Perceiving Vegetation From Social Positions: Discourses on Plants in a Mediterranean Landscape

Abstract

Understanding how vegetation is perceived, named and valued requires attention to the social positions from which these perceptions are produced. This article analyses vegetation perception from different social positions based on qualitative research conducted in the province of Jaén (Andalusia, Spain), a Mediterranean landscape characterized by high plant diversity and the predominance of olive cultivation. Drawing on discussion groups with the general population and in-depth interviews with experts, the study applies sociological discourse analysis to identify patterns of vegetation perception and recognition. The results show that experts and the general population share references to a limited set of socially prominent species, but differ markedly in how vegetation is classified, prioritized and interpreted. Expert discourses rely on technical and ecological classifications, whereas those of the general population are shaped by everyday experience, social uses, memory and sensory recognition. These differences vary systematically according to social position, life trajectories and forms of practical engagement with the plant environment. The study highlights the existence of multiple forms of plant recognition and underscores the contribution of sociological approaches to understanding biodiversity perception and informing more socially attuned environmental management strategies.