Elected officials in the saddle to understand the landscape differently
On November 27, the Park organized a day of landscape training for local elected officials. It was by bike that the 7 participants familiarized themselves with the landscape specificity of Périgord-Limousin.
A landscape with many facets
Etouars, Javerlhac, Varaignes… the Regional Natural Park led the elected members of the "Heritage, Urban Planning and Landscape" commission along a 25-kilometer loop, with the aim of illustrating the unique landscape of the Périgord-Limousin region and fostering discussions about the landscapes of tomorrow . Located at the boundary between the foothills of the Massif Central and the Aquitaine Basin, the area is characterized by diverse geological features , resulting in a mosaic of landscapes . Thanks to electric bikes, the group was able to overcome physical challenges and cover a greater distance. Participants thus traversed the landscape units of the Massif des Feuillardiers and the limestone valleys.
The landscape, at the crossroads of local issues
Since its creation, the Park has been committed to developing the skills of local elected officials regarding sustainable development issues specific to the Périgord-Limousin region. Agriculture, biodiversity, the economy, water resources… the landscape is at the crossroads of these numerous challenges . As part of the revision of its territorial project (known as the “Charter”), the Park is currently working on its Landscape Quality Objectives, that is, guidelines aimed at preserving, supporting the evolution of, or generating transformations of landscape structures, thereby guaranteeing the quality and diversity of landscapes at the national level. This workshop, which followed on from the outings organized last February, March, and June, was one of the ways in which the 10 objectives identified to date were addressed.
Throughout the day, the group made several stops to reflect collectively on land abandonment, urban sprawl*, the area's industrial past as a marker of local identity, the atmosphere of villages influenced by public and private developments, architectural heritage, and drinking water management. The ridge road connecting Plaisance and Javerlhac, for example, provided an opportunity to discuss the balance to be found between open spaces and wooded areas. The objective of rehabilitating existing buildings, with a focus on preserving architectural identity, was discussed at each stop in the village centers.
Throughout the day, the participants were followed by videographer Arnaud Jamin and a drone pilot. The shots taken will be used to produce the film “La part du paysage” currently being filmed throughout France.
* In urban planning, urban sprawl is the scattering of buildings and infrastructure in initially rural areas.
