Awareness, Identity, and Place Attachment Among Young People Living in a Calabrian Reclamation Landscape

Rosalucia Mazzei, Angela Magariello, Alessandra Patitucci, Andrea Tagarelli and Giuseppe Tagarelli ()
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Rosalucia Mazzei: Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, Via Cavour 4-6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Angela Magariello: Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, Via Cavour 4-6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Alessandra Patitucci: Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, Via Cavour 4-6, 87036 Rende, Italy
Andrea Tagarelli: Department of Computer Engineering, Modeling, Electronics, and Systems Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Giuseppe Tagarelli: Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, Via Cavour 4-6, 87036 Rende, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Over the centuries, the reclamation of marshy areas has significantly transformed the Italian rural landscape. The Piana di Sibari (North of Calabria) represents a paradigmatic case of this process, because the current landscape is the result of a vast rural transformation. This paper discusses the results of a survey conducted to evaluate students’ knowledge and perception of this “Reclaim Lands” landscape, focusing on their emotional connection and awareness of its cultural and environmental heritage. The survey was administered to 149 middle school and 177 high school students. The study aims to investigate awareness and perception of landscape among mid-to-late adolescents living in the Piana di Sibari, highlighting the key aspects of the relationship between students and the places they inhabit, recognizing the catalytic role of the landscape in fostering a sense of belonging and identity. The results of this survey encourage reflection on a cultural shift that integrates ecological, social, and cultural perspectives, aligned with the European Landscape Convention, advocating for greater investment in youth education and participation to promote active citizenship and chart a course toward a fairer and more sustainable society.

Keywords: place attachment; identity; awareness; landscape; reclamation; Calabria; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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