Exploring perceptions of landscape in Gozo, Malta

Abstract

The European Landscape Convention definition of landscape as "an area of land, as perceived by people" establishes a necessity to explore the various ways in which people read a landscape. This exploratory study, carried out on the Mediterranean island of Gozo (Malta), utilized an internet survey across a broad sample of stakeholders (approx. 500 individuals), subdivided into three categories, namely (i) local residents, (ii) domestic visitors, and (iii) international visitors. Respondents were questioned on their understanding of the term 'landscape', as well as on their opinion concerning characteristic aspects of the landscape of Gozo. Respondents were also asked about aspects revealing change in the landscape of Gozo, and about their personal desired future vision of the landscape. Results indicate that the idea of landscape is understood very differently by different respondents. A majority of respondents tend to equate the term with an idealised, almost utopian, rural/natural setting (to the exclusion of urban areas). There was significant agreement between respondents concerning characterising aspects of the landscape. Topographic elements, land-use characteristics and settlement patterns, in particular, were highlighted. These results were used as the basis for a landscape character mapping exercise, demonstrating the potential use of such perception-driven results in policy-making. There was likewise significant agreement concerning aspects of change in the landscape, with an emphasis on urbanization. The results of this study highlight several challenges for policy-making and planning, particularly as it emerged that people's views do not necessarily support positions taken in official planning strategies. Results also demonstrate that there is much potential to develop perception-driven methodologies, given that a clear measure of consensus did emerge from results. However, results also indicate that there is much diversity of opinion within a single community, and that this diversity must be acknowledged for successful landscape planning.