Rural heritage and its perception by the local community: A participatory approach in the Ligurian Apennines (Italy)

Abstract

Europe’s upland rural heritage results from interactions between environmental, spatial, and socio-cultural factors, with local communities playing a key role in maintaining and transmitting knowledge and practices. However, current land-use policies and heritage strategies often overlook local contributions, while participatory and geospatial approaches remain marginal in decision-making. This study explores how rural heritage is perceived across age groups – from primary school children to adults – in selected Inner Areas of the Ligurian Apennines (Italy). Using a participatory mapping methodology developed with local schools, tangible and intangible heritage, place-based knowledge, and everyday practices were documented. The data were analysed through GIS-based spatial methods, enabling comparisons across age, remoteness, and connectivity. Results show clear differences: younger participants mainly identify places of socialization and leisure, while adults recognize more diverse and spatially dispersed elements, combining physical features with intangible meanings. Remote municipalities display a higher concentration of sites linked to active rural practices, indicating stronger continuity of living heritage, whereas less remote areas frame heritage through episodic experiences. By integrating participatory mapping and spatial analysis, the study redefines rural heritage as a dynamic, multi-layered system shaped by continuity and change, highlighting the need to include local perceptions in conservation and development strategies.