Applications - Soundscape Ecology: Principles, Patterns, Methods and Applications - page 280

10.12 Valuing Sonic Heritage

Generally the multisensory nature of aesthetics does not consider the sonic ambi-
ence as a critical element and often the aesthetic process is limited to visual cues, as
recently reported by O'Connor ( 2008 ) for an Australian case. According to Schafer
( 1977 , p. 9-10) every place has a specific soundscape with at

least three

components:

1. 'Keynotes' - background sounds that form the base of the soundscape
2. 'Sound signals' - foreground sounds that are more distinct
3. 'Soundmarks' - sounds that have a particular meaning for local communities
and that are analogous to landmarks in the structured environment

The acoustic value of a landscape is rarely considered in the evaluation of a
heritage site, although there is a strong connection between sense of place and
sound. The low attention to soundscape is the cause of poor acoustic management,
so the acoustic quality of a place easily is involuntarily lost.
Recently the European Network of Universities for the Implementation of the
European Landscape Convention (UNISCAPE) has produced an important decla-
ration that is an example how to integrate the necessity to educate people in sonic
evaluation under the framework of the implementation of the European Landscape
Convention (Florence 2000). With this declaration, here reported in the integral
way, the acoustic heritage of a place receives the same importance of other visual or
historical components of the landscape, which opens new perspectives in valuing
sonic heritage as an integral part of a holistic landscape evaluation.

CAREGGI LANDSCAPE DECLARATION ON SOUNDSCAPES - JUNE
2012
“ Landscape” means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the
action and interaction of natural and/or human factors

. ”

...

European Landscape Convention, 200.
Introduction
The soundscape can be defined as the acoustic property of every landscape according to a
species' specific perception and is the result of physical (geophonies), biological

(biophonies) and human (antrophonies) features and dynamics.
The soundscape is an important component of the terrestrial and aquatic environment
especially from a human perspective, but it represents also an indispensable informative
and communicative medium for every vocal animal. When lost or degraded it reduces the
quality of a landscape and impacts on the human well-being and more in general on the
biological activities of several organisms.
Modern human societies have strongly impacted on the soundscape, especially in
urbanized areas, reducing the acoustic quality and functions of the surroundings. Noise
pollution in urban areas is a problem for the health of billions of people at every latitude.
The quality of the soundscape is an important aspect not only in natural areas but also in
cultural landscapes and in historical sites and monuments because it contributes to make
residents and visitors fully benefit of such valuable heritage.