Local landscape photography : a participative tool for spatial planning The case study of the "Parc naturel régional de la Brenne"
The "Parc naturel régional de la Brenne" (Regional Natural Park- PNR) was built around a focal point - the ponds and lakes of the Grande Brenne - which gradually became an integral part of its identity. The Brenne pond, with its characteristic sluice gates, reeds and birdlife, thus represents the archetypal landscape ofthe area. This iconic landscape, our perception of which has drastically changed since the 18th century, has now become a source of local pride, both promoted by the Park authorities and sought after by visitors. However, some landscape mutations,which are intimately related to the emergence of new practices, are threatening the Brenne's landscape identity. Moreover, the reexist other, less valued landscapes around the Grande Brenne which have issues of their own. When the time came to redefine the objectives of the Charter(2008), the Park's representatives noticed discrepancies in terms of landscape, territory and identity. They decided to "highlight thePark's landscape disparity" and find a common theme which would help consider the territory as a coherent whole. This action research thesis proposes to approach the problem from a landscape perspective, analyzing individual and collective representations of landscapes and - beyond them - territories. Thanks to participative activities run over 26 months, local people, visitors, elected representatives, Park employees and spatial planning experts were invited to question themselves about the Park's landscapes through the use of photography and to formulate and share their points of view. These activities and landscape mediation efforts have led to the creation of a participative photographic observatory of landscapes - a photographic itinerary which provides the Park with an operational tool for monitoring its landscapes.