Dower, M.

Past and future of the European landscape.

Historisch Geografisch Tijdschrift 30 (2012) 171 - 184.

I have been given a very ambitious title for this talk - the past and future of the European landscape. I am neither a professional historian, nor a prophet. But I hope to provoke you as you look back to the past and forward to the future.

The landscapes of Europe, which we inherit from past generations, form a rich and varied tapestry across the face of this long-settled continent. These landscapes embody a wealth of natural habitats, and rich and intricate layers of history. Collectively, they are a massive asset to Europe, and are embedded in the psyche and the emotions of its people. They have changed over millennia, to reflect the changing ways of life of the people who have shaped them. Change has accelerated during the last two or three centuries, including the impact of global culture, standardised building materials and high technology. As a result, we have seen rising public and political awareness of what may be lost, in terms of quality and variety of landscapes, if we fail collectively to find a new equilibrium between the landscape heritage and modern social and economic needs. The European Landscape Convention provides a conceptual and political framework for the collective effort that is needed - an effort which must involve many professions, many organisations and departments of government at all levels, and an active citizenry.