How can emotions, sensory experiences, and alternative ways of knowing help shape more inclusive forest governance? This symposium, part of the topic Socio Ecological Systems and Forest Governance in the Anthropocene, invites participants to explore creative and participatory approaches that bring science, art, and communities together.

Building on impressions gathered during the conference´s forest excursion, the symposium will begin with small-group mapping activities where participants can represent their sensory and emotional experiences of the forest using hand-drawn maps and creative materials. The conveners will then present examples from research-action projects in rural and pastoral landscapes, showing how sensitive cartographies and experiential methods can support inclusive decision making and conservation practices.

The symposium will conclude with an open discussion on the opportunities and challenges of integrating these approaches into forest governance and management. Key questions will include how creative methods can complement scientific data, foster multi-level governance, and inspire new narratives and shared responsibilities toward forests in the Anthropocene.

About the Conveners

Francesca Fagandini is a geographer and anthropologist at CIRAD (UMR TETIS), currently based at ISRA-CRA in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Her research focuses on participatory and sensitive cartographic methods to explore socio-ecological dynamics and support inclusive territorial governance in rural and pastoral contexts.

Antonio Villanueva is a geographer and artist based in France, founder of MondeGeo. He specializes in creative cartographic methods to foster emotional and spatial awareness, bridging artistic inquiry with environmental and territorial research through multisensory engagement in landscape contexts.