New Development in Landscape Planning: Report of the Germany–Japan Symposium and Suggestions on the Research and Practice to be Conducted in the Future

Abstract

Issues on clinical environmental approach in multi-scale, participatory landscape planning can be summarized in the following four points: (1) Regional Landscape Planning System, (2) Local-Scale Landscape Planning and Design Methodology, (3) Science and Technology, Education, and (4) Institutional Innovation.

Japan is desperately in need of regional initiative, and there are many things that can be learned from German experiences:

• Grounds of regional landscape planning: What is the engine? Watershed is one logical unit to think regionally.

• Planning process: coordination between municipalities within a region, participatory approach possible?

• Other questions from Japan to Germany

There are issues regarding local-scale landscape planning and design methodology:

• Target area: small enough to be specific (not abstract) with good understanding of regional context—Are there approximate range?

• Working with various stakeholders of society—Who should be involved? Issue of the “silent majority” and outreach

• Role of experts—What kinds of experts with what kinds of information (data: current condition and future forecast, proposal, etc.) and expertise? Making “Mandala”: interconnected elements of landscape, science communication, visualization of the invisibles

• Process design: long enough for discussion, short enough for concentration—Is there an universal model?

The following issues are related to science and technology, education:

• People’s perception of landscape

• Scientific analysis of geography, soil, vegetation and water

• GIS to organize detailed (site-scale) information and to think in different scales.

• Education: onsite research training, workshop, methodology

Finally, there are institutional innovation issues:

• Land and water management system (legislation)

• Governance system—regional and local

• Leadership—city mayor, community leader