Landscape Perception and Public Participation for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Landscapes: The Case of the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere UNESCO Site

Public participation significantly enhances the effectiveness of management plans for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, particularly in addressing threats to cultural landscapes. A study on Porto Venere and Cinque Terre revealed that involving local communities—specifically farmers and residents—helped identify critical issues such as the abandonment of terraced cultivations and secondary forest growth, which pose risks like landslides. This engagement also strengthened community trust in institutional efforts. The research suggests that active public involvement is crucial for conserving fragile, high-quality landscapes and improving decision-making processes.

Santoro, A., Venturi, M., & Agnoletti, M. (2021). Landscape Perception and Public Participation for the Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Landscapes: The Case of the Cinque Terre and Porto Venere UNESCO Site. Land, 10(2), 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10020093