Using the connoisseur method during the introductory phase of landscape planning and management

The European Landscape Convention (ELC) has called for a broad anchoring in all sorts of landscape issues in local society. The connoisseur approach aims to improve communication in decision making processes by ensuring that personal and local knowledge on people, and their knowledge and feelings of everyday landscape is considered in projects on landscape development. The approach described here was tested in three Swedish case studies. Two were part of the European NeighbourWoods research project: the Skrylle Recreation Forest in south-west Sweden and the Ronneby Brunn area in south-east Sweden. Two areas that are heavily used for recreation by groups unrelated to the management of the forests. The Tinnerö area near Linköping was included as a third case. Our approach involved identifying and testing methods for introductory phase of management planning and countryside development.The methods developed in the connoisseur approach included in-depth interviews during field walks, walk-and-talk encounters, designating favourite places and routes on maps and management meetings between connoisseurs (local people, planners, and experts). Such concrete methods, which benefit from being mainly conducted outdoors, sought to empower local people, nurture a sense of belonging to a place and the management process, raise awareness of the local landscape and its potential, and identify shared values. The connoisseur approach proved to be a useful tool in the introductory phase, by clarifying the varying interests of local user groups, and was successful in creating links between the user groups, manager team, local politicians and administrators. Although unfamiliar to many people, the connoisseur method may effectively complement standardized, expert-dominated, top-down concepts of planning.