ABSTRACT
The physical environment is local in the sense that environmental values are spatially attached to the local community. In particular, cultural and natural tangible and intangible values in the environment are important for local citizens as carriers of meaning and identity. In that sense, the environment has an existential dimension (Werner, 1991). This can be interpreted as a claim, or rather as many different claims, on the common environment. In contrast, there are other claims based on other interests or perspectives, for example, perspectives held by real-estate owners or businesses and public heritage management agencies. The assumption here is that various perspectives include conflicting directions regarding the management of the physical environment.
