Project properties
Title Place meanings of bogs to people living in (former) bog landscapes: method development and application
Group Cultural Geography Group
Project type thesis
Credits 36 (MSc)
Supervisor(s) Maurice Paulissen (GEO), Maarten Jacobs (GEO), Roy van Beek (GEO/SGL)
Examiner(s) Dr Roy van Beek (GEO/SGL)
Contact info Maurice Paulissen, maurice.paulissen@wur.nl, T 0317 481801
Begin date 2017/10/01
End date 2022/03/15
Description Large parts of the Low Countries were once covered by raised bogs (hoogvenen). Many bogs have disappeared since the Middle Ages due to reclamation and peat exploitation. What remains is natural and cultural heritage under pressure. The history of large-scale peat exploitation and reclamation in the Low Countries has been studied in several regional cases, but other aspects of man’s historical and current relations with bog landscapes have hardly been studied yet.

Place meaning is one aspect of human interactions with bog landscapes that requires further study. How do people look at (former) bog areas? Are they valued positively or negatively? For example, do people – as frequently encountered in historical sources - see bogs as barren, even hostile wastelands? Or do they (also) proudly consider themselves as originating from a group of hard-working peat-cutters? Furthermore, how do place meanings vary across geographical regions, generations, and social groups? And how can we best measure this? With regard to possible variety between social groups we may for instance distinguish between local residents, tourists, farmers, etc.

In this project, and based on existing approaches, you will develop an interview-based method for application in bog areas across the Low Countries. You will test this method in an appropriate pilot area of your choice, such as (a part of) the Bourtangerveen area, Vriezenveen area, or the Peel region. Finally, you will analyse and report the results. You will be part of the Home Turf project team (http://www.boglandscapes.eu/), and your project results will likely be used by ongoing and future studies on past and present human use and perceptions of bog landscapes.
Used skills
Requirements • Preferably experience in using Atlas.ti software for qualitative coding and analysis of interview data.
• Enthusiasm for the subject.

Also possible as minor thesis.