Applications - Soundscape Ecology: Principles, Patterns, Methods and Applications - page 281

To preserve a soundscape and to mitigate the anthropogenic noises it is important to
reduce unnecessary acoustic sources associated to mitigation planning strategies.
The protection and management of a native soundscape represents a qualified goal to
maintain in situ the biodiversity and to guarantee the ecosystem's functionality as well.
Educating to listen is the obligate step to recognize the strategic value of the
soundscapes and to support a protection and management policy. The creation of data
banks of threatened soundscapes is one important action to preserve the memory of the past
complexity that can be used in the future to establish more favorable acoustic conditions
especially in urban areas.
To face the soundscape matter a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach is required
because the soundscape is a focal point for many scholars (e.g. acousticians,
bio-acousticians, engineers, planners, artists, psychologists etc.), therefore a world perma-
nent forum must be encouraged to disseminate ideas, research projects, management.
1- Landscape strategy for your region. Characterizing soundscapes (but not only
these ... )
1.1 - Policy makers should consider soundscapes as an important component of land-
scape planning and management since the sonic environment reflects human culture and
natural heritage and effects our quality of life and health.
1.2 - Main point of reference for valuating soundscapes is the well-being of the people,
the local community.
1.3 - Landscape should be lived and valued in a multisensorial way. Surveys on
multidisciplinary basis among inhabitants and visitors are crucial to define the perceived
values of the landscape, and the measure to which these characterize specific landscapes.
1.4 - “Sound-marks” (including local dialects) may be defined just as well as landmarks.
Soundscapes are by definition dynamic, and more characterized by rhythm (day-night,
season) than by continuity.
1.5 - Narratives describing typical landscapes and associated soundscapes are more
powerful than maps.
1.6 - It should be promoted that landscape and urban planning be based on multisensorial
perception of the living environment.
1.7 - Indicators for characterizing soundscapes are rather to be found in localized
qualitative statements, to be related to more general quantified parameters on a regional
level.
1.8 - The disturbing effects of human activities in underwater and underground are to be
considered.
2- Education and raising awareness
2.1 - The first step in raising soundscape awareness is to improve listening skills. This
can be achieved by a series of activities (for ex., soundwalks, sound recognition exercises,
etc.) to be proposed to the general public including educational Institutions.
2.2 - Sounds are perceived not only on a perceptive level but also on an emotional level,
thus informed sound making and sound-art is relevant to enhancing awareness.
2.3 - Raising awareness and at the same time preserve and manage soundscapes can be
reached though specifically designed facilities such as sound libraries and sonic museums.
2.4 - Education should ultimately aim at integrating soundscape awareness into a holistic
perception of landscapes.
3- Scientific aspects for landscape conservation and management
3.1 Integration among the different approaches made by different field of expertize and
multidisciplinary approach.
3.2 It is urgent to develop a research policy in soundscape ecology (SE) because the
acoustic aspect of landscape is underestimated
3.3 The SE must be positioned under the umbrella of the landscape epistemology.
3.4 It is important to define the ecology of the Soundscape: limits and tools