A Culture/Nature Journey ICOMOS General Assembly 2023

Brenda Barrett, Editor | Eleanor Mahoney, Associate Editor | Deanna Beacham, Outreach Assistant

December 2023 / January 2024 Vol.12 No. 6

The Nature Culture Journey

Down Under

An important track at the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) 21st General Assembly in Sydney (August/September 2023) continued work begun at the Nature Culture Journey launched at the World Conservation Conference in Hawaii in 2016. A key session was the report out on the "Connecting Practice" initiative sponsored by ICOMOS and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and now joined by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). This project focuses on documenting field-based nature culture collaborations to improve World Heritage practice and that of other protected areas. To date, four Connecting Practice reports have been issued. The most rec ent of these, Phase IV, was shared with the delegates. It tested a Resilience Thinking Framework called Wayfinding that has been adapted for heritage places.

Another noteworthy outcome from this track was the presentation of "Integrating Natural and Cultural Approaches in Heritage Conservation: A Practice Note." The presentation outlined nine steps for integrating the nature and culture approaches to heritage conservation. The Note moves beyond conceptual ideas to considering a wide variety of everyday heritage management practices and to considering the values of these sites to different communities.

Finally, the winners of the ICOMOS Culture Nature Prize were recognized. The prize was launched to share exceptional work that integrates these two fields from around the globe. The introductory Nature Culture session asks the question are we there yet? Maybe not, but all this work shows we are on the way.

About Us

The Living Landscape Observer is a website, blog and monthly e-newsletter that offers commentary and information on the emerging field of large landscape conservation.

Look Back and Learn

The First Nature Culture Journey Hawai'i 2016

The interrelationship and adaptation of nature and culture on the Hawaiian Islands present lessons for the future of conservation. So, it was fitting that the IUCN held its first ever World Conservation Congress in the United States in Hawai’i in 2016. IUCN and ICOMOS co-sponsored a Nature Culture Journey, which featured over 50 related sessions. The journey examined both the growing evidence that natural and cultural heritage are closely interconnected in many landscapes/seascapes and the need to better integrate practices for better conservation outcomes.

Highlights of the 2023 ICOMOS General Assembly

In March 2020, the worldwide pandemic brought the ICOMOS General Assembly scheduled for the fall of that year in Sydney, Australia, to a halt. Planning for the event had already been quite advanced by this stage. In the face of global uncertainty, the host, Australia ICOMOS, and its many partners made the decision to hold the conference in 2023 - and what an event it was! The almost 7 years of planning paid off. With the theme "Heritage Changes: Resilience – Responsibility – Rights – Relationships”, the 21st General Assembly brought together 1,300 participants from around the world to focus on cultural heritage and to promote responsible conservation.

Image of partially ruined stone building overlooking coastline

Explore Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Earlier this year, the Living Landscape Observer sponsored a presentation and discussion highlighting one of the world’s most innovative approaches to landscape conservation – the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) program (now rebranded as National Landscapes). An AONB/National Landscape is a designated exceptional landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are precious enough to be safeguarded in the national interest. These special places are protected and enhanced for nature, people, business, and culture. Located across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the 46 landscapes cover 18% of the countryside, over a fifth of the English coast, and include 12,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways.

Watch the Webinar

Reimagining Philanthropy

Private philanthropy has long played a critical role in supporting landscape conservation. To learn more about the future of the field, the Living Landscape Observer recently spoke with Jessica Brown, Executive Director of the New England Biolabs Foundation and Member, IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas and ICOMOS/IFLA International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes. Brown co-organized a session at the ICOMOS General Assembly on "Reimagining Philanthropy: Supporting the Integration of Culture and Nature.” In this excerpt from the interview, we explore the session's inspiration, key takeaways, and reflections on the evolution of philanthropy in conservation.

Read the Interview

Observer Webinar Series

Did you miss one of our webinars in 2022 or 2023?

Documenting Landscapes of Protest - A presentation and discussion with Dr. Roneva Keel examining how First Amendment activities in the National Capital Region have transformed the way citizens engage with the federal government.

National Heritage Areas: Past, Present, and Future - A conversation with Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources in the Government Affairs department of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Sara Capen, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area, exploring what makes the National Heritage Area model unique and how its emphasis on partnerships and collaboration can inform the future of preservation and conservation.

Pennsylvania Conservation Landscapes: A Story of Success at Scale - A moderated conversation with Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, highlighting the history of the Conservation Landscape program in Pennsylvania, a unique state-supported large landscape initiative.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia is Aboriginal land, jointly managed by its traditional owners The Anangu and the Director of National Parks. Uluru at sunset courtesy of Jane Lennon.

News and Notes

US Department of the Interior Signs Trilateral Conservation Agreement

In late 2023, Department leaders attended the Executive Committee of the North American Intergovernmental Committee on Cooperation for Protected Areas to sign an updated Memorandum of Understanding. It outlines a framework for continued cooperation and coordination among the United States, Canada, and Mexico to guide conservation and protection efforts across North America.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Rebranded as National Landscapes

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England and Wales are to be renamed National Landscapes. The new branding underpins an ambitious set of targets for nature that aims to restore ecosystems, provide food, store carbon, safeguard against drought and flooding, and nurture people’s health and wellbeing.

Upcoming Events & Webinar

CONFERENCE ON RURAL CHINATOWNS AND HIDDEN SITES

JUNE 18 – 21, 2024, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

The 1882 Foundation and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office are pleased to cosponsor a dynamic exploration of rural settlements developed by Chinese workers throughout the United States. The conference will include on-site paper sessions and panel discussions. For those interested in coming a day early, staff of the FamilySearch Library will provide an orientation to the library’s resources and a tour of the facility with a focus on Asian resources. A highlight of the conference will be a day-long tour of Terrace, Utah—a town that provides an excellent case study of rural Chinese communities. The call for papers is open and will extend until January 15, 2024. For information on the call for papers and registration, please visit the website at ruralconf@1882foundation.org.

NATURE, CULTURE,COMMUNITY www.livinglandscapeobserver.net

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