Landschaft, Landschaftsbewusstsein und landschaftliche Identität als Potenziale für die regionale Entwicklung: Eine empirische Fallstudie in Glarus Süd, Schweiz/Landscape, Landscape Awareness, and Landscape Identity as Potentials for Regional Development - An Empirical Case Study in Southern Glarus, Switzerland

A transdisciplinary understanding of landscape - as a geographical space and as a cultural concept - offers a new approach for sustainable landscape development. This case study of a peripheral mountain region in Switzerland empirically investigates physical landscape as well as landscape awareness and landscape identity on the part of the local pop ulation. It seeks to make both aspects of landscape useful for sustain able regional development. Physical landscape was described by cultural-geographical methods; landscape awareness and identity were investigated by a quantitativequalitative survey. The results show great affinity and a positive attitude of the residents towards their landscape. It was also revealed that the population seems to differentiate between "typical" rural landscapes associated with nature and cultural development, and "normal" landscapes associated with settlements and infrastructure. Landscape is thus shown to be both a functional space and an important part of regional identity. Consequently, landscape has the potential to be relevant for sustainable development. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]