Tool 7 Biophysical reading of the territory

Tool 7 Biophysical reading of the territory II. Diagnosis The value of landscape Emilio Ramiro Geographer and landscape expert Spain Landscape is a space of the land surface; we intuitively know that it is a space with a degree of permanence, which has its own distinctive character, topographically and / or culturally, and above all, that it is a space shared by a group of people John Brinckerhoff Jackson This brief definition of landscape contains concepts which are key to understanding the essence of landscape, something, which if we manage to discover and interpret, will be of great use when taking any action on it. The concept of permanence introduces a new scale to understanding landscapes; the temporal; as the landscape, due in all surety to the speed with which it has been transformed during the last century, has gone from a static vision to one far more organic. The physical and cultural factors cited in the definition cannot be understood if one does not take into account a temporal viewpoint, be this in order to understand, on the one side, the dynamics of natural processes which have occurred in a given landscape, along with the different societies which have worked it, lived in it and used it. The value of history helps us to understand a landscape today, and teaches us about the future. In the words of Rosa Barba landscape is living history, it is space in time. A biophysical reading cannot be disassociated from a cultural one. Topography generates river basins which contains valleys which are crossed by rivers, and these rivers are sources of life and therefore sources of attraction for human settlements. Between two adjoining valleys cultural differences can be considerable, owing to the relations which have been developed by their societies with regard to their landscapes. The structure of land, its fertility, the speed and temperature of wind, the water balance, climate, natural hazards, relief..., all of these are natural factors which influence the culture of the peoples inhabiting it and these peoples are forced to settle and act in one way or another with their landscapes. Reciprocally, the way different people act ends up shaping the landscape which is never final-. Hence we can come to a twin conclusion, firstly, that societies and their relation with the landscape are conditioned by their physical variables, and secondly, that landscapes are the living reflection of the societies which reflect them. The analysis of the traditional landscape should recognize the conjunct of natural factors as well as the socio-cultural dimension which has configured it throughout history. Countrysides, access roads, water management systems and the building are the four great factors of humanization of landscape. This vision also offers us the possibility of supporting ourselves in the geographical reading of territory when we intend to mark out cultural landscapes; it is no coincidence that in each valley of the Basque Country, in its farmhouses, a different dialect of Basque is spoken; topography conditions the speed and accessibility of the relations between societies and therefore the cultural flows. The homogeneity of the distinct landscape units must lie in the interrelation of biophysical and cultural factors. The importance of biophysical reading is greater than we have given it in western civilization, which, throughout the 20th century, has gradually separated us from nature, empowering human beings to the full. However, we are surrounded by the natural order and we form part of it. And what is more, we should not forget that we ourselves are nature. There is something of truth with regards to environmental or natural determinism which conditions humanity and living creatures in general as theorised by Alexander Von Humboldt and Carl Ritter, the fathers of modern geography-, which was paradigmatic in the sciences which studied the landscape during 7 147

II. Diagnosis Outil Tool 7 xbiophysical reading of the territory xthe value of landscape 7 the 19th century and was later ignored, owing to the economic needs of capitalism. When we act on the landscape we should understand the natural order and ally ourselves with it. If we don t do so, if we ignore it, we run the risk that the different elements of the landscape will remind us of it one day, as unfortunately already occurs. In order to understand the landscape to know one has to understand-, a biophysical reading is essential in order to arrive at the keys which explain the interventions of the past and how the present should be, whatever its purpose (exploitation, protection, construction, renovation, restoration...); but as has been said, we should not analyse natural elements without finding how they interrelate with human elements. The complete and correct analysis of the landscape should be tackled following a multidisciplinary approach. Barragán considers 12 disciplines when tackling the study of the landscape; engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, economics, ecology, geography, sociology, biology, law, history and urbanism. This does not mean that other types of reading and interpretation are not valid or cannot offer their vision, such as cinematographic art, painting or literature among others. Landscape at Jenin, Khirbit AlSabien (Palestine). Riwaq photo archives. In order to arrive at a complete reading of the landscape we need to know: Natural elements formed by the geological and geomorphological characteristics which shape relief (landforms, heights, gradients, slopes, orientation...) and the soil, along with its dynamics. Hydrological characteristics, either underground or surface, through rivers, their springs, tributaries and streams, along with their water balances, flows, sedimentations and flood basins. Meteorological dynamics, atmospheric elements and climatic conditions through temperatures and precipitation; its effects. Possible microclimates. Types, communities and densities of vegetation; flora, wildlife and their forms both in terms of habitat and how they interrelate; habitat mosaics. Biological connectivity. Cultural elements and their historical dimension through the uses and activities which have occurred in the landscape; the types of human settlement, whether this is residential, industrial, agricultural, religious or of any other type of activity; and human constructions from architecture forms through time to constructions related to natural factors (irrigation, channels/canals, walls, terracing,...). Historical and archaeological heritage. External territorial limits (geographical and administrative) and internal ones (structure of land division...) Mobility through communication networks; from today s motorways to the network of local paths and tracks; Landscape with crops near Fez in Morocco Landscape in Osuna, in rural Andalusia (Spain) 148

Outil Tool 7 xbiophysical reading of the territory xthe value of landscape II. Diagnosis accessibility and connectivity of different places; fragmentation rendered on the landscape. Mobility through communication networks; from today s motorways to the network of local paths and tracks; accessibility and connectivity of different places; fragmentation rendered on the landscape. Local and regional economic factors highly related to mobility and the localization of centres both of population and of production. Social elements through the demographic structure; the cohesion and social issues; the socioeconomic profile of its inhabitants. Social relations and barriers created. Sensorial factors through the influence of the landscape in the perception and psychology of its inhabitants. In addition to these elements, it is also very useful to find good bibliographical sources and statistics, along with the use of the direct method, that is, the observation in situ or direct questionnaires it is certain that more than one person will have considered the same landscape problem. Through this method we can find aspects of which we were unaware mythological, identity,... only known by those who inhabit this landscape-, or others which were once important and which could become so again. Field work in addition allows us to determine the visibility of the landscape, and to study the visual factors which characterise it: colours, lines, shapes, patterns, textures... This said, it should be remembered that however much information we have, what is important is not the quantity but rather how we work with it. We should interpret all these elements as tools for analysing the landscape, studying each separately and synthetically, as they are all interrelated between each other. Only through a synthetic reading can we know the degree of cohesion, harmony and internal balance of the landscape. When we analyse the landscape with the objective of taking actions on it, the analysis should be carried out with intention, that is, analysing the information which really is of use with regard to the later project. For example, when restoration is the aim, the analysis should make it very clear what reasons explain the building types found in a given landscape, and these reasons can be found, for example, in the detailed study of the geology of the place. On another point, analysis is not useful if it does not provide us with a diagnosis of the landscape in question, strong points to be strengthened or maintained and weak, problematic or dangerous points to be eliminated, mitigated or simply left untouched. The analysis, finally, should provide us with the master strokes or guidelines for action in order to develop the project. Returning to Jackson s initial definition of landscape, a final concept stands above all the others: and above all it is a space shared by a group of people. These people have slowly adapted, over the centuries, to its places, its topography, its climate, its soil, to the rest of people with whom they share this place..., and this is reflected in accents, ways of dressing, ways of celebrating the festivals, smells of the seasons, the taste of the local wine, the sound of the church bells or traditional music itself... all these characteristics form part of the essence of the landscape and endow it with its uniqueness. In summary, a biophysical reading of the landscape does not only provide us with the information necessary on the substrate of life, the environment which surrounds us and the conditions to which they are exposed, but rather it also brings us closer to its people and to our understanding of them, their behaviour, feelings and their character and how they act upon the landscape; cognitive aspects of vital importance for any action on a given landscape, for, in the end, it is its people and the very soul of the landscape who are going to live in and experience it. 7 Landscape on Santorini (Greece) 149