Drawing on the personal-existential landscape identity for local planning policy: reflections from three rural areas in Estonia

Abstract This article examines from a micro-geography perspective the personal-existential landscape identity of stakeholders in relation to territorial distinctiveness. The actions and decisions of individual actors shape lived landscapes into ontologically distinctive places. These actors base these actions and decisions on their landscape values and personal-existential landscape identities of the people. Here, how locals in three rural regions in Estonia perceive their individual place attachment, and how these perceptions shaped the landscapes, is illustrated in detail. We pay attention to how their self-identity and self-realisation are connected to the history-oriented place-rootedness of these lived territories. These meanings have materialised through the restoration of village borders, self-realisation in agriculture and civil governance, or enabling a particular place-bound lifestyle. The article suggests planners consider the personal-existential landscape identities of stakeholders as a significant factor in the local planning policy making process.