Conservation Of Cultural Landscapes Research Articles

The sustainability of woody biomass feedstock production and landscape management: land use, phytoremediation, biodiversity, and wildlife habitats

Woody biomass feedstock is suitable for direct combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, ethanol or methanol production yielding heat, charcoal, pyrolysis oil, green electricity and bio-propellants. There are several issues concerning the environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability of woody biomass production connected to land use, protection and/or creation of wildlife habitats, conservation and remediation of wastelands and derelict cultural landscapes. Establishing energy plantations on arable lands or on grasslands is against nature conservation, while setting up them in depleted agricultural lands of inferior quality, polluted areas or wastelands could be advantageous for land reclamation and wildlife, because of - root filtration, phytoremediation, less chemicals and improved soils; - possibilities to establish organic production by combining irrigation with biologically cleaned, pathogen-free wastewater, - application of biosolids for fertilization connected to short rotation forestry (SRF) or short rotation coppicing (SRC), agroforestry (AF) or polycyclic arboriculture; - more permanent cover that provides shelter and biomass for feeding, which is especially important in winter; - higher architectural complexity of vegetation provides more place for nesting and feeding; - forbs in the undergrowth and young shots could provide better quality food for wildlife than the intensive monocultures. Biomass production is very complex and includes a vast variety of feedstocks suitable for a range of energy production technologies and many other products depending on the species and the conditions of cultivation. Therefore, the solution is a complex management system, including land use, phytoremediation, solid waste and wastewater management and ecosystem-based planning combined with other renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy, solar cells, wind turbines, hydroelectric power plants and non-polluting high-tech waste incinerators in one dynamic system.

The necessity of taking a community approach in a historical cultural landscape conservation: a case of the Jianan Irrigation System in Taiwan

Cultural landscape has become a new category of cultural heritage since the late twentieth century. However, the conservation interventions usually used in regard to a conventional cultural heritage need to be changed and adapted to preserve the cultural landscape because the nature of landscapes differs to those of conventional cultural heritage, in which monumental buildings and other structures are essential. It is argued that the conservation approach should be broadened; in particular, “people” and “function” are critical factors. The community approach highlights the importance of people and their environment; thereby, the local identity of their life and environment, which comprises the whole nature of a cultural landscape, may be confirmed, and the threats from tourists or external cultural impact may be eased. The Wushantou Reservoir and Jianan Irrigation System were designed by Hatta Yoichi, and built in the 1920s. The reservoir was built under the conditions of the natural environment, and the conservation of an irrigation cultural landscape should not be limited to the structure, i.e., objects or channels. The agricultural production opportunities provided to the local people through the community approach should have a beneficial effect on local identity and the conservation of the cultural landscape.

Belt or network? The spatial structure and shaping mechanism of the Great Wall cultural belt in Beijing

The relationship between cross-regional cultural landscapes does not currently receive enough attention in cultural landscape conservation. Cultural landscapes in China are faced with the crisis of fragmentation and islanding, which makes it necessary to strengthen the idea of integrated conservation. The Great Wall cultural belt in Beijing is a cross-regional linear cultural landscape in the northwest mountainous area of Beijing. With the Great Wall as a link connecting the surrounding natural, social, and cultural resources to form a banded structure, it has the typical and practical significance of integrated conservation. Based on the theory of the cultural landscape security pattern and its ‘node – setting – connection’ model, this research studies the spatial structure and shaping mechanism of the Great Wall cultural belt in Beijing from the perspective of tourist flow, using Flickr geo-tagged photos and Wikiloc tracks. The results identify the core nodes and intermediate nodes of the Great Wall cultural belt in Beijing and show that it has a multi-core, multi-group hierarchical nesting structure differing from the geographic space, which has groups following the evolution orbit of ‘linear string – circumnuclear star – complete network.’ To explain the differences between the cultural association network (CAN) and the geospatial network (GSN), we find that the cultural associations between nodes rely on geophysical channels, including heritage corridors and traffic passages, as physical carriers, but the nodes’ attraction and their setting elements, containing natural geography environments, settlements, administrative divisions, etc., change the channel resistance, so CAN and GSN present different characteristics. From the perspective of systematic and spatial network thoughts, this study has made an attempt to adopt new analysis and research methods to achieve the integrated conservation and inheritance of linear cultural landscapes in mountainous areas.

Cultural Landscape in World Heritage Conservation and Cultural Landscape Conservation Challenges in Asia

UNESCO was the first United Nations agency to deal with landscapes at a global scale, notably through the World Heritage Convention. In 1992, Cultural Landscapes’ became a new category on the World Heritage List combining works of nature and of humankind: cultural landscapes often illustrate a specific relation between people and nature and can reflect techniques of sustainable land use, fostering strong links between culture and sustainable development. Initiatives such as the UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize highlight outstanding examples of safeguarding activities at the world’s major cultural landscapes and offer opportunities to share good practices and create synergies. Cultural landscapes face numerous threats across the world, and especially in Asia, with its growing infrastructure development and urbanisation. This article shares some of the knowledge and experience garnered by UNESCO through its conservation and management activities at cultural landscapes in Asia (Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Silk Roads heritage corridors) and highlights the urgent need for a cultural-historical-natural territory approach to address the pressing challenges for the conservation of Cultural Landscapes in Asia. Finally, the article advocates for a strong focus on the peoples and communities that inhabit these territories and their involvement at all stages.

Novel ecosystems: A bridging concept for the consilience of cultural landscape conservation and ecological restoration

We evaluate the historical, philosophical, and practical relationships between two fields of theory and practice: cultural landscape conservation and ecological restoration. Each field has distinct intellectual and disciplinary roots, bodies of theory, norms of practice, institutions, and modes of professional discourse. Yet both aim to understand and wisely steward environments for the benefit of humans and non-human nature, and both grapple with similar issues inherent in the complex nexus of nature, society, history, and sustainability. Increasingly, the thinking and the practices that once clearly distinguished their respective efforts have begun to converge — reaching similar conclusions on challenging issues, and thus building consilience. Coincident with this trend toward consilience, the concept of “novel ecosystems” has arisen. Novel ecosystems are ecological assemblages that form self-organizing systems that have no historical precedent. We argue that the novel ecosystems concept is a useful frame through which to expose, articulate, and address many of the philosophical, ethical, and pragmatic challenges and tradeoffs that cultural landscape conservationists and ecological restorationists grapple with today: the fuzzy lines that distinguish humans from nature, the impossibility of going back in time, the resulting problems of defining goals given diversity of potential priorities, and the value of greater social inclusivity in the practice of restoration. We believe novel ecosystems also provide a powerful bridging concept through which we can understand and align with one another's epistemological perspectives, and continue building consilience and collaborations to conserve, steward, and celebrate our cultural and natural heritage and environment.

The benefits of self-governance for nature conservation: A study on active citizenship in the Netherlands

An increased involvement of citizens in the management of European green spaces raises questions about its contributions to nature conservation. In this research, we study the effects of different types of active citizenship in green space. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, we look at the benefits of 50 green self-governance practices in which citizens aim to realize, manage or protect green space in the Netherlands. While most of these practices contribute to nature conservation (80%) and/or the conservation of cultural landscapes (50%), our analysis shows that the benefits of green self-governance are much broader. This includes so called ‘co-benefits’, social, cultural and economic benefits such as the use function of green for human activity (78%), environmental education (88%) and social cohesion (50%).The benefits and co-benefits of green self-governance strongly depend on the type of practice. Using a typology of green self-governance, we show that a majority of practices focuses on direct benefits to nature conservation through hands-on activities and/or political actions. However, we also show that this focus is regularly combined with efforts to realize co-benefits. Practices with an explicit focus on co-benefits often also produce benefits - and vice-versa. In this way, co-benefits can provide a first step towards the realization of more direct benefits to nature conservation. Even so, there are also tensions between benefits and co-benefits, for example when an increase of recreation negatively affects biodiversity values or when ‘wild’ nature is being replaced by a cultivated garden. Relating to co-benefits can be an effective strategy for governments or environmental NGO’s, but we have to be aware that the benefits generated by green self-governance are generally of a much smaller scale than those realized by ‘traditional’ managers of green space such as authorities.

Application on the Contingent Valuation Method for Accounting of Social Benefits of Environmental Education Based on the Cultural Landscape at the Miaoli County, Taiwan

With the increase of environmental identity, the need of environmental education was growth suddenly, so that the government tried to improve the related strategies for different fields. Therefore, the environmental education was a main trend for Taiwan environmental issues, and it also influenced the tourism markets and local development chances. In addition, the cultural landscape was one of the main issues with the need of cultural heritage conservation as well. From the pre-study results and literature review, the cultural landscape resource and environmental education owned much closed relationship, and he environmental education seems one of the solutions of cultural landscape conservation. In Taiwan, tourist activities were conflict with cultural landscape resources although the win-win situation was expected. The study tried to understand the identity of environmental education, and it also analyzed cultural landscape preference by using questionnaire at Miaoli County, Taiwan. In addition, it account the social benefits of environmental education based on the cultural landscape resources through contingent valuation method to recognize their practical value there. The result showed the respondents are able to pay more for the cultural landscape with environmental education, and the payment may be located on even one twentieth annual incomes. In other words, people are willing to spend more money to enjoy more diversity for cultural landscape with environmental education, but the practical strategies were needed.

Where farmers see their role – Influence on sustainable regional development approaches in Alpine biosphere reserves

Structural changes in agriculture are beginning to be felt even in remote mountain regions. The specific cultural landscapes, with their mosaic of different uses, remain in relatively good ecological condition. In general terms, agriculture fulfils a high variety of essential functions, such as the maintenance of the Alpine landscape, nature conservation and sustainable rural development. The biosphere reserves (BRs) selected for this study focus on the conservation of cultural landscapes. Alpine farmers as managers of the land therefore play an important role in sustainable regional development within the biosphere reserves. What affects farmers’ willingness to participate in the development of biosphere reserves? Qualitative interviews with forty farmers in the UNESCO BR Salzburger Lungau and Kärntner Nockberge (AT), UNESCO BR Engiadina Val Müstair (CH) and UNESCO BR Entlebuch (CH) give insights into their opinions on the responsibilities of agriculture, nature conservation, BRs, and the importance of participation and cooperative approaches. This research should help to identify, strengthen or complement existing approaches for sustainable regional development in conservation sites in the Alps. Generally, farmers accept and appreciate the BR as a shared platform for the participatory concepts of various stakeholder groups for sustainable regional development while acknowledging that the implementation of a BR is a long, slow process, which calls for numerous dialogues and relies on open minds amenable to mutual understanding.

Perencanaan Lanskap Konservasi Budaya Suku Baduy Luar dan Dangka dengan Pendekatan Bioregion

The Baduy Tribe is a community which preserves their own culture, tradition, and believe. The Baduy Tribe has suffered some external influence towards their culture, especially effecting the Outter Baduy and Dangka community which functions as buffer for the Inner Baduy region. The general purpose of this research is to plan a cultural conservation landscape for the Outter Baduy and Dangka Tribe base on bioregion approach. Bioregion constitutes the geographical area, which its delineation is not determine by administrative or political boundaries, instead its limited by the culture domain and the nature boundaries. The research consists of: preparation, preliminary study, analysis, synthesis, and planning. Analysis is done to determine the bioregion units. Evaluation was done by matching the bioregion characteristic of Inner Baduy with bioregion characteristic of Outter Baduy and Dangka. The evaluation result was utilise the to develop a concept to lead in the landscape planning to be developed. The bioregional based of planning concept has a purpose to improve the quality of life by combining nature as a resource and human need, through optimalization the environment sustainable. The final result is arranged as landscape planning for cultural landscape conservation of The Outter Baduy and Dangka Tribe.

The importance of paleoecology in the conservation and restoration of cultural landscapes

The importance of paleoecology in the conservation and restoration of cultural landscapes

第3報告 文化的景観の保全と地域活性化（自然・文化景観保全と地域活性化 2009年度東日本林業経済研究会シンポジウム）

第3報告 文化的景観の保全と地域活性化（自然・文化景観保全と地域活性化 2009年度東日本林業経済研究会シンポジウム）

Environmental impacts of Italian beef production: A comparison between different systems

Livestock production, particularly beef supply chain, is charged as the major contributor to green-house gas (GHG) emissions, as well as, in land degradation and deforestation. Environmental impacts per kg of edible beef, however, vary largely due to differences in beef production systems. Thus, this study aimed to compare the cradle-to-farm gate sustainability of four different Italian beef production systems, in terms of land occupation (LO, m2/year), global warming (GWP, kg CO2 -eq), water depletion (WD, m3), acidification (AP, g SO2 -eq) and eutrophication (EP, g NO3 -eq) potentials by using the LCA methodology (SimaPro 8.01 PhD, PRé Consultants). The primary data were obtained from 25 farms: 7 farms conducting cow–calf operations, with specialized beef cattle maintained on pasture and finished in confinement, (Specialized extensive, SE); 6 farms conducting high grain fattening of specialized beef breed imported calves (Fattening systems, FS); 5 farms conducting cow-calf operations, with specialized beef animals constantly kept in confinement (Cow-calf intensive; CCI); 7 farms conducting cow–calf operations, with Podolian cattle (a native breed of Southern Italy) maintained on pasture and finished in confinement, (Podolian system; PoS). The functional unit was 1 kg of live weight of marketed beef cattle. Intensive systems (i.e. CCI and FS) showed lower GWP values than systems partially based on pasture such as PoS, and even SE (17.62 ± 1.78 and 21.94 ± 1.95 kg CO2 –eq vs 26.30 ± 1.65 and 25.41 ± 1.65 kg CO2 –eq, P < 0.01, for FS, CCI, SE, and PoS, respectively). No significant effect of production system on WD was observed. Acidification potential was significantly (P < 0.001) affected by production system with the highest values observed in CCI (0.30 ± 0.02 kg SO2 –eq) compared with the other three beef production systems. As for eutrophication potential, FS and PoS tended to show lower values compared with CCI and SE systems (961.71 ± 65.30 and 779.17 ± 70.53 g NO3 -eq vs 1009.20 ± 77.27 and 1009.71 ± 65.30 g NO3 –eq, respectively; P < 0.10). Significant differences (P < 0.001) were observed for LO between the four systems (177.71 ± 20.87 and 194.43 ± 20.87 m2/year vs 40.67 ± 22.54 and 32.60 ± 23.69 m2/year, for PoS and SE vs FS and CCI, respectively). However, as diets in intensive meat systems are mainly based on cereals products that humans could consume directly, the degree of competition with human nutrition should be another feature to be considered. About this aspect, although human edible protein conversion efficiency (HEPCE) was not significantly influenced by production system, PoS showed a higher HEPCE index (0.44 ± 0.08), particularly if compared with CCI system (0.17 ± 0.09), but also in comparison with groups FS and SE (0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.39 ± 0.08, respectively). In addition, grass-based systems may provide other non-commodity outputs and non-marketable public goods services named “ecosystem services” (e.g. provision of clean drinking water, preservation and enhancement of biodiversity, conservation of cultural landscapes, contribution to the socio-economic viability of many rural areas particularly in marginal areas, enhancement of meat quality and animal welfare as perceived by consumers). The present results showed a lower impact of the intensive beef production systems in terms of GWP and LO, whereas some of them were more impactful at AP and EP levels. However, in order to achieve a more accurate estimation of the impact of the beef production chain, particularly for traditional and extensive farming systems conducted in marginal areas, such as the Podolian system, further LCA studies are needed, taking into account the allocation of their ecosystem services.

Abandonment or survival? Understanding the future of Castanea sativa stands in function of local attitude (Northern Apennine, Italy)

In a chestnut belt in the northern Apennines (Italy), we interviewed current (n=52) and potential growers from a younger generation (n=57), to assess what factors are likely to drive their willingness to continue chestnut culture. In 35 cases, local appraisals of chestnut stand disturbances were also contrasted with expert assessments. More than half of current growers were confident about the future of chestnut cultivation. This proportion decreased with grower’s age and experienced issues, while slightly increased in presence of multifunctional management and support from family members. Although most growers resulted highly capable of diagnosing problems, expert advice significantly contributed to driving positive perceptions. About half of the younger interviewees also expressed interest in growing chestnut. This proportion was higher for respondents who are exposed to chestnut culture within the family, and who value cultural services above other ecosystem services (ES) of forests. Overall, passion for the activity and attachment to local heritage were the most influential motivation for both categories of respondents. We outline policy actions that may encourage the continuation of chestnut management and, more generally, conservation of cultural landscapes in mountain areas. Possible measures include financial incentives (e.g., payments for ES), tighter integration of traditional and expert knowledge in the production chain, and public recognition of the value of local heritage in land management. Broader support to maintaining services and infrastructure in rural areas, however, will also be a pre-condition.

Farmers' Perceptions of a Mountain Biosphere Reserve in Austria

This study explored farmers’ perceptions of a biosphere reserve in the Austrian Alps with the goal of promoting better understanding among different stakeholders involved in the agricultural sector in a biosphere reserve. Biosphere reserves have a variety of functions and serve as models of sustainable regional development and involve stakeholders in decision-making on and development of protected areas. In the Alpine biosphere reserve selected for this study, the conservation of cultural landscapes plays a major role; therefore, farmers feature prominently, and this study focuses on their points of view. Farmers rely heavily on natural resources, but structural changes in agriculture determine their work to a large degree, and they often refuse to support protected area management. This situation calls for a closer integration of social-scientific knowledge in regional development programs. Qualitative research methods based on grounded theory can help identify sources of conflict and social strengths. The study found substantial support for the reserve but also a noticeable lessening of the original excitement about it, pointing to the need for further outreach and to the importance, when establishing future reserves, of handling the start-up phase with heightened sensitivity.

Spatial Analysis of Cultural Heritage Landscapes in Rural China: Land Use Change and Its Risks for Conservation.

Cultural heritage landscapes are consistently perceived as landscapes of high value. However, these landscapes are very vulnerable to change. In China, rapid land use change, especially urbanization, has become one of the main challenges for the conservation of cultural heritage landscapes in rural areas. This paper focuses on the designated cultural villages in rural China by systematically analyzing the spatial distribution of the designated cultural landscape across the country and assessing the threats these traditional landscapes are facing under current and future urbanization and other land use pressures. Current designated cultural heritage landscapes in China are predominantly located in the rural and peri-urban regions of Central and South China and less frequently found in other regions. Especially in these regions risks to land use change are large. These risks are assessed based on observed recent land use change and land use model simulations for scenarios up to 2050. The risk assessment reveals that especially in Southeast China along the sea coast and near the cities along the Yangtze River, high pressures are expected on cultural heritage landscapes due to urbanization. At the same time, in Southwest China, especially in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, high pressures due to other land use changes are expected, including land abandonment. This assessment gives direction and guidance toward the selection of the most threatened cultural villages for detailed investigation and additional protection measures.

Disentangling Values in the Interrelations between Cultural Ecosystem Services and Landscape Conservation—A Case Study of the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines

In the past few years, there has been a growing amount of research on economic quantifications and valuations of ecosystem services (ES) in agricultural systems. However, little attention has been given to cultural ESs (CES) in general and their link to the landscape in particular. This paper tries to tackle this gap with a case study on the Ifugao Rice Terraces of the Philippines. The study aims to understand the interrelations between the different CESs and their relationships with the landscape. Besides contributing to knowledge about the degradation of the rice terraces, this study was conducted in order to discuss at a theoretical level how CESs and their relationship with the landscape must be addressed in ES management and policy decisions. The methodological approach includes a combination of semi-structured interviews (n = 60) and a perception survey (n = 66). The results reveal that CESs, apart from being interrelated, are also responsible for and affected by the degradation of the rice terraces, which is why they are important factors to consider in ecosystem conservation. This paper finally provides policy recommendations for the empirical case and demonstrates the importance of connecting CES analysis with landscape studies looking at agricultural systems.

A DEFINITION OF AUTHENTICITY CONCEPT IN CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPES

Cultural landscape can be defined as the result of human interaction with nature over time, which has led to the formation of the many and diverse layers of value. Currently, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre has a unique role among other scientific associations. In recent years, the World Heritage Center has put efforts into developing a framework and measures for evaluation and management of cultural landscapes. Moreover, the concept of authenticity; as the transmitter of values and significance of cultural landscape, is considered as the key component in the process of cultural landscape conservation. A lot of scientific resources have pointed out the importance of authenticity in the process of conserving cultural landscapes. However, the role of authenticity within the domain of conservation of cultural landscapes has received little attention. One of the main reasons can be lack of adaptation between conventional definitions of UNESCO and international documents concerning the authenticity for including the flexible and dynamic structure of cultural landscapes around the world. Therefore, this paper seeks to explore and develop a flexible framework in order to redefine the concept of authenticity in relation to cultural landscapes, which has some overlaps with UNESCO definitions despite its differences. For developing this framework, Iranian-Islamic philosophy of Mollasadra is applied and described with some examples of cultural landscapes in Iran.

Burhanpur Cultural Landscape Conservation: Inspiring Quality for Sustainable Regeneration

The heritage landscape of Burhanpur has an architectural and horticultural composition, consisting of many historic gardens, a unique water management system, a sustainable planning and design framework, the use of landscape and topography with numerous heritage components and historical monuments, temples, tombs and mosques that are locally, regionally and nationally significant. Conserving Burhanpur as an inspirational model for other sites is not only a cultural heritage objective, but it is also a crucial component of the heritage-based sustainable regeneration of the landscape, because it is directly linked to environmental integrity, economic efficiency and resources for present and future generations. Although the last decade has witnessed vigorous efforts by the municipal corporation to preserve and develop Burhanpur by designating it as one of the heritage cities of the UNESCO—Indian Heritage Cities Network (in 2006), a coherent, holistic and sustainable heritage outcome has not been achieved. This paper proposes to harness the cultural landscape as an approach for the sustainable regeneration of Burhanpur heritage and takes a holistic approach to the interpretation of the historic district and natural landscape of the city, where historic buildings are located.

重要文化的景観の保存・活用の取り組みが地域住民の価値認識に与える影響に関する研究 －高島市を事例に－

重要文化的景観の保存・活用の取り組みが地域住民の価値認識に与える影響に関する研究 －高島市を事例に－

The Venice Charter and Cultural Landscapes: Evolution of Heritage Concepts and Conservation Over Time

In revisiting the 1931 Athens Charter, the 1964 Venice Charter codified the tenants of universal heritage based on principles of good practice at that time. The Venice Charter articulated a preservation philosophy, with an emphasis on the tangible constructs of culture—monuments and sites. Subsequent years have seen a broadening of the concept of cultural heritage, and the Venice Charter has been both heralded and criticized by a breadth of disciplines within heritage preservation. With an eye to the ever-evolving world of cultural heritage, this paper explores the Venice Charter and other guiding documents through the lens of cultural landscapes. The Venice Charter influenced the 1982 Florence Charter on Historic Gardens as the concept of cultural heritage broadened to be inclusive of landscapes. By 1992, UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention fully recognized cultural landscapes as a valued cultural resource. Since then, the concept of cultural heritage has continued to broaden to include intangible heritage, cultural routes, historic urban landscapes, and most recently, a world rural landscapes initiative. The paper closes with an overview of the challenges and opportunities in cultural landscape conservation today as practitioners address new types of landscape heritage, recognition of associative values and indigenous knowledge, and continuing agricultural landscapes.