Exploring The Perceived Landscape with The Local People: The Experience of Community Mapping in Orduzu District (Malatya/Turkey)

Abstract

Purpose The main purpose of the paper is to define historical landscapes through locals’ perspectives and employs community mapping as a tool for defining and transferring perceived landscape elements Design/Methodology/Approach The method used in this research consists of various stages, such as determining the boundaries of the study area, determining the goals and objectives of the community mapping, evaluation of the mapping process in the examined toolkits, and the community mapping process design specific to the study area according to the toolkits reviewed in the literature, and the outputs and observations obtained from the maps. Findings As a result of the community mapping study conducted with men and women separately, items under the themes of agriculture (past and present), hydrology, tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, built environment, connectivity, flora and fauna were identified. In this study, beyond the recognized physiographic features of the district, were discovered its “unseen” components due to the statements of locals and the analysis of the perceptual data they provided. Were acquired verbal information and point data about some archaeological sites that are not mentioned in any records or literature, as they remain undiscovered. Research Limitations/Implications This study bridged an establishing a new link with sustainable spatial planning by assessing perceptions of local people to the environment they live in. However, this study has limitations in the verbal and linear expressions of the groups participating in the mapping process.In the pre-mapping process needs to be supported by local government and non-governmental organizations for more participants. Social/Practical Implications it is suggested that the use of this methods such as spatial data production (on historical differences in landscape) within the mainframe of the participant planning approach and community mapping (to ensure collective wellbeing by creating healthy, sustainable spaces) and the inclusion of these methods in spatial planning stages will prove significantly useful. Originality/Value This study provides a framework for integrating different perspectives to better recognise and planning and manage the landscape character. This framework can be used as a foundation for a planning process in touch with “real life” and “users”.