A Wall out of Place: a Hydrological and Sociocultural Analysis of Physical Changes to the Lakeshore of Como, Italy

Abstract

A wall out of place: a hydrological and sociocultural analysis of physical changes to the lakeshore of Como, Italy. ABSTRACT. The construction of a flood protection structure that obscured views of the lake in Como, northern Italy, led to unprecedented public protest in 2009-2010 and to the eventual dismantlement of the structure. This provided a focus to investigate the delicate interplay of technical and cultural matters in environmental policy-in this case, catchment management and flood prevention. This article shows how a focus on hydrological control in isolation from the rest of the catchment and from the sociocultural context contributed to the project's failure. A key message of the article is that data and analyses from the environmental and social sciences are both pivotal to environmental planning, as they inform different yet interdependent components of a single project. There is value in integrating technical and sociocultural knowledge, both at the academic level, as illustrated by the mixed methods used in this article, and at the policy level, through management frameworks that emphasize cross-sectoral learning and public participation. The analysis also reveals that the notion of "place" has a central role to play in this process of integration, both as a conceptual bridge between technical and sociocultural components of environmental studies and as an emphasis in environmental planning activities to foster the interest and engagement of communities.

Late Quaternary environmental evolution of the Como urban area (Northern Italy): A multidisciplinary tool for risk management and urban planning

“…The model provided a suitable general workflow for urban planning and furnished guidance for choosing proper operational techniques. The workflow also highlighted the need for a robust organization and control over construction works, as well as good communication with the public and proper investigation of the delicate interplay of technical and cultural matters in environmental policy (see for instance the discussion in Laborde et al, 2012).…”

‘Why can't we speak up for ourselves…?’ Water Futures and Ethnographic Provocations

“…A further issue, relevant to the above, takes us to cross‐disciplinary research in water use which has been shown to be highly productive, for example, anthropology working collaboratively with human geography, ecology, environmental studies, and hydrology (Jackson and Head 2022; Laborde et al 2012). Cross‐disciplinary research presents no reason why or obstruction to Australian Aboriginal people communicating directly with government authorities, physical scientists, and bureaucratic planners about water futures, especially in the 21st century.…”