In the 1970s it was fashionable to start to consider “stakeholders” in planning and management processes. Back then it was intended to be an inclusive notion but very quickly some of these stakeholders began to assert precedence over others – they demanded ranking and privileges to match. Very quickly their concerns were accommodated and as a consequence before anyone could be considered a stakeholder they needed to demonstrate a ‘legitimate interest’ – a pecuniary interest, an ownership, a potential loss of something, whatever. Stakeholdership quite quickly became at once an elastic concept and an idea in retreat – more often than not, one that served some more than others.

However there is another way, and more inclusive way, to think about all this. If we think about landscapes as having Communities of Ownership and Interest– layers of cognitive owners including stakeholders – we might then begin an interesting conversation with each other in regard to resource management.


Do landscapes shape culture or do our cultural realities shape our landscapes?

An audit of cognitive ownerships would reveal the confluences and conflicts in ownership claims. If we abandon the notion that there can be a hierarchical structure to the ownership of place, – landscapes here again – it is possible that managers of cultural property can begin:
• To resolve conflicts and tensions over usage and access; and
• To establish appropriate planning processes and management systems.
Who are these cognitive owners? The simple answer is almost everyone but a list of them must be inclusive rather than exclusive or privileged and it must be an ‘open list’. More important than knowing 'who' is knowing what their interest and ownerships are and the cultural context in which an ownership is claimed. Knowing that allows for the accommodation of inclusive and holistic planning and management processes.
Ray Norman 2008
IMAGE SOURCE GOOGLEearth
YOU TOO CAN VISIT CONTESTED LANDSCAPES VIA GOOGLEearth
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YOU TOO CAN VISIT CONTESTED LANDSCAPES VIA GOOGLEearth
Comment Welcomed