is the ecological landscape design. In the methodology for ecological landscape design (Makhzoumi & Pungetti 1999) there are three suppositions on which the methodological framework is based: that...landscape is a dynamic evolving system which has the ability to maintain structure (e.g. change in the type of crop, keeping the structure); that it has a characteristic complexity which arises from the interrelatedness of its abiotic, biotic and cultural components; and that understanding landscape stability and complexity dictates a temporal (evolutionary) and spatial (hierarchical) framework of evaluation (page 216). These suppositions are particularly suitable for the distinctive Mediterranean cultural landscape. Moreover, in the Ecological Landscape Associations methodology, the ecological understanding of the landscape is an integral part of the design process through which the analytical capabilities of the ecological science are combined with the intuitive potentiality of design. In water management, almost every decision taken would have an impact on the cultural, biotic and abiotic components of the landscape, thus the value of researching the relationship between water and these components. PROPOSED INTEGRATIVE APPROACH Water may be regarded as a separate factor in order to stress its importance, and to bring out the processes of (re)generation and its role in the semi-arid climate. Building on both methodological approaches already presented, the methodology followed in the specific case of Xlendi watershed investigates the interactions into and between landscape and water flow in time and space to reveal significant patterns or structures, thus providing both a base for landscape planning and landscape design. Published literature was inquired, as well as existing surveys, statistics, and maps of physical and biological resources (Fig. 1). Informal interviews and field surveys were also made in the area. This knowledge base was later used as a base to determine management units emphasizing the relationship between water and landscape (Fig. 2). Studies show that abandonment of traditional cultivation in the Mediterranean area has different impacts, according to slope gradient, on soil sediment losses (Koulouri & Giourga 2007). Erosion is related to slope, soil, rainfall intensity and vegetation cover. Erosion is a significant hazard especially in areas where the soil layer is thin, so its risk may be a parameter for defining areas where it is of high importance to reduce or slow down runoff water. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 5 of 32

6 XLENDI VALLEY WATERSHED The watershed area of the Xlendi Basin is about 580 Ha, with the highest point located in the area of the city of Victoria, 176m above mean sea level, and its lowest point in the Xlendi Bay at sea level. 372 Ha (64%) of the land-use is rural, while 144 Ha (25%) is urban (MEPA 2003). The watershed's longest water course is 4.2 Km running from north-east to south-west. Xlendi Valley's discharge of storm-water runoff into the town's main street frequently results in inundation, a problem which will probably be aggravated, considering the likely changes to the climate. The distribution of plant communities in the landscape is closely related to topography, geology and soil availability. There are not special designated conservation areas in the watershed, furthermore, during this research no specific studies on the fauna and biota of the watershed had been found. The island's natural water resources depend entirely on rainwater percolating through the limestone rock and accumulating in aquifers. Studies have assessed the annual infiltrated rainfall between 16% and 25%. The island's largest aquifer is the Main Sea level Aquifer, a lens of freshwater floating on saline water on a matrix of limestone rock at sea level. Freshwater lens from the main sea level aquifer is contaminated with salt water due to over-extraction. Illegal wells account for a significant portion of the extracted ground water. Water scarcity along with high labour costs and opportunity cost of land are the major constraints facing agricultural activity. Other aquifers of importance are the Perched Aquifers, which consist of rainwater trapped in the permeable Upper Coralline Limestone due to the underlying layer of impermeable Blue Clay. High level springs exists wherever the Upper Coralline Limestone/Blue Clay interface is exposed, water flowing from them feeds the river valleys, however, mostly during the wet period (Schembri 1993). Figure 1. Landscape physical characteristics amd land-use. (Oil Exploration Directorate, 1993) (MEPA, 2003) PLANNING / DESIGN UNITS Following the analysis, six landscape units have been found in the area, in which biotic, abiotic and cultural aspects have been considered, together with the processes related with water flow: Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 6 of 32

7 Figure 2. Watershed s management units (1) Upper urban areas / impervious soils / exotic species / runoff The upper part of the watershed is occupied by the totality of urban areas of Fontana, Kercem and Munxar councils, as well as part of Sannat and almost half of Victoria, the largest locality in Gozo. Victoria's archaeological and architectural heritage is one of the attractions of the Island. Urbanization is one of the most significant pressures on the Maltese countryside, moreover urban areas are visible from most of the area except from the lower part of the watershed. This unit's soils are mostly sealed having the hydrological characteristics of urban areas, namely: increased peak runoff, volume, frequency of runoff and flow duration. Water runoff in the city flows to sewers or stream down-slope through the streets. The upper coralline limestone rock type contains the perched aquifer which generates springs, although most of the urban area lies over it, thus preventing infiltration. Water pollution is a very problematic issue, since most of pollution comes from non-point sources and is therefore difficult to control. Vegetation in this area is mostly exotic, related to gardens, although ruderal vegetation grows in abandoned plots (2) Walled terraces / Coralline Limestone Globigerina / outcrops / runoff erosion - sedimentation Agriculture is the main land-use in this unit. Rock types are Upper - Lower Coralline Limestone and Globigerina. The area is extensively terraced allowing it to be cultivated. The retaining terrace walls are the most striking visual aspect of the Gozitan landscape, however due to the increasing rejection of traditional cultivation over the last decades, many drystone walls have fallen into disrepair. Therefore soil erosion has increased. Although erosion is a problem, it has historically helped form the soil in the terraces. Rainwater and runoff eroded and transported material which later sedimented near the rubble walls. These drystone walls, considered along with water-mills to be one of the particular visual features of Gozo, have also functions as bench terrace retaining walls, check-dams, boundary walls, route side walls, conduit durable walls, river erosion control walls, river diversion walls, damps for water and sediment retention, field clearance and, although rare and abandoned, water harvesting walls (Jones & Hunt 1994). Almost half of this unit area s (102 Ha) fields are irrigated, mostly with groundwater. Irrigated and semi-irrigated fields form clusters, which respond to the way irrigation water is distributed between farmers. Traditionally, farmers on whose land lay springs Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 7 of 32

8 shared water with his neighbours, who were allowed to use the irrigation water to fill-up their cisterns in a 'turn' basis. The extraction of groundwater is currently regulated by extraction licences. Most of the agricultural land that is not irrigated remains bare of vegetation, leading to accelerated erosion. Roads accelerate the soil loss because they provide an unimpeded channel for storm water. Modern agricultural practices have a high visual impact, especially greenhouses and tunnel cloches. (3) Walled terraces / Globigerina - Coralline / outcrops-bare rock / erosion - runoff This unit forms a narrow area following the stream valley and plateau borders. The risk of erosion in this unit is very high due to the high slope, moreover, most terraced fields adjoining this unit are abandoned which increases the runoff volume and speed. It is, therefore, crucial to maintain this area's terraced fields. (4) Walled terraces / blue clay / outcrops / erosion - runoff This unit is similar to the previous ones named, however the high erosion risk of this area lays in the nature of the soil. Studies carried out on the north-west area of Malta have demonstrated that the areas with the highest risk of soil erosion are rain-fed terrace slopes on underlying clay. In this area the runoff water is particularly high since the clayrich soils inhibit absorption. Furthermore, dry-stone walls cannot be adequately constructed in these areas because clay is not a suitable foundation. (Rolé 2007) (5) Stream valley / lower coralline Limestone valley fill / widien vegetation / runoff - sedimentation The stream valley is a corridor of exceptional importance, linking different patches and allowing for the movement of species. It carries most of the runoff, and after heavy rains produces flooding in the watershed outlet. It also carries sediment which causes the dams on it to become silted containing dissolved substances, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers. Stream valleys are one of the richest habitats on the island because of the wet soils and richness in sediment soils. They are farmed where the slope allows. Small dams reduce the water flow and retain it for longer periods, enabling increased infiltration. They may also be a source of water for irrigation. (6) Lower urban area / valley fill / sedimentation Uncontrolled development in the town has lead to the construction of buildings on the waterfront, right in the watershed outlet point. This area itself sits on valley fill, material which has been eroded and transported downhill by runoff water. The town blocks the natural runoff flowing, thus it is prone to flash flooding. PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR WATER MANAGEMENT IN XLENDI VALLEY Terrace cultivation has been found to be a strikingly important feature of the landscape, both considering cultural values as well as ecological and aesthetic, therefore its conservation should be a priority. Small-scale high value agricultural activities such us horticulture, viticulture and olive cultivation may be a solution to this problem. Priorities for conservation can be set up considering the risk of erosion. Interventions aimed at runoff water harvesting may be done in the streams, however sedimentation and the ecological functions of the stream should be taken into consideration. A buffer zone surrounding the stream, where fertilizers and agrochemicals should not be used, may help reduce the water pollution. Water-management best management practices to reduce runoff water and non-point pollution may be applied to upper urban areas. Summarizing, the Xlendi watershed has an extremely varied landscape which combines natural, semi-natural and cultural features. This diversity is typical of the Mediterranean rural areas, reflecting both natural and cultural processes. The methodological approach used to discern the units leads the landscape architect to consider these processes when designing, which may allow for more sustainable solutions to the problems faced by Gozo regarding water-management. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors wish to acknowledge Alßan (Programa de becas de alto nivel de la Unión Europea para América Latina) which has funded this research through the Master's grant E07M403338AR (Damian Perez Beverinotti) REFERENCES Rolé A., The Terraced landscapes of the Maltese Islands. Landscape Europe, Ahern, J., Spatial Concepts, Planning Strategies, and Future Scenarios: A Framework Method for Integrating Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning. In Landscape ecological analysis: issues and applications. New York: Springer, pp Axiak, V., Implications of Expected Climatic Changes on the Island of Malta. Identification and Assessment of Possible Climatic Change on Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Botequilha Leitão, A. & Ahern, J., Applying landscape ecological concepts and metrics in sustainable landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 59(2), Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 8 of 32

9 Buhmann, E., Beck-Koh, A. & Kircher, W. eds., Landscape Architecture Proposals for Gozo Island, Bernburg, Germany: Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. COP 8 ed., COP Decision VIII/1 Island Biodiversity. Drury, P., The historic and cultural dimensions of landscape. NATUROPA, ELC, Council of Europe - ETS No European Landscape Convention. Giannakopoulos, C. et al., Climate change impacts in the Mediterranean resulting from a 2 C global temperature rise, WWF. Gómez-Sal, A., Belmontes,, J. & Nicolau, J., Assessing landscape values: a proposal for a multidimensional conceptual model. Ecological Modelling, 168, Government of Malta, Malta National Report Submitted to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Heiland, S. & Demuth, B., Climate Change - Requirements for Environmental Planning. In 3rd International Congress on Environmental Planning and Management. Seoul: Institute for Eco-Plan, University of Seoul, pp Jones, A. & Hunt, C., Walls, wells and water supply: aspects of the cultural landscape of Gozo, Maltese Islands. Landscape Issues, 11, Koulouri, M. & Giourga, C., Land abandonment and slope gradient as key factors of soil erosion in Mediterranean terraced lands. Catena, 69(3), Makhzoumi, J. & Pungetti, G., Ecological landscape design and planning: The Mediterranean Context, London: E& FN Spon. Makhzoumi, J.M., Landscape Ecology as a foundation for landscape architectures: application in Malta. Landscape and Urban Planning, 50, Makhzoumi, J. & Pungetti, G., Landscape Strategies. In Mediterranean Island Landscapes. Landscape Series. Netherlands, pp Mangion, J. & Sapiano, M., Meeting the Demand. Enhancing the Availability of Water Supplies in Malta. In International Conference of the LIFE 3rd Countries Project: Development and implementation of an integrated system for the control and monitoring of the urban wastewater treatment plants in Cyprus (COMWATER). Cyprus. Malta Environment Planning Authority (MEPA), Gozo and Comino Local Plan - Inception Report - Approved Draft. Malta Environment Planning Authority (MEPA) Gozo and Comino Topographic Map. Scale 1: Malta Environment Planning Authority (MEPA), GIS Dataset: land-use, streets and development areas. Malta Environment Planning Authority (MEPA), Landscape Assessment Study of the Maltese Islands. Oil Exploration Directorate, Geological Map of the Maltese Islands, Sheet 2. Scale 1:25,000. Office of the Prime Minister, Malta Schembri, P.J., Physical geography and ecology of the Maltese Islands: a brief overview. Malta: food, agriculture, fisheries and the environment.[options Méditerranéennes ser. B: Etudes et Recherches 7], (7), Sousa Ferreira, H. & Botequilha Leitão, A., Integrating landscape and water-resources planning with focus on sustainability. In From landscape research to landscape planning: aspects of integration, Education and Applications. Wageningen UR Frontis Series. Netherlands: Springer, pp Van Buuren, M., A hydrological approach to landscape planning: the framework concept elaborated from a hydrological perspective. Landscape and Urban Planning, 21(1-2), Van Grunderbeeck, P. & Tourre, Y.M., Mediterranean Basin: Climate Change and Impacts during the 21st Century. In Climate Change and Energy in the Mediterranean. Plan Bleu, pp Water Services Corporation, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Storm Water Master Plan for the Maltese Islands - Draft Environmental Report. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 9 of 32

10 Prof. Dr. Diedrich Bruns, ECLAS President, University of Kassel, Germany: Participatory Landscape Assessment for Sustainable Landscape Management Abstract For landscape management to be sustainable, landscape assessment should be done democratically (Article 7 Aarhus Convention). Included are the identification of landscapes, landscape analysis, and the defining of landscape quality objectives for the landscapes identified and analysed. Traditionally such activities are performed by landscape experts. These experts are now required to take into account the particular values assigned to the landscapes in question by the interested parties and the population concerned (Article 6 European Landscape Convention, ELC). Examples of professional landscape identification and analysis are visual landscape assessments and reports suggesting divisions of countries according to features and artefacts that make up landscape character. In many cases landscape definitions were developed from spatial divisions, of a country, into natural-geographic regions, by adding information on land use and the landscape s visual characteristics. In the future, landscape planners and spatial planners would need to also include the public in assessing the landscape character, and the forces and pressures transforming landscapes. Based on studies done in metropolitan landscapes this paper discusses how landscape assessment, including the definition of landscape-quality objectives, could be done in democratically and ethically acceptable ways. Reference is made to different forms of place making. In modern societies taking ownership of landscape are diverse processes. They include a great variety of people, such as those who have lived at one place for all of their lives, and those who have settled there recently, or who will stay only for short periods of time, even tourists, and also those who initiate gentrification or, on the other hand, economic and demographic shrinking. What we should want to know is how new and seemingly strange cultural mixes might help enriching our professional work. We need to try and understand how landscapes, including urban open spaces, are perceived and what people would want to do in these landscapes. In recent studies traditional landscape assessment methods were combined with methods of empirical social research. In some case examples, special interview techniques were developed that are designed to enable landscape architects to get in contact with locals. The aim is to start identifying how people are assessing specific qualities of their living environment, what their favourite places and also what their most disliked places are. GIS based tools help to document and visualise the status-quo landscape, and also help to imagine scenarios of possible landscape futures. Regarding the depth of public involvement in planning, it is the procedure that makes all the difference. If interested parties are offered opportunities to express their opinion, such as at a public inquiry or by using the media (including the Internet), the procedure is top-down. Experts are providing the public with information and may consider what in the way of comments they are receiving in return. To get people involved more actively is not an automatic process. Generally speaking, the public appears to be more sensitive to visible operations than to plans. To interested parties to participate during the making and the implementation of plans seems to be the main challenge. Results of recent studies suggest that new and expanded methods are needed to include the public early, particularly before irreversible decisions have been made, and to better be able to include values, of residents and of other local stakeholders, into landscape planning and design. From a theoretical point of view such methods contribute to co-operative landscape management. These methods, it seems, also contribute to raising people s awareness of their surroundings. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 10 of 32

11 Prof. Dr. Michael Koch, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany: Sustainable Strategies in Environmental Planning in Integration of Landscape Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment Abstract 1. The German Planning System The German planning system is characterised by its hierarchically structure and its differentiation into sectoral plans on each level. Physical planning and landscape planning are linked on each level. The land use planning and landscape planning on communal level is integrated into the planning system on higher levels like regional and federal state level. Hereby communal urban planning has to regard all objectives defined in regional and federal state plans or programmes. The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of physical land use plans and landscape plans has to follow the regulations from different laws with even different subjects for the assessment. On the level of permission of projects an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be performed for a list of defined projects. 2. Subjects of Landscape Planning and Environmental Assessment Landscape planning concerning German regulations covers many subjects of the environment. For environmental assessments of plans or programmes (SEA) and projects (EIA) the subjects of environment are n comparison with landscape plans - broader including human health, cultural heritage. In general there is a strong linkage between both instruments because they are dealing with nearly the same subject. 3. The role of Landscape Planning Landscape plans are covering two important roles in the planning system: 1. They are delivering big part of baseline data concerning the current environmental situation on each level; 2. They are defining objectives for future environmental qualities including protection, sanitation and development of environment and they are formulating measures. Landscape planning can contribute to a sustainable development of areas, if it is integrated into the planning and environmental assessment system. There are examples in Germany for the extension of landscape plans to environmental plans covering all subjects and supporting this way the performance of environmental assessments. Linking landscape planning and the instruments of environmental assessments duplication of work can be avoided. 4. The need of Environmental Information Systems All instruments dealing with environmental topics are requiring and using existing information and producing new data. In combination with systems of environmental monitoring and surveillance the quantities of environmental data are increasing rapidly. For supporting sustainable development information exchange and data evaluation concerning the environment becomes more and more important. This process can be supported by implementing environmental information systems with a cycling amendment of data, as it is required by many German laws and regulations. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 11 of 32

12 Prof. Dr. Kai Tobias, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany: Sustainable Landscape Development in Regional Parks From an international point of view Regional Parks are a comparatively new instrument of regional development with different focuses. Taking into account the special German situation we can distinguish between local significant and regional significant Regional Parks. They have different functions. Local significant Regional Parks These Areas are bigger connected sides in communities, which have special functions for different outdoor activities and recreation of citizens, living and working in the surroundings of these Parks. You can reach them without any problem in a few minutes by walking, cycling or public transport. Usually, you stay in these parks some hours and in maximum one day at weekends or holidays. We can find these Parks in the surrounding of big cities like Berlin/Potsdam, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich and typical activities are (Nordic) walking, cycling, but even also environmental education, nature influenced recreation or learning about the cultural landscape and typical using types. Sometimes it is possible to walk along special subject tracks, where you can get information about traditional land use forms and their influences on landscape development, historic changes of nature and culture in the surroundings or environmental educational aspects. Ideally you also can find sides of direct marketing of biological produced regional products in these parks. The contingent of visitors coming not from the direct surrounded urban quarters is very low. Regional significant Regional Parks This is exact the opposite situation in die regional significant Regional Parks, where we can find a lot of tourists and other persons coming here for more than one day stay. They want to learn about this region, how it developed, what are typical cultural aspects, where we can find historical sides and what are the typical products, you can eat with relish. Predominantly, we can find this type of Parks in Germany in regions, where we have very big transformation processes, like changing landscapes from industrial functions (steel industry, coal mining) to new functions like recreation, tourism or services delivery. The biggest ones and best known are IBA (=International Building Exposition) Emscher Park in Ruhr-Valley, one of the most industrialized site of the world in the Saarland county, south-west of Germany and in the Niederlausitz Region, where they are establishing the biggest lake countryside of Europe, which is especially designed for all water-related activities (diving, canoe and boat riding, etc.) but also a lot of other sport activities, for which you need big areas without disturbing someone (horse riding, quad riding, endure riding, diving etc.) In France and Italy we can find another version in traditional recreational areas like Auvergne or in alpine sides, where the instruments of regional park is used to push the touristic development. May be in future, we can also can find Regional Parks on Gozo for sustainable development of touristic sides with very high potentials and values. One example for doing this can be the IBA-side in western Germany, where a lot of innovative ideas could be implemented to create an absolutely new and very modern picture of the former landscape. Twenty to thirty years ago, the inhabitants of Ruhr-valley were not very proud to explain, where they are living, because everyone in Germany and even other countries knew, that this side is not attractive, has lots of problems with air pollutants and noise and low visual qualities because of so many brown fields in the surroundings of the big factories. Beginning in the sixties, being forced in the seventies and nearly finished in the eighties, there had been a very big transformation process of the steel and mining industries. The extreme hard competition of the world markets forced the local enterprises to change their market policies, which let to enormous problems of industries: thousands of unemployed miners and steelmakers, extensive loss of workers proudness in the whole region and dramatic change of financial situation in the whole Ruhr-valley. In this situation, the county government decided to act and started with one of the biggest transformation project, Germany (and may be also Europe and the world) have ever seen before. More than two decades later, a lot of different measures could have been established and now constitute the basis for the enormous success of these set of activities. The IBA-Emscher-Park: Impressions of a change Over one hundred years this region had been a powerful indicator of industrial success. As one of the richest coalfields in Europe with extensive iron deposits, it became especially in the years after the Second World War one of the most progressive industrial regions worldwide. Some ten thousands of workers found a job here and settled down with their families. Many thousand foreigner came to do the jobs, that weren t be done by Germans any longer. Until the beginnings of the seventies, everyone only saw the economic success and no one was interested in ecological questions. Under these circumstances, the Ruhr-Region also became one of the most polluted areas in the world. Even 1970, Germany had fundamental political changes after being governed nearly 25 years by conservative influenced majorities. This time was the starting point of environmental policies in Germany and this policy also influenced the situation in the Ruhr-Region dramatically. Just in the first month after the working period of the new government had begun, a clean air act and a clean water act became legal force. Also the reduction of noise became a preferred responsibility of political activities. 20 years later, after billions of Euro had been invested to construct purification plants or to reduce air pollution of power plants or steel works, also the Ruhr-Region had in minimum satisfactory environmental conditions. But meanwhile, worldwide Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 12 of 32

13 enormous industrial changes had taken place and as a result of these developments, German steel works were no longer able to compete on the worldwide market. Thousands of steel and mine workers lost their jobs and had no future perspectives. In this very difficult economic situation, the country government of Nordrhein-Westfalen initiated from above the International Building Exhibition IBA Emscher Park Urban extension through inward development. The financial basis of this structural development programme was money from the European Union, the German Federal Government and the country Government of Nordrhein-Westfalen. But 50% of the costs of a concrete project had to be raised up by the different project developers. These were for instance: different participating communities (over 20) private development enterprises (developing housing construction or settlements of new industries) Non Governmental Organisations (may be of the ecological or social sector) special organisations (churches, trade unions and so on) For realisation of the IBA Emscher Park Idea, everyone was invited to design concrete development projects. There had been only two restrictions: They had to be arranged under the following headlines and had to fulfill binding quality agreements. 1. Reconstruction of landscapes Where landscapes only remains as a residue in the urban fabric, then it is important first to regenerate the appreciation of landscape as a valuable element of infrastructure. In the past there would be an area between the autobahn, canal and the railway track which was of no apparent value, so something would be built there. This just blocked the way of any coordinated greening strategies. 2. Eliminating the Emscher Open Sewer System As a malodorous relict from the beginning of the 20 th century, a network of open fowl-water channels over 360 km in length cross the region. These intolerable open sewers must disappear. Rainwater should in future be separated from sewage and the flow of the streams should be restored, so that these divisive blots on the landscape can be reintegrated. 3. Work in the Park One of the basic principles of the International Building Exhibition IBA Emscher Park is that all new large developments should be sited on wasteland recycling areas has priority over using new land. Trade development areas are being created on 18 such sites as landscaped urban parks. Park in this case is not just a label, but al real component: 50% of each urban park is allocated for planned green areas. 4. Housing and neighborhood development Housing settlements are being developed in 25 IBA-subprojects, each providing 100 and 400 dwelling units, mostly on strategically placed wasteland sites. These are being planned through competitions, which is in itself a contribution to the planning culture of the region. 5. Cross-sectional aspects All IBA-subprojects are complex affairs and involve bundling together numerous individual measures. They had to satisfy the following general goals: Contribution to ecological building Consideration of social qualities (as: employment and training measures, projects for special disadvantaged minority target groups) Support for the planning culture by means of competitions Involvement of art and artists Operating with smaller units; networking with larger projects Ensuring realisation by setting a time-frame for implementation of five years maximum 6. Quality agreement For the larger projects binding quality agreements are reached between all those involved, which serve as guidelines through all planning phases. There is a typical example for the different targets: Precondition: User involvement in planning and building processes Water: Rain water use or seepage Energy: Setting up local heating networks Noise: Levels well below the limits set out in the pollution control legislation Materials: Establishment of environmental acceptability of all materials Waste: Re-cycling of building rubble and materials Traffic: Access to pathways, bicycle tracks and public transport networks Commerce: Space-saving methods of building Open spaces: Diverse planting, Land quotas (minimum 40% open spaces), Protection of existing biotopes, taking into account species protection Climate: air hygiene and urban Building site operation: Minimum soil movements Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 13 of 32

14 Summarizing the above given information, there had been three fundamental development steps in the IBA Emscher Park Region, which influenced the nowadays situation. More than hundred years of industrial production. More than thirty years of environmental repair. In the youngest period nearly 20 years of revitalization and modernization. Billions of Euro had been necessary to realize these developments. Today, we find in this region a situation that gives us the hope, that the IBA Emscher Park Region will have a solid future perspective, which also will have a lot of green color and quality. Transfer to Gozo situation In the 2010 workshop, the most dramatic problems of actual development of Gozo island were discussed by participants: Deficiency of water supply for the different demands (agriculture, tourism, and so on). Decline of agricultural used sides with the result of reducing the preservation of rubble walls and enormous soil erosion by water. Traditional small parts of forest sides. High amount of imports of agricultural products like beef meat, wine, etc. High contingents of settled areas, which are typically rounded and not sprawled (like we know it in other European countries). Continuous increase of population and permanent demands of apartments and houses. High air pollution because of electricity production and individual mobility by cars. On the other side second apartment problem and frequently vacancy of apartments and houses, because a lot of people are leaving the island. Deficient waste management (like recycling) and disfigurement of site by wild refuse disposal also in the recreational landscapes. The experts just have defined and analyzed this bouquet of problems. If it will be possible to establish an Eco Island of Gozo, there could be so many aspects of sustainable development, which could be realized to force the agricultural and the touristic development, the water management and the reforestation. In the environment of these measures, there can be the possibility to create new jobs with different future perspectives: Agriculture One possibility of further development of agriculture can be found in the world wide net of biosphere reserves. There we can find modern forms of eco agriculture, producing traditional food, which can be sold by good (above average) prizes. In such cases, the farmers have a high motivation to preserve the rubble walls and store enough water for the whole vegetation period. Systems and enough experiences to do that successfully exist since many hundreds of years. Networks of farmers (producers), processors (butchers) and offerers (restaurants, hotels) should work closely together to establish chains of economic value added. These co-operations only can act successfully, if they concentrate to produce very special products of very high quality. May be, there are still potentials in producing wine, olive oil or cheese specialities. These products should be parts of direct marketing systems and should get a special label, like Partner of the Eco-Island of Gozo. Soil management Terraces, which are no longer needed, should be reforested soon with adapted species like Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) in mixture groups with Stone Pines (Pinus pinea) and different oak-species (Quercus spec.), because the rubble walls will be destroyed very soon, if there are no longer preservation activities or agricultural uses. On the other hand, forests store water resources and avoid soils of erosion. In this context, the role of the Cypress species Sandarac Gum Tree (Tetraclinis articulata) or gharghar in Maltese language has to be taken into account in future. In former times, this species covered big areas of Maltese islands and there still exist some remainder of stock in sinkhole region of Il Maqluba south east of Qrendi (Bendix et al., 2002). Apart from that, there are some more very small stocks in south Spain (Sierra de Cartagena) and north of Africa. This species belongs to the priority species of Habitat Directive of European Union and in future, it should be proofed, if the last individuals can be used for further preservation measures. The timber of this tree was evaluated on a very high level just in the Middle Ages and became interesting in medicine appliance of combating cancer in younger time (Bendix et al., 2002). Water management As part of the European Union, Malta also has to implement the Water Framework Directive and the Flood Directive. Both instruments yield a lot of different possibilities to develop landscapes in direction of better quality of surface and ground water as well as natural like morphology, patency of water streams and protection of flooding disasters. Because of the changes of agricultural using, possibilities of reforestation and basic necessity of further water storage for agricultural activities, there will be a lot of potentials of reorganization and new design of water management measures. Admittedly these activities will be very expensive and time-consuming but also open spaces for future sustainability on the Eco Island Gozo. Bibliography Bendix, J.; Bednix, A. & Reudenbach, Ch. (2002) Umweltprobleme im Maltesischen Archipel. Geographische Rundschau 54, Heft 4, S Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 14 of 32

15 Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Haase, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Dessau, Germany: The chances of nature to enhance culture - a methodical approach: Practice - theory and making Abstract The contribution builds up on case-related knowledge of preceding work on Gozo, Malta and in Montevideo Metropolitan area. It is rooted in teaching and practicing urban development by illuminating the cross-sections to landscape architecture, arts and design and the economy from the point of view of understanding architecture in a traditional, however non-conformistic way. It is based on an approach to multidisciplinary working which applies the theoretical backgrounds to space (Henri Lefebvre), arts (Jascques Ranciere) and signage (Umberto Eco) by three aspects allowing equally access to analysis as well as to concepts: use, image and concept. It focusses on an understanding of practice in the field of the making professions which synthesizes theory and making by experiments in practice and, thus, upgrades practice as a field of learning, providing processes of awareness in an utmost comprehensive way as products of the learning process. The subject of the relationship between nature and culture is looked from the plea for understanding the needs for acting in space sustainably as part of the process of qualifying material conditions. This way, the method of approaching to nature is embedded in a method of developing knowledge socially in order to enhance the treatment of the environment by working on strengths and weaknesses of culture. Thus, nature is understood as a product of culture and gains its potential for sustainable development from there. Thus, the interventions by the making professions need to consider the frameworks for qualifying material conditions, i.e. they need to consider equally the social and cultural constructions of any understanding of nature and landscape by language as well as the material symptoms of these understandings in time and place. In order to prepare for such a practice which combines theory with poiesis, the different degrees of the occupation of land relative to nature and culture is examplarily shown wirh respect to space for the river delta Pantanosso in Montevideo Metropolitan area. This verbal framework of an existing reality builds a basis for theoretical approaches to interventions into the system by arts and signage in order to create different stages of reality in present and future. Classifications of space in between nature and culture follow up this distinction in order to prepare for a better understanding of the needs for making in a theory-related practice. Photos will indicate the parameters of understanding and for the needs for changes in practice examplarily. The contribution is structured by an introduction into the subject of a better practice, the challenges of theory, the potential of making and will conclude for a more qualified and more environmentally friendly practice. Thus, it aims to enhance a collective process of learning of teachers and students, to be considered as a sequence of first products with positive effects on the understanding of tasks for landscape architecture within the framework of searching for criteria of a better practice to become materialized on Gozo and other mediterranean islands. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 15 of 32

16 Antoine Gatt, Landscape Architect AGL Design Malta: Expanding Ecological Niches into the Maltese Urban Landscape Abstract People often forget that humans are part of nature and that by distancing themselves from it, quality of life is jeopardised. Our towns and cities are not only our refuge but support an infinite number of other creatures including plants, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. We often take them for granted or even underestimate their importance. Traditional planning and construction methods and materials allowed for the integration of species within our towns and villages. Most dwellings had gardens which sustained a diversity of plant and animal life and the limited size of urban areas meant that ecological corridors cutting through these villages were common. Modern building practices and lifestyle within cities and towns has had a huge impact on biodiversity leaving little space for wildlife. Garden grabbing has become a common practice with the blessing of the planning establishment. As a consequence, countless gardens have been replaced by apartment blocks resulting in an urban landscape devoid of vegetation and adequate habitat for many flora and fauna. In newly built areas, gardens are not considered so as to maximise the number of units within a block. Public green spaces within the built environment are few and rare. The limited land area of our islands rarely allows for street trees, let alone wide verges along roads and pavements. Parks are virtually inexistent and public gardens are far apart. Their management is normally influenced by agricultural practice where the soil is often left bare of vegetation for most of the year. Plants used in landscaping are not selected for their ability to attract wildlife but more for aesthetical reasons. To minimise maintenance costs and water consumption we are now increasingly witnessing the use of vast areas of gravel planted with succulents and cacti. Better town planning could easily incorporate green areas into our towns rather than relying on left-over-space-after-planning to incorporate vegetation into the urban landscape. The use of native vegetation and appropriate management regimes can contribute to increasing biodiversity. With the large footprint occupied by urban areas, green roofs are the best possible solution to increase biodiversity. They are a means of giving back to nature a part of what has been taken away. They provide an adequate alternative to the native ecological habitat that was lost to urbanisation. Unfortunately, green roofs are often dismissed by property developers and owners for fear of leaks, maintenance and construction costs. However, advancements in technology has made it possible for the creation of green roofs without excessive risks to the building infrastructure. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 16 of 32

17 Prof. Dr. Stefan Heiland, TU Berlin, Germany: Ecological Planning Response to Climate Changes Abstract Climate change has become a central subject in politics and society during the last few years. Many research results on the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, land-use and landscapes already exist. But little is still known about the possibilities and constraints of environmental planning to contribute to mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. The presentation puts a focus 1) on the consequences of climate change for planning procedures in general, 2) on additional contents to be considered in ecological planning due to climate change and 3) on the question how climate change effects can be dealt with in different working steps of ecological oriented and spatial planning. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 17 of 32

18 Dr. Baris Ergen and Zeynep Ergen, Bozok University, Turkey: Management of Conflicting Habitat Needs in the Mediterranean INTRODUCTION Potential of protected areas of Turkey Turkey is a peninsula and a bridge between Asia and Europe. Turkey has an important potential of bio-diversity and Turkey can be considered as an ecological hot spot not only in Europe but also in global level. Turkey is nest site for species and it offers different type of climate, different high of mountains, plains, wetlands, and plateau. The altitude of Turkey changes between sea level and 5137 meters. Therefore Turkey is a nest side for species, Figure below shows density of endemic species in Turkey. Figure.1 Map of density of endemic plants species in Turkey Source: Ekim, T., Aydın, A., Mutlu, S.,Tuncalı, T., This research addresses and emphasizes conservation areas that they were named in database of General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. Six conservation statutory categories were determined In Turkey that they are National Park, Protected Natural Area, Natural Park, Natural Monuments, Special Environment Protection Area, Wetlands (RAMSAR District). Turkey offers different ecosystem and habitat areas for species so that we can find different type of conservation areas in Turkey. The figure below shows registered protected areas of Turkey that they are national park, Natural Park, protected natural areas, RAMSAR and special environmental protection area. Figure.2 Officially registered protected areas in Turkey Source: (This table was created with SQL query) Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 18 of 32

19 According to figure there important conservation areas exist not only in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey but also whole Anatolia. The table of below indicates statutory categories of conservation areas and covered area of these conservation areas. It can be easily said that Turkey is nest area for endemic species, and Turkey is transition area between Europe, Asia and Arabia due to special geography, climate, land surfaces and location in Mediterranean. Table 1 Covered Areas and Type of Officially Protected Areas of Turkey This table was created with SQL query, the database of General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks was utilized Source: RAMSAR districts are determined by the suggestion and decision of Council of Ministers (cabinet); this means these areas are determined by law. The management of RAMSAR districts belongs to Ministry of Environment and Forest, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, Department of Nature Conservation-Wetland Division. Special Environment Protection Areas are also determined by law. The management of these areas belongs to Environmental Protection Agency for Special Areas (EPASA). EPASA prepare physical plans and makes decision for these areas as well as EPASA make management plans for Special Environment Protection Area. National Parks were determined by law and they were registered as national park by cabinet decision. Management of national parks pertains to Ministry of Environment and Forest, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks. Protected Natural Area, Natural Parks and Natural Monuments were determined by approval of Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Agriculture, if they exist in forest or/and forest regime according to the law number If they present outside of forest and forest regime, they are registered by decision of Council of Ministers. PROBLEM STATEMENT As we can see Turkey has a special potential such as transition point between continentals, climates and increasing altitude from west to east; besides Turkey offers mountain, wetland, plain, plateau, closed basin, river, canyon etc. ecosystems for species therefore Turkey have wide range of habitats. However there are some conflicts between international agreement and Turkish Law system, there are some problems between institutions about plan making and management of protected areas. At the same time sometimes economic development outweigh than protection of ecology in Turkey like the other developing countries. In these respects a method should be suggested in order to obstruct conflicts management of Habitat needs in Turkey. CONCLUSION Collaboration Method and Suggestions Turkey needs a network power model for the development coordination between institutions. This means Turkey needs a collaborative planning comprehension (Ergen, 2010). Collaborative planning has three conditions. When three conditions govern the relationship of agents in a collaborative network: diversity, interdependence, and authentic dialogue (DIAD). When these conditions are met, the participants in the network can develop adaptive innovations that were not apparent or even open to them as individual agents. Like a complex adaptive system, the DIAD network as a whole is more capable of learning and adaptation in the face of fragmentation and rapid change than a set of disconnected agents. Shared meanings emerge from the dialogue and participants can develop identities that link them together. This network power model has six topics which are dialogue, collaboration, shared meaning, shared heuristics and norms, cooperative action, diversity and interdependence (Booher and Innes 2000). Conservation of protected areas has seven stakeholders (Ergen 2010). They are: Ministries, local government, volunteer institutions, conservation committee of culture and nature heritage, plan making groups, universities, and consumer and investors. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 19 of 32

20 Fig. 3 Collaborative planning and stakeholder Model for institutional structure Source: Ergen 2010 With this model all of the ministries are playing a role as coordinator. They manage the process of conserving protected areas. They get all analysis of conservation areas, all researches etc, they constitute instructions for conserving protected areas, and they share all plans and knowledge. They establish dialogue surroundings. Universities support this model as research & development unit. They establish models, new technologies. They use scientific researches about habitats and ecosystem. Consumer and investors are the monetary section of this model. Investors in particularly are multinational companies and big companies in Turkey.. In this model the local government has a role of defend local people s rights and giving more information about planning area. Local people are the most effected from plans or investments. Conservation committee of culture and natural heritage is a committee which committed to The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, however this committee is independent their decisions and they work on official registration. Official registration is important part for conserving the protected areas. Plan making groups have such as a role defend community rights with plans. They are bureaus of city planners, architecture, civil engineering etc. and the chamber of Turkish Engineers and Architects. Volunteer institutions has a role of defend environmental heritage from demolish. These groups want to maintain the environment and they defend ecologic part of the sustainability. As a result with this suggestion method a strong interaction and cooperation can be built in order to maintain ecosystem. Management of conflicting habitat needs can be obstruct or minimized in this manner institutions can be enabled to act cooperatively so as to manage habitats successfully. Every stakeholder can be included to the process Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 20 of 32

21 to manage habitats therefore sustainable development can be obtained. This method can also facilitate building natural habitats, and of wild flora and fauna through the establishment of a network (Natura 2000); besides Turkey can accomplish to maintain its habitats and implement international agreements successfully such as European Union Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC), Barcelona Convention (Protection Of The Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution 1976), and Ramsar act (1971). References Ahlke, B., Avrupa Mekan Planlama Kavramı ve Uygulanışı-Amaçlar, Aktörler ve Yöntemler, Avrupa Birliği nde Mekan Planlama Stratejileri-Ekonomik ve Ekolojik Perspektifler Uluslararası Sempozyumu, YTÜ Kütüphane ve Dokümantasyon Merkezi, Istanbul p: (Turkish published) Ahlke, B., (2001) Concept of Europe Spatial Planning and Practice-Aims, Actors and Methods, International Symposium of Spatial Planning Strategies- Economic and Ecologic Perspectives in EU, YTU Library and Documentation Center, Istanbul p: Alexandridis, K. T., Lazaridou, E., Tsirika, A., Zalidis, G. C., Using Earth Observation to update a Natura 2000 habitat map for a wetland in Greece, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 90 p: , Elsevier Apostolopoulou, E., Pantis, J. D., Conceptual gaps in the National Strategy for the Implementation of the European Natura 2000 Conservation Policy in Greece, Biological Conservation, Volume 142 p: , Elsevier Booher, D., E., Innes, J., E., Network Power in Collaborative Planning, University of California at Berkley Institute of Urban and Regional Development Ekim, T., Aydın, A., Mutlu, S.,Tuncalı, T., Türkiye nin Florası ve Faunası, Türkiye nin Önemli Doğa Alanları. p: (Volume-1). Doğa Derneği, Ankara. Ergen, B., Buffer Zone Method for Wetlands under Urbanization Pressure in Turkey; Land Use Planning and Settlement Appropriateness in Basin of Wetland. ISBN , VDM Verlag Dr. Müller Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG, Dudweiler Landstr. 99, Saarbrücken, Germany Large, A., R., G., Mayes, W., M., Newson, M., D., Parking, G., (2007) Applied Vegetation Science, 10 p: Papageorgiou, K., Vogiatzakis, I. N., Nature Protection in Greece: An Appraisal of the Factors Shaping Integrative Conservation and Policy Effectiveness, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 9 p: , Elsevier Velázquez, J., Tejera, R., Hernando, A., Núňez, V. M., Environmental Diagnosis: Integrating Biodiversity Conservation in Management of Natura 2000 Forest Spaces, Journal for Nature Conservation, p: 1-9, Elsevier Web Sources Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 21 of 32

22 Anemone Beck Koh, Oikosdesign Landscape + Architecture Wageningen, The Netherlands: Design for Transformative Experience: Fostering Ecological Awareness and Stewardship, Wageningen, Netherlands Abstract In the 21 st century the world will have to cope with major environmental, social and economic challenges. The Mediterranean region is no exception. To do so, compelling visions are needed that bring together political and citizen support to deal with these challenges. Sustainability is today a compulsory if obvious mandate of all landscape design. To this end, environmental legislation was established and strengthened; a wide range of design principles and models have been brought forth; design and research, and planning, design and management increasingly become more integrated. Public and private agencies, planners, designers and stakeholders are joining hands in efforts to bring it about. Digital technology enables us landscape architects to model scenarios considering an infinite number of variables for projects of increasing complexity and unpredictability, make impact predictions with ever growing accuracy, and devise and revise design strategies for sustainability. However, we must ask ourselves whether all these efforts will suffice to make, and keep, our environment sustainable in the long term, as we have to recognize that, ultimately, the sustainability of our environment critically hinges on our love and care. And, we tend to love and care about only what we know (deeply) and are touched by, and what is meaningful to us, and relevant to our daily life and personal circumstances. Yet, this fact still receives little design attention today, perhaps not in the least for the fact that we cannot easily predict or direct people s feelings and emotions. Therefore we also need to design in ways that reveal nature and ecosystems intelligence and self-organization, illuminate on their health, resilience and generative power, and thus beauty, and trigger such love and care. And we need to design experiences that enable people to be not only in touch with nature but also their own nature and feelings, and profoundly touched, enlightened and empowered by these experiences. In this context I will present here several design examples that illustrate our vision how both, the process of landscape designing and the product of performative landscapes, might offer culturally transformative experiences and might become agents for change. While we can only speculate that design process and product could bring with them transformative experiences, we nevertheless believe that they, in turn, might lead to change: Change in people s mind, change that leads to action. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 22 of 32

23 Prof. Dr. James Palmer, SUNY Syracuse, N.Y., United States: The Successful Implementation Strategies of VRM in the US Abstract Three land management agencies of the US government pioneered methods for managing large areas of land for their scenic resource value. The National Park Service s and the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. However, it may not be appropriate to apply these legacy methods, which are based on expert evaluation of abstract design parameters thought intrinsic to landscape scenic quality and result in prescriptive visual management objectives. This may be particularly true for signatory countries to the European Landscape Convention, which defines landscape as an area, as perceived by people and [acknowledges] that the landscape is an important part of the quality of life for people everywhere, including urban areas. The situation in most of the US is very different. First of all, there is little planning for visual resource management. Instead visual management, if it happens at all, is often part of the permit application and environmental impact assessment process. The example presented here comes from the state of Maine. A developer proposed a Concept Plan for 1,650 km2 that includes 2,000 units in an area many people perceive as wildland. The regulatory agency and developer worked together using an evidence-based design strategy to develop vegetation management guidelines for siting lots near shorelines and on hillsides that would provide adequate screening of structures, but allow home owners some views. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 23 of 32

24 Dr. Thomas Schauppenlehner, University for Bodenkultur, Vienna, Austria: The Landscape Puzzle - Making Land Use Modelling Data spatially Explicit for Structure and Visual Analysis Abstract The dynamic and interaction of natural and anthropogenic forces has created landscapes over the last centuries with high cultural, ecologic and aesthetic value. The landscape itself is the spatial representation of this development. In Europe, there are practically no areas that can be considered 'natural', the landscape has been transformed and shaped by cultural activities (STANNERS & BOURDEAU, 1995). Well-known examples of cultural landscapes are orchard meadows on the alpine foothills, alpine pastures, terraced landscapes (e.g. vineyards), heath lands, etc. Massive shifts in socio-economic development and society such as demographic changes, market liberalisation and technical progress are threatening these landscapes by intensification, mechanisation as well as land abandonment depending on site conditions (BENTON ET AL. 2003, HÖCHTL ET AL. 2005), with the consequence of a significant loss of diversity and identity. With the implementation of agri-environmental programs (AEP), policy makers try to minimize these negative effects by defining usage restrictions or giving financial incentives for traditional or extensive management strategies. This article presents an integrative spatially explicit land use model and a landscape metrics approach to analyse the effects of AEP concerning the influence on scenic beauty and biodiversity in a typical orchard meadows landscape of central europe. Therefore, a model framework containing a crop rotation model CropRota (SCHÖNHART ET AL. 2009a), a biophysical process model EPIC (WILLIAMS ET AL. 1995) and an economic land use model (FAMOS[space], SCHÖNHART ET AL. 2009b) is developed to assess to effectiveness of AEP and to analyze the impact on biodiversity and landscape beauty using different development scenarios. As smallest model unit (homogenous response unit, HRU) we use GIS field data combined with landscape elements like solitary trees, tree rows, groups of trees and hedgerows. The integration of this landscape elements as well as the consideration of topographic parameters allow a detailed description of the interdependency of landscape and agriculture. Historical data on landscape elements distribution from the 1960s is used to provide potential sites fort the reestablishment of landscape elements. The model-output is spatialized using a 10x10m raster overlay for the HRU dataset and a database script performing the allocation of the model output to specific raster cells depending on the overall field size. Existing studies on the aestetic impact of specific landscape elements and structures (SCHÜPBACH ET AL. 2009) are used to create a valuation scheme fort the spatial landscape metrics analysis. The GIS-output datasets are then imported in the landscape visualisation software Visual Nature Studio 3 (VNS) to create three-dimensional scenario representations for a visual comparison and communication. As VNS supports effective interfaces for a direct GIS data import (e.g. Shapefile, ArcGRID, etc.) and provides a layer system to organise large data stock, it is possible to visualize different scenarios very quickly. When focusing on the multifunctional acceptation of agricultural landscapes, especially the effects of land use on biodiversity and scenic beauty, the integration of structural landscape elements is necessary. The shown approach enables a very detailed view on the interactions between land use and landscape because of the high data resolution and the complex model framework. Nevertheless, data quality and the high amount of data can be crucial at this scale. Futhermore, the implementation of different models demands complex interfaces for data exchange. Because of the modularity, the model approach can be easily adapted to other regions. References: Benton, T.G., Vickery, J.A., Wilson, J.D. (2003), Farmland biodiversity: is habitat heterogeneity the key? Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18(4). S Schönhart, M., Schmid, E., Schneider, U.A. (2009a), CropRota A Model to Generate Optimal Crop Rotations from Observed Land Use. Discussion Paper DP Institute for Sustainable Economic Development. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna. Schönhart, M., Schauppenlehner, T., Schmid, E. (2009b), Integration of bio-physical and economic models for spatially explicit land use and landscape analysis on farm level. In: Van Ittersum, M., Wolf, M. J., von Laar, G. (Hrsg.), Integrated Assessment of Agriculture and Sustainable Development; Setting the Agenda for Science and Policy. Egmond aan Zee. S Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 24 of 32

25 Höchtl, F., Lehringer, S., Konold, W. (2005), "Wilderness": what it means when it becomes a reality - a case study from the southwestern Alps. Landscape and Urban Planning, 70(1-2). S Schüpbach, B. et al. (2009), Ästhetische Bewertung landwirtschaftlicher Kulturen durch die Bevölkerung. Forschungsanstalt Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon ART. Ettenhausen. Stanners, D., Bourdeau, Ph. (Eds.), Europe s Environment. The Dobris Assessment. European Environment Agency, EC DG XI and Phare, Copenhagen. Williams, J.R. (1995), The EPIC Model. In: Singh, V.P. (Hrsg.), Computer Models of Watershed Hydrology. Water Resources Publications, Highlands Ranch, CO. S Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 25 of 32

26 Frank Roser, University of Stuttgart, Germany: Adapting Methods for Improving Large Scale Visual Landscape Evaluation in the Mediterranean Abstract Already the first mention of landscape in literature was aesthetically founded, and it took place in a mediterranean landscape: Petrarcas ascent to the Mont Ventoux in the 14th century. Also the recent definition of landscape in the European Landscape Convention places the focus on the human perception of an area. As well as the german law on nature conservation specifies various subjects of protection, among others the beauty, variety and uniqueness of nature and landscape are mentioned. Thus, landscape planning is required by law to deal with the aesthetics of landscape. Scenic quality has to be analysed and evaluated even though such a subjective subject as landscape aesthetics is difficult to assess. Most of the discussed large area visual assessment methods, as needed in various tasks of landscape and regional planning, emphasise a qualitative view on the landscape (for example the british Landscape Character Assessment). The problem of many qualitative methods is a lack of validity, workability and efficiency. Whereas for most other subjects of protection standardised assessment methods have been established, in planning practice the scenic quality becomes secondary. A recent doctoral thesis studied the possibility of gathering information on landscape aesthetics, using the german digital topografic map (ATKIS) as the only source of data. The objective was to develop a method for visual landscape assessment, which allows the whole area of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg to be evaluated by the use of a GIS. The approach shoud fulfill basic standards of scientific methods, including traceability, reproduceability and validity. In contrast with former studies, no theoretical perception models were transfered to the GIS. Rather, a literature analysis was made to collect indicators for beauty, uniqueness and variety from published analog and digital methods. These numerous indicators were operationalised in the GIS using a moving-window-techique and subsequently calculated for a set of representative landscapes. The same landscapes were documented by photographs and evaluated through a validity-proofed web-based survey to obtain comparative data. In a multivariate statistical analysis regression models for scenic quality were built, using the survey data as independent variables. Thus was shown the opportunity to model a visual landscape assessment for large areas, with a clear and manageable database and a proven validity. Further development of the method takes aim at the better implementation of typical regional scenic characteristics. With an upgraded model the application for regional planning issues should be possible, for example the screening for infrastructure corridors. For more detailled planning issues, an area-wide evaluation of scenic quality could be taken as pre-evaluation, which forms the basis for an efficient, valid and comparable on-site-evaluation. A transfer of the method to mediterranean landscapes is possible. It could bring out interesting differences in the significance of different landscape elements and compositions for scenic quality in mediterranean respectively central europe landscapes. References: Bourassa, S.C. 1991: The Aesthetics of Landscape; London Fischer-Hüftle, P. 1997: Vielfalt, Eigenart und Schönheit der Landschaft aus der Sicht eines Juristen. In: Natur und Landschaft (72) 5, Jessel, B., Fischer-Hüftle, P., Jenny, D, Zschalich, A. 2003: Erarbeitung von Ausgleichs- und Ersatzmaßnahmen für Beeinträchtigungen des Landschaftsbildes (Schriftenreihe Angewandte Landschaftsökologie; 53); Bonn Kaplan, R. & Kaplan, S. 1989: The Experience of Nature. A Psychological Perspective; Cambridge Nohl, W. 2001: Landschaftsplanung. Ästhetische und rekreative Aspekte; Berlin Roth, M. & Gruehn, D. 2010: Modellierung von Vielfalt, Eigenart und Schönheit von Natur und Landschaft. Kriterien zur Bestimmung von Landschaftsbildqualitäten für große Räume. In: Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung, (42) 4, Tanner, K.M., Bürgi, M., Coch, T. (Ed.) 2006: Landschaftsqualitäten; Bern Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 26 of 32

27 Dr. Maria Attard, Director, Institute for Sustainable Development, University of Malta, Dr. Muki Haklay, Director Chorley Institute and Dr. Claire Ellul University College London. UK: Supporting Sustainability through Geographic Information and Public Participation: Civic Science and Stakeholder Involvement in the Eco Gozo Project Abstract In 2009 the Government of Malta launched the Eco-Gozo initiative. In its plan for 2015 the Ministry for Gozo listed a number of actions related to four main priority areas, Economy, Environment, Society and Identity. The ultimate objective for the project was to transform Gozo into an ecological island, a model of sustainable development (Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, in Ministry for Gozo, 2009) and to show how this can be implemented in the island of Gozo. This paper aims to i) establish the important role and functions of the civic society in the planning and development of such projects ii) identify the importance of geographic data and the need for participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) to support sustainability; and iii) propose a framework of how PGIS could be developed to support the Eco-Gozo project. In order to achieve this, a holistic approach and community involvement is proposed. Stakeholder participation is not only important in satisfying the requirements of Agenda 21 but also of ensuring cooperation by local inhabitants. Participation is becoming a vehicle for planners to gain access to local knowledge, which is a vital complement to scientific knowledge that is gained through observations and data collection. It is argued that in order to undertake any actions the landscape must be holistically mapped and include a social layer in the landscape analysis to allow the needs of different landscape users to be taken into account. Adding a social layer to the mapping process is however not all. According to Healey (1997), planning must be collaborative and has to facilitate effective communication between participants so that all thematic layers have meaning to all participants. The most important aspect is to bring together information in such a way that the professional scientific community, the lay stakeholders, planners and policy makers can all communicate meaningfully with each other and contribute information during the process of constructing a shared vision (Ball, 2001). Over the past two decades tools have been developed to facilitate the participation of civic society in the planning of their own environment. Tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been developed to visually express the desired future, bridge the communication gap between the different groups participating in planning. It is very easy to present data to the public and elicit a response from them without the possibility of using that data. The community needs to be empowered to explore scientific data in line with their own interpretation of their landscape. This has been achieved with Participatory GIS (PGIS). PGIS gives communities the ability to proactively provide information rather then be restricted to responding to information supplied to them (Ball, 2002). Recent examples of citizen participation include the European Environment Agency s Eye on Earth - Citizen observatory on air and bathing water quality ( The emergence of Web mapping 2.0 (Haklay et al. 2008) with applications such as Google Earth made geographic information and applications more accessible. Of special importance is the emergence of free and open geographic information, such as the OpenStreetMap project (Haklay & Weber 2008) which started in 2004 in London and now provides coverage of many parts of the world at a very high level of details and is populated by volunteers. The applications and the data are, of course, not enough to improve participation. It is necessary to make them accessible and in doing so providing the basic building blocks to a new generation of participatory GIS applications that are accessible to a large proportion of the population. In addition, voluntary data collection should be complementary to data made available for public consumption. Efforts to develop national spatial data infrastructures that support and encourage public use of geographic information are slowly developing. The EU INfrastructure for SPatial InfoRmation in the European Community (INSPIRE) project is of particular relevance, as it aims to collect and share environmental data on themes such as atmospheric conditions, species distribution and energy resources. Similarly, efforts to provide free geographic data for public use are being introduced across Europe (see Ordnance Survey in the UK One such example of participatory mapping is Mapping for Change. This social enterprise is developing processes which use maps, both online and offline, at a local and regional scale, to help voluntary organizations, local authorities, developers and communities understand and change the places in which they live. The processes enhance participation by enabling people to identify the kind of information they want on a map, to decide how it should be presented and to use this information to shape their community ( The proposed framework of public and community data would support the EcoGozo project by ensuring that the public is engaged not only in the planned projects but are also able to communicate with government in the development of the projects. Data collected by the community for the community could be used to design and develop maps. Government and communities should come together using such tools to ensure projects, such as EcoGozo materialise not only through government intervention but also through public participation and acceptance. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 27 of 32

28 Prof. Dr. Jusuck Koh, University of Wageningen and Anemone Beck Koh, Oikosdesign Landscape + Architecture, Wageningen, Netherlands: On a Landscape Approach, Cultural Identity and Sustainability Abstract Both cultural identity and sustainability are contemporary mandates for landscape architects in the still on-going globalization, fossil fuel fed economy, urbanization, industrialization and modernization. But how are we to help realize such cultural identity and sustainability through our planning, design and management of the environment? Is an ecological approach combined with ecological modeling and management enough, or the best? In this paper I am calling for a landscape approach and explain why it is a more effective approach and therefore why it needs to be articulated. As for the relevance of a landscape approach to cultural identity and sustainability, both global issues of local variations, my claim is that a landscape approach is more effective than an ecological approach (of the kind pioneered by Ian McHarg), an architectural approach in the name of Post-Modernism, or even a regional planning approach that deals with policy, but not with spatial quality or aesthetics. A Landscape approach is more relevant to cultural (or place) identity than an ecological approach for two reasons. First, identity is a cultural, psychological and phenomenological concept, even though we recognize there is a difference between exclusive identity of and inclusive identity with. Second, landscape itself is not just ecological, but a cultural concept and practice. Furthermore, a landscape approach is more effective for sustainability than ecological or architectural approaches for the three following reasons: sustainability involves community engagement and stewardship through emotional, aesthetic and social bonding between land and people; sustainable design requires the translation of process-oriented thinking of systems ecology into spatial orientation of designers and geographers; and, sustainability must be realized with attention to biodiversity on one hand and cultural diversity on the other. In sum, I am trying to make following three points: 1. It is time for us to clarify our key words and devise methods of landscape architecture based on sound and testable theory, 2. A Landscape approach is an advance from, if closely related to, an ecological approach, in terms of design for cultural identity and sustainability 3. A Landscape approach with its focus on community and everyday experience and aesthetics is a solution to the architectural destruction and pollution apparent in the Shanghai, Mumbai and Dubai syndrome. Place making or marking, by iconic architecture, is often more expensive and locally alienating than place making by a landscape approach. Illustrating these points of landscape approach will be several designs where we have used landscape not only as a machine for water, energy, climate and identity issues but also as catalyzer for sustainability, and as learning tool for community capacity building and emotional bondage to the landscape for future stewardship. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 28 of 32

29 Dr. Saviour Formosa PhD Institute of Criminology, University of Malta Abstract: Visualisation of Digital Landscapes as a Potential Instrument for VRM in Malta 3D visualisation, integration with photo-imagery, urban modelling; remote access and processing of Lidar data, a historical-futuristic approach Scanning technologies may yet make inroads in the social and planning operational fields that have to date been reluctant to take up the outcomes of the spatial technologies. The Maltese scenario is ripe to take off with a planned complete terrestrial LIDAR scan combined with a bathymetric acoustic scan up to 1 nautical mile from the baseline coast and the inclusion of bathymetric LIDAR ensuring consistency in data acquisition across the two surveys. Combined with oblique imagery takes and in-situ data trawling, the end result should enable the production of a unique model of the islands for use across the scientific platforms. The envisaged free dissemination of the data through Aarhus-compliance to the general public and the scientific community should enable the launching of integrated research across the spatial and social themes. Urban and environmental planners can undertake urban modeling scenario-building for strategic, regional and local areas, with the add-on integration of social, economic and criminological issues leading to healthier and safer localities. In addition, the data will be integrated with impactanalysis of baseline studies for air, water, noise, soil and radiation themes and their impacts on high population/urban density Malta. The paper investigates the process taken to implement such a multi-tech process, the proposed data integration processes and the eventual studies that will be launched to ensure sound urban, social and environmental studies over the next decade. The paper reviews the methodologies employed to date, the manual processes undertaken and the move from a 2D to a pseudo 3D to a 3D structure. The use of diverse tools is investigated and a visual process is envisaged for review. The major breakthrough for the implementation of the data cycle is envisaged through the implementation of the integration of terrestrial and bathymetric scans, orthophotos and oblique imagery as well as a real-time mapserver provision. Together with such technologies as remote gps cameras, 3D scanners and mobile GIS handheld loggers as well as other spatial data trawlers, the future for landscape assessment will be drastically enhanced in terms of provision of data and analytical information resources. Spatial Information is regulated by European law through the INSPIRE directive and landscape (whether environmental, social or physical) assessment stands at a point in time where the next few months will deliver the data provisions that can give the topic reliable substance for scientific research. Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 29 of 32

30 Eur Ing. Chris Falzon, Architect C.Eng., M.I.C.E., A.&C.E, Malta: San Lawrenz - A Sustainable Locality Executive Summary San Lawrenz is a small village on the western edge of Gozo. The locality covers an area of about 3.57 square kilometres whilst the area enclosed by the development boundaries which enclose the village is about 189,000 square metres or about 5 percent of the entire area. A cursory visit around the locality will quickly make abundantly clear to the visitor the paradox that exists in this area of Gozo. The unique breathtaking natural beauty of the coast which generates much tourism activity and the badly wounded hinterland which is scared by unsustainable practices in the form of a number of franka stone quarries most of which are situated at the very beginning of the spectacular valleys that make their way to the sea in Dwejra a potential World Heritage site. The locality is in fact separated into three mutually exclusive sectors that can be summarised as follows: The coastal areas which form part of the Qawra/Dwejra Heritage Park. The slopes between the coast and the plain on top. This area has become almost a no-go zone except for quarry traffic taking out franka stone blocks and bringing in construction waste for dumping in those parts of the quarries which are spent. The village itself which occupies the plain above. At present there is little or no synergy, contact or cooperation between these three parts of the locality. Over the years, the San Lawrenz Local Council has embarked on a number of projects varying from infrastructural, social, educational and cultural. The Council s most recent initiative is the commissioning of this project, which intends to study whether the village (and its people) situated as it is in this unique locality can thrive and prosper by generating appropriate economic activity without compromising its current lifestyle and traditions and through ensuring sustainable management of environmental resources. The aim is that in the medium to long term, through well planned and sustainable economic activity, this small community will be able to: Abstracts for Conference October, 2010 (last update: 06 November, 2010) page 30 of 32