Sacred natural sites in developed countries

Since September 2004, Med-INA is co-ordinating the Delos Initiative, an action on sacred natural sites in developed countries. This initiative is being developed in the framework of the Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of IUCN. The purpose of this initiative is to identify the pertinence and meaning of sacred natural sites found in the developed world, and to investigate whether and how spiritual values can contribute to the conservation and wise use of significant natural areas in this part of the world. The focus would be on sites with high biodiversity and preferably with a definite protection status.

More specifically, the objectives of the action are the following:

• Understand the position of religions and other spiritual movements existing in developed countries on nature and on the sanctity of natural sites.

• Assess the pertinence and importance of sacred natural sites for contemporary people and attempt to estimate the significance of their spiritual values.

• Study how these spiritual values can be maintained and enhanced and Investigate whether and how these values can be used as a tool for the conservation of sites.

• Attempt to resolve eventual conflicts between the spiritual character and uses of sacred sites and conservation and management requirements, establishing instead synergies, where possible.