Forests: uses, regards, landscapes

Catalonia's forests cover over half of its territory, this is an extremely high percentage and far above that of the European average. This seminar will not be focusing on the causes behind this high surface area of forest in Catalonia, nor on the consequences - which are sometimes tragic - that this situation involves. We will however be placing emphasis on the forest as a universal backdrop, as a factor that has become a distinctive trait of almost two thirds of Catalonia's 135 landscapes, and which therefore forms part of the day to day landscape of thousands of people. Despite this visual omnipresence, many Catalan forest landscapes have been left without a story or discourse and awaken little interest if we leave asidethe proposals for leisure and enjoyment aimed at a population that is increasingly urban. Being aware of this fact and from the experience of landscape catalogues, the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia, from its interdisciplinary character, one open to the new ideas that characterise it, seeks a profound debate on the relations existing between the different values and uses (social, productive, ecologic, aesthetic, spiritual, therapeutic and pertaining to identity) which are attributed to forestry and agroforestry landscapes in Catalonia and aims to propose new forms of management and intervention, as well as reflections on the role of forests in the new, contemporary landscape references.

Organised by: Landscape Observatory of Catalonia

With collaboration of: Property Owners' Association of El Montsenyand the Forest Technology Centre of Catalonia

Registration: In order to attend the conference, you must register (observatori@catpaisatge.net / 972273564). The price is 15 euros and includes lunch. Payment method: bank transfer, specifying your name, to Consorci de l'Observatori del Paisatge, account number 2013 0753 76 0200707266 of CatalunyaCaixa. Once the registration has been completed, the money will not be returned.

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