mediterranean institute for nature and anthropos

Various organisations concern the interaction of Man and Nature. These range from intergovernmental organisations to specific sites with great wealth and keen interest in the relationship between cultural and natural heritage.

The ALAS project is an interregional co-operation between four European sites that produce salt from the sea[1]. Its main goal is related to the preservation and development of these often traditionally-run salinas, their natural and cultural heritage, their economy and social structure. Salt museums and tourism are two further factors that the ALAS is concerned with while several publications complement the outcomes of the project and provide information to other relevant sites.

The project, funded by ECOS-Ouverture of the European Union, started in 2000 and was completed by late 2002. However, the team created is still continuing the collaboration on salinas.

Theodora Petanidou, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean (Lesbos, Greece)

Since 1990, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul) of the Christian Orthodox Church has shown keen interest in environmental issues, focussing on water[2]. In this context, it has organised a series of workshops and conferences, bringing together scientists, decision-makers and church leaders. The most important were the symposia on the Aegean (1995), the Black Sea (1997), the Danube River (1999), the Adriatic Sea (2002) and the Black Sea (2003)[3].

All these events have been organised with the participation of most other major Faiths. In fact, in June 2002 HAH the Ecumenical Patriarch and HH the Pope signed in Venice a Common Declaration on the environment.

The Europae Archaeologiae Consilium (EAC) was established in 1999, bringing together the heads of national and regional services responsible for archaeological heritage in the Council of Europe countries.

Independently from Ramsar, the EAC has focussed its activities on the heritage values of wetlands. In particular, it has published:

Landscape Europe (LE) is a new[4] network on interdisciplinary expertise concerning landscapes. A network development and implementation plan was drafted in February 2002.

This is a major institution in Spain on prehistory and ethnology, with many research projects and, publications, specialised exhibitions and related activities. The Museum collaborates closely with SEHUMED.

A small number of organisations has been already working on the relationship between the natural environment and the social, cultural and economic aspects of human activities.

A Rocha is an international conservation organisation ‘…working to show God’s love for all Creation’. Its work has five distinct characteristics:

2.2 IUCN/WCPA Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas

This sub-group of approximately 40 members of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas has been doing significant work on the non-material values of nature. It should be stressed that the membership of the Task Force includes experts from many parts of the world, including developing countries, as well as those with indigenous populations. Of the members, some are quite active and participate in ongoing debates, while others seem to have adopted a passive mode.

SEHUMED has been a major force and a powerful ally for the introduction of cultural values in the work of the Convention on Wetlands. Its initiative started at the MedWet/Com3 meeting (Djerba, Tunisia, 2000), in which they presented during the technical session the first draft of a resolution on this issue. They have continued ever since with great determination and devotion to work on ways to incorporate the concern for cultural heritage in wetland management and wise use.

According to the World Heritage Convention, ‘cultural heritage’ is a monument, group of buildings or site of historical, aesthetic, archaeological, scientific, ethnological or anthropological value. ‘Natural heritage’ designates outstanding physical, biological, and geological features; habitats of threatened plants or animal species and areas of value on scientific or aesthetic grounds or from the point of view of conservation.

Thus the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international agreement, signed to date by more than 175 States Parties, and adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. Its primary mission is to define and conserve the world's heritage, by drawing up a list of sites whose outstanding values should be preserved for all humanity and to ensure their protection through a closer co-operation among nations.

Since 1996, A Rocha has promoted in the Aammiq site in Lebanon a vibrant and growing arts and crafts programme using wetland products or based on wetland themes. It involves women and youth groups. The programme, with the title ‘Celebrating Creation’, has not only raised awareness of the environmental and cultural values of Aammiq and the Bekaa Valley, but has also deepened cultural links and provided social benefits.

Butrint is both an archaeological site of great importance[6] and a major Albanian wetland, included in the Ramsar List of Sites of International Importance in early 2003. In 1993 the Butrint Foundation was established by Lord Rothschild and other British dignitaries. Its objectives (and subsequent activities) covered the areas of archaeological research, nature conservation, establishment of a Butrint documentation system, environmental projects and education programmes. The Foundation works closely with the management body of the site and the competent Albanian authorities.

The EPI Group focuses on issues related to the sustainable development and management of the Pantanal and the Everglades, on information and experience exchange between the two systems, and in carrying out co-operative projects.

Members of the EPI e-Group are now 345 professionals from government, NGOs, academic and research institutions, private companies and other concerned individuals.

The Society for the Protection of Prespa (SPP) was founded in 1991 –in the village of Aghios Germanos in Greek Prespa– by 7 Greek and 3 other European NGOs[7]. It is chaired by Dr. Luc Hoffmann. For its significant conservation work SPP received the Ramsar Award (1999) and the Goldmann Prize (2000).

In 2000, the SPP convinced the Greek Prime Minister to establish with his Albanian and Macedonian counterparts the transboundary Prespa Park, the first such joint venture in the Balkans. MedWet participates in its 10-member Co-ordination Committee (PP/CC), consisting of representatives of government, local society and the NGO sector from all three countries. Currently, after completing a Strategic Action Plan, the Co-ordination Committee is developing a large GEF project[8].

This is one of the wetlands included in the MedWetCoast project. It is a Ramsar Site of approximately 60000 ha, which includes terrestrial and saltmarsh habitat and the eastern tip of lake Bardawil. It has been selected as one of the two sites in this project where cultural activities would be encouraged.

Inspirational Landscapes are landscapes that evoke a response such as awe, excitement, creativity, action, reflection, or curiosity. They are the landscapes that people celebrate and reflect on, and their meanings and symbolism are frequently expressed through art -in painting, photography, music, performance, poetry or literature. Inspirational landscapes are those that people take pleasure in and enjoy exploring, and perhaps take action to protect. Most of all, they are the landscapes that give meaning and spiritual connection.

Through the Inspirational Landscapes project, the Australian Heritage Commission has attempted to explore the qualities that mark certain landscapes as 'inspirational', with the aim of developing a methodology for assessing the heritage significance of these places.

This initiative focused on an online virtual conference on 6-7 November 2002. It was co-ordinated by Chris Johnston [Chris@context-pl.com.au]. Participants included 234 contributions from all over the world, including one we prepared for the Prespa Lakes. Its 103-page report is available at their web site, and includes very interesting views on landscapes.

Thus the team that is involved in the project could greatly contribute to the further development of Ramsar Resolution VIII.19 Guiding principle 3[10]

Co-ordinated by Tony English[11], this project has the aim to define and explore Aboriginal people’s notions of kinship with the natural world, in order to inform the work of parks staff and to promote understanding and reconciliation. Part of the project is the Shared Kinship Programme, which allows non-Aboriginal staff to be vested with a form of kinship / totemic connection with a plant, animal or landscape in their park.

The main researcher working on the project is Deborah Rose, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Resource and environmental Studies at the Australian National University. Two reports have already been published.

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development --meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. This pact among the vast majority of the world's governments sets out commitments for maintaining the world's ecological underpinnings as we go about the business of economic development. The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

Ramsar Resolution VIII.19 stresses the need of collaboration with CBD, in particular concerning its Decision VI/10 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties on the Outline of the composite report on the status and trends regarding the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and the plan and timetable for its preparation; and on Recommendations for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact assessment regarding developments proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local communities;

ICOMOS is an international non-governmental organisation of professionals, dedicated to the conservation of the world's historic monuments and sites. It provides a forum for professional dialogue and a vehicle for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of information on conservation principles, techniques, and policies. Among the interesting aspects of ICOMOS work are:

This organisation could provide very useful advice in refining Guiding principle 12 of Ramsar Resolution VIII.19[14].

WIPO is an international organisation dedicated to promoting the use and protection of works of the human spirit. These works –intellectual property– are expanding the bounds of science and technology and enriching the world of the arts. Through its work, WIPO intends to play an important role in enhancing the quality and enjoyment of life, as well as creating real wealth for nations.

With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, WIPO is one of the 16 specialised agencies of the United Nations system. It administers 23 international treaties dealing with different aspects of intellectual property protection. The Organisation counts 179 nations as member states.

Of particular interest is the work of WIPO on ‘intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and folklore’. They include:

Some of the recommendations of WIPO on the above have been included in the draft text of Ramsar Resolution VIII.19 and the attached Guiding principles. In the future, WIPO can be of great assistance, within the spirit of point 19d of Resolution VIII.19, particularly in developing Guiding principles 16, 17 and 23[16].

[1] Pomorie (Bulgaria), Lesvos (Greece), Figeira da Foz (Portugal), Piran (Slovenia)

[2] Under the enlightened leadership of HAH Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew , and the encouragement of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, President of WWF International.

[3] Organised by the Religion, Science and Environment (RSE) Committee.

[4] Founded in Wageningen, The Netherlands, in November 2001.

[5] Sede para el estudio de los humedales mediterráneos of the University of Valencia.

[6] From the classical Greek settlement of Βουθρωτόν, which became later a Roman town, to the Venetian times.

[7] The Danish Ornithological Society, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB, UK) and the Station biologique de la Tour du Valat.

[8] A PDF B of USD 800,000 has been approved.

[9] Its web site is http://heritageforum.truenorth.net.au.

[10] GP3: ‘To safeguard the wetland-related cultural landscapes’.

[11] Tony English, Research Unit, Cultural Heritage Division, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service [T: +612 0585 6464, F: +612 9585 6325, E: anthony.english@mpws.nsw.gov.au].

[12] The CBD web site is http://www.biodiv.org.

[13] Their web site is http://www.icomos.org.

[14] GP19: ‘To protect historical structures in wetlands or closely associated with them.’

[15] Their web site is http://www.wipo.org; more particularly, view http://www.wipo.org/ globalissues/ cultural.html.

[16] GP16 ‘To safeguard wetland-related oral traditions’; GP17 ‘To keep traditional knowledge alive’; GP23 ‘To consider the use of institutional and legal instruments for conservation and protection of cultural values in wetlands’.