1. The Environment and its social aspects
Elín Vignisdóttir
Geographer

2. Topic of the lecture Landscape and landscape preferences
The influence of the perception of landscape on outdoor activity
Environmental Impact Assessment in light of the actor-network theory
both human and non-human actors
network building to achieve preferable outcome
the actors perception of the effectiveness of the EIA process

3. Landscape What is landscape? Are people included in the landscape?
nature
a piece of land
scenery
Are people included in the landscape?

4. Cultural landscape Carl Sauer J.B. Jackson
Landscape has its origin in the natural form of the land but mans inhabitation transforms it and it becomes a “cultural landscape”.
J.B. Jackson
The vernacular landscape: landscape is not merely a beautiful scenery, but a unit of people and environment, the land in which humans live and work.

5. Perceived landscape
Landscape includes also the landscape we see in our minds.
Personal and cultural filters:
emotions
opinions
interests
education
experience

6. Meaning & image People give its surroundings a meaning
Certain landscapes revive the image they were given in our minds
historical landscapes
ideal landscapes
Landscape as text
our meaning is “written” into the landscape

7. Landscapes & Outdoor activity
Parks and open spaces are part of the city landscape.
We want “good” landscapes to replenish our energy.
Parks or open spaces with a bad image are less used than the “good” ones.

8. Nature - Culture Robust areas
Experience nature, bird watching, pic-nic, play games, scouting, walking, exercising, walking the dog.
Fine areas
Experience culture, people-watching, meet friends and relatives, experience history, entertainment

10. Viðey
Cultural landscape: its history and links to the histoyr of Reykjavík have been written into the landscape.
Almost „sacred“ landscape. Its emotional value is high.
But also a landscape to look for nature and experience what nature has to offer.

11. The two sides of Viðey
CULTURE
NATURE +

12. EIA: effectiveness study
Is the EIA process in Iceland effective?
The EIA process is not merely an objective tool to make “better” decisions.
Social processes that affect the outcomes.
Questions:
What role do the actors involved assign to the EIA process?
Does the EIA process live up to their expectations?

13. Actor-Network Theory (ANT)
Focuses on Actors & Networks
Try to get away from the dualism Descartes introduced to science: nature – humans
Bridging the gap by finding links between humans and natural elements.
Everything consists of a network of heterogeneous actors. What we see is the outcome of the dynamics of the network.

14. Network building
Translation is the process in which connections are made to other actors.
Translation involves transformation and displacement of meaning and information.
Translation often goes trough intermediaries.
If translation is successful a link is formed, but an actor can always break the link.

15. Intermediaries
Stand between two actors and communicate information and meaning.
Inscriptions are the most common intermediaries:
information in written or pictoral form: texts, maps, graphs, pictures, etc.
important to act at a distance.

16. Black-box
Networks are never stable: you constantly have to work to keep them together.
Black-box is a stable network. Its role and the role of every actor in it has become accepted by all. The network disappears behind on of the actors and it is taken for granted.
The network becomes visible when someone doubts its role or breaks a connection.

17. The research
Case study: Kárahnjúkar Power Project and its EIA process and EIS.
Field work: March 2001 – August 2002.
Method:
Follow the actors.
Interviews.

18. The main actors Public Project proponent: Landsvirkjun
Local population
NGO’s
Natural entities
animals & vegetation
places
“wilderness”
Project proponent: Landsvirkjun
Planning Agency
Minister for the Environment
Consultants and Experts
Referees

19. Interactions via intermediaries
Reports
Meetings
Media
Photographs
WWW

20. Networking
Two strong nets where formed in the process (and even beforehand):
those for the project
those against the project
The goal of both networks was to put forward their point of view and affect the outcomes of key actors:
the Planning Agency, the Minister for the Environment, the public and the members of Parliament.

23. Translation in the EIA process
Each actor depicts his/her “reality”, what s/he believes to be true and right.
Scientific process  Scientific debate.
Each network questions the scientific evidence the other put forward.
Submits new scientific “truth” to support its arguments.
Non-scientific arguments are devalued

24. More on translation The EIA process is not a black-box
Unstable network: connections constantly change and other actors constantly criticise them.
The Planning Agency:
No consensus on its role

25. Actors views on the EIA process
Informed decision-making
tool to make better decisions
“greening” of projects
to stop projects alltogether.
Cooperation and consultation
Lack of time
Who’s decision?

26. Results
The EIA generally considered an objective tool “to make decisions”.
More scientific evidence and more research brings better decisions.
Science to the rescue!
non-scientific arguments are not valid in the debate.
Consultation and public participation is not considered as important as data gathering.
focus on consultation with experts and scientific institutions.

27. Results Is the EIA fullfilling its purpose:
Yes, if the goal is to “green” projects.
No, if we want to protect natures interests.
No, if we want to make “objective” decisions.
The eternal issue of land-use.
Environmental issues are all about people.