Landscape Approach to Mountain-City Interaction; The Relationship between Tehran City and the Alborz Mountain Ranges through the Lens of Experts

Problem statement:

 There are many evidences which show that the relationship between Tehran City and the Alborz mountain ranges is not favorable. Evidences also indicate that the city of Tehran and its people cannot benefit well from blessings and capacities of the northern mountains. Studies on the relationship between Tehran City and Alborz also show that residents of Tehran have become indifferent to Alborz Mountains. The authors of the present study argue that in difference of inhabitants of Tehran to the surrounding mountains has not happened all at once. With the loss of the mountain’s functions over time, this very important natural element has been diminished in the minds of people. Considering multidimensionality of the issue, one of the ways to examine this subject is examining it from the viewpoint of experts.

This study sought to explain the reasons for this undesirable relationship through the lens of experts. In this study, thematic analysis method was used to analyze the results obtained from semi-structured interviews with an exploratory approach with experts.

According to hierarchical classification of results, four main theme emerged:(a) the reduction of mental and semantic status of the mountain; (b) incorrect understanding of the mountain and its capacities; (c) objective and physical approach to the mountain; and (d) cultural issues; also the eleven sub-themes were (a) advent of religion; (b) advent of technology; (c) advent of modernity; (d) planning system; (e) partial and merely environmental view of the mountain; (f) economic approaches; (g) mountain accessibility; (h) changes in people’s lifestyle; (i) changes in epistemological model of people; (j) people’s common beliefs; and (k) reduction of people’s belonging, which fall under the main themes.