Nature Perception - Theories and Methods for Investigation

Want to work professionally with a variety of stakeholders in nature projects?

In this problem and knowledge based course you will learn about how nature conflicts are embedded in different nature views and values, and how to analyse various stakeholders nature perception in theory and exercises. By applied theory and discussion, the course explores people’s visions, ideas and values related to real-life cases of nature and landscape management. Visions, ideas and values of the involved stakeholders, e.g. full time farmers, hobby farmers, foresters, culture heritage managers, biologists, locals, and visitors to the countryside might serve as examples of different and often conflicting interests in the same area. Knowledge on such stakeholders’ nature perception and nature values are central to sustainability thinking. The course relates to problem areas addressed in the following sustainability development goals: 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land).

In lectures you will be introduced to different methods, approaches and frameworks for analysing perceptions of nature, i.e. visions, concepts, images or views of nature. We will study frameworks from environmental psychology, anthropology, sociology, environmental ethics, human geography, and landscape research. Concepts such as rewilding; value orientations; environmental framing; social representations; place attachment; myth of nature; faking nature; human-nature relationships; nature connectedness, and cultural ecosystem services are addressed. Further, values of selected groups of people are presented and discussed. Based on introductory lectures the use of different frameworks for investigations of perceptions of nature are exercised based on real life cases.