Landscape: a new dimension of public territorial action

Syrasbourg, Plenary  Session – Hemicycle, 27 October 2010

Speech by Gaye Doganoglu, Chair of the Committee on Sustainable Development

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear colleagues,

-       I would like to thank Devrim ÇUKUR for his very interesting presentation and both Rapporteurs, himself, and Inger Linge, for their involvement in the preparation of these texts.

-       The European Landscape Convention was initiated by the Congress; we supported the creation of a network of Local and Regional Authorities in 2005 for its implementation at territorial level. Therefore it is natural that the Congress continues building on its work and marks the 10^th anniversary of the Convention by giving an insight into the way the Convention is implemented at territorial level.

-       The Committee has always felt that it should address the major challenges of our changing world, the major challenges for the sustainability of our towns, cities and regions, of our Continent and of the planet.

-       Landscape represents a challenge as the fundamental issue it raises is not just to protect highly exceptional sites but also the everyday landscapes in which the vast majority of Europeans live.

-       Local and regional authorities have a demanding role to play in responding to the radical and rapid transformations the European landscape is undergoing in our globalised world.

-       In assigning to public territorial action, the protection, management, and enhancement of landscapes in such a way as to promote the quality of life of European populations, the Convention places the action to promote the landscapes within the sphere of human rights and the exercise of democracy, which are the main field of action of the Council of Europe.

-       The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the opening for signature of the European Landscape Convention bears witness to the interest prompted by the landscape and its management and development, but this does not prejudge its actual implementation. Fine words and promises must be backed by a constant effort to mobilise the relevant social and political forces.

-       Dear colleagues, we local and regional elected representatives need to integrate landscape in all our decisions and act with a sense of responsibility for present and future generations.

-       I would like to finish by thanking once more, the Rapporteurs and the members of the Congress for their valuable contributions and support.