From pattern and process to people and action
Ghent, 12-15 September 2017
In september 2017, about 310 landscape ecologists gathered in Ghent (Belgium) for the IALE2017 European congress.
The congress theme reflected that landscape ecology is a meeting point - where pattern and process meet people and action - seen as a way of thinking when dealing with European landscapes. We wanted to put emphasis on the integration of pattern and process as a biophysical component of landscape ecology with people and action, bringing in the social and cultural approaches. This requires a true interaction of natural and social sciences, and of science, policy and practice. Therefore the congress was an opportunity to reflect on the state of the art of landscape ecology today. Furthermore, the challenge of the congress was what the future directions are of landscape ecology as a social relevant approach for science, policy and practice.
The overall congress theme were discussed through three connecting threads/leitmotivs in both the academic and social aspects of the event:
Meeting
- Natural and social sciences
- Nature and culture
- Local and global
- Science, policy and practice
Reflecting
- Current societal, political and global challenges
- From past over present to future
- New landscape functions, services and values
Interacting
- Interactions with landscape and people
- Rural and urban landscapes
- Landscape and heritage
PhD Course
In conjunction of the congress, an Intensive PhD course in landscape ecology was organised. Further details