The Social Construction of Land Loss in Louisiana

Louisiana’s hybrid coastal region is subject to the reciprocal influence of land and water and is affected by progressive erosion and increasing land loss due to a combination of different natural as well as anthropogenic processes. This article focuses on individual perceptions of land loss and the resulting actions of coastal residents of south Louisiana, who are proving particularly vulnerable to these processes. Through conversations with residents of the coastal region, it was possible to recognize that personal experiences and one’s own experience significantly influence the formation of awareness and perception of land loss. These findings, which are based on a social constructivist understanding of landscape, are embedded in the analytical framework of Popper’s Three Worlds Theory.