The Image of the Forest: Four Case Studies in German and Japanese Rural Communities

Aiming at consensus building in environmental management with democratic procedure, a communication tool for mutual understanding is profoundly needed. The main purpose of this research is the establishment of a practical methodology to understand vernacular meanings of the environment in terms of resident landscape perception as a precondition for environmental discussion. We discussed an original Fukei theory and method with Landscape Image Sketching Technique (LIST) through empirical field studies and a practical methodology. The research findings suggest that environmental planning must address not only the physical environment but also human value systems. In connection with the reconsideration of locality as a reaction to globalization, landscape could play a more important role in representing the regional identity. Thus, the practical methodology with Fukei theory and LIST can be useful as a communication tool for mutual understanding in local environmental management with residents participation.