CONVENTION
ON WETLANDS (Ramsar, Iran, 1971)
Information paper on cultural aspects of wetlands (draft)[1]
Section
I
General
context and rationale on the cultural aspects of wetlands
Acknowledgement:
The Ramsar Bureau is most grateful to Mr. Thymio Papayannis, Special Advisor
to the Secretary General, for having accepted the responsibility of drafting
this COP8 document. The Bureau extends this appreciation to the many
individuals that have enthusiastically assisted Mr Papayannis in this task.
Wetlands,
water, life and culture
1.
Wetlands have provided valuable resources and refuge for human
populations and many other life forms since the very beginning of human life
on Earth. Major civilizations have been established on their shores and have
depended upon their resources, and especially upon water. Settlements,
including major cities such as Amsterdam, Bangkok, Tunis and Venice, have
been built in wetlands or in their immediate vicinity[2].
Box
1: The Nile in Ancient Egypt
During
Akhet, the season of inundation,
the Nile flooded kmt, “the
black land”, which included most of the flat plains along its banks.
This allowed planting of wheat and barley in September, during the season
of Peret, which were harvested in March or April. Shemu, the summer season
of drought followed, and the life-sustaining cycle was repeated. During
the Old Kingdom, in the 3rd millennium B.C., it was the kings
who were supposed to maintain Ma’at,
the cosmic order, and guarantee the continuity of the Nile cycle.
Climatic
oscillations, however, led to the dramatic decrease of the Nile flow at
certain periods [Fagan 1999]. As a result, only a small part of cultivated
lands was flooded and the impact was dramatic, with large scale famine
unavoidable. This eroded the power of the kings and led to massive
political unrest. Thus the
2.
Malaria in many parts of the world became a negative factor and drove
populations away from wetlands. It also created one of the main reasons for
the drainage of wetlands, until the discovery of quinine provided an
effective remedy to the onslaught of Anopheles anopheles. Thus the conquest of plains and their use for
agriculture entailed a heavy health cost for the populations that initiated
them[3].
3.
Human activities of some sort and intensity have existed in almost
all wetlands. The abandonment of traditional activities of the primary
sector during the 20th century decreased the importance of some
wetlands as a direct resource base for human survival. Still many of their
other values to people have begun to be understood and appreciated. These
include a regulatory role in the water cycle, flood abatement, aquifer
recharge, retention of nutrients and pollutants, shore protection,
educational and recreational opportunities.
Lately,
however, the situation is changing rapidly and radically. Internal
migration and explosive population growth have increased the pressures on
the lake, and have almost completely destroyed local architecture. The
lake pollution is rising, both from domestic sources and from cultivation;
forest logging is increasing the inflow of silt, while shallow areas,
necessary for fish spawning, are being drained. In addition, dam
construction has decreased freshwater flow into the lake. Overfishing and
illegal practices are quite common. The result is a dramatic reduction in
fish catches, which used to supply more than 60% of the protein
consumption in
The
Cambodian government has started a new initiative to face effectively the
problems at
4.
From the very beginning, water – along with air and food – has
been understood as an absolute necessity for survival. After the gradual
shift from hunter / gatherer clans to agricultural societies, water became
an essential prerequisite for food production. Its abundant availability
created the basis for great civilizations, as in the case of the
5.
Wetlands are diverse ecosystems and range from great rivers and lakes
to desert oases, from Alpine lakes to coastal lagoons, from underground
karstic systems to shorelines with depth down to 6 meters. There are,
however, certain similarities in their physical characteristics and
functions, as well as in the rich variety of flora and fauna species they
host. As to the cultural and other social values of wetlands, which have
come into the limelight during recent years, a strong specificity (certainly
regional and often local) characterises them and adds a new dimension to
their diversity.
6.
Yet, and in spite of all conservation and wise use efforts, wetland
destruction has continued in many parts of the world, in developed and
developing countries alike. In others, the appreciation of wetland values
has led to significant projects for the restoration of lost or heavily
degraded wetlands, at great cost. These have shown conclusively how very
difficult it is to restore to some degree the values and ecological
functions of destroyed or degraded wetlands. They have also demonstrated
that it is practically impossible to restore, once lost, their cultural and
historical values. These values are often associated with inanimate objects,
such as buildings and other structures. However, a large part of them are
borne by local societies, woven in their social fabric, and are lost in a
few generations after wetlands are destroyed. It should be stressed here
that the loss of wetlands does not only remove important resources, but also
causes profound social damage to local populations.
Box
3: The case of Lake Carla
In
the centre of
The
results soon proved disastrous. For irrigation, the water of the lake was
replaced by intense pumping. This caused a dramatic drop in the level of
aquifers (today down to 300 meters in certain places) and the beginning of
intrusion of salt water, although the sea was a few kilometres away. The
fields soon became salinated and as a result cultivation became more and
more difficult and less productive, while large parts of the lake bottom
were abandoned. Pollution from agricultural and industrial run-off,
initially filtered by the wetland, was led untreated into the
At
present, a large government project has started with funding from the
European Commission to restore a considerable part of the lake. It is
hoped that, if successful, it will re-establish some of its functions and
values. The rich cultural heritage of the Carla fisheries, however, cannot
be recreated, but perhaps some of its remnants (boats and tools) will be
preserved in a local museum to be established.
Rationale
of concern for cultural aspects
7.
The concern for the cultural values associated with wetlands and
water is recent and has been limited to certain specialised circles of
scientists, such as archaeologists and anthropologists. Lately, however,
those responsible for wetland conservation and management have begun to pay
attention to this question, within the broader context of the socio-economic
approach. As a result, cultural values have become an issue of concern for
the Convention on Wetlands. In April 2000, the Mediterranean Wetlands
Committee, meeting in
The
Ramsar Contracting Parties from Central and
“Recognizing
the vital role of wetland ecosystems for biodiversity conservation and for
the well-being of human communities; and welcoming the theme for World
Wetlands Day 2002 and the 8th meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP8), on “Wetlands:
Water, Life, and Culture”
which explores the cultural values of wetlands as a tool for their
conservation, and emphasises the importance of people’s engagement in
conservation efforts, we undertake to explore cultural issues in our
national and local contexts and seek to make our public more aware of the
cultural, as well as the natural, values of wetlands.”
8.
As through the ages many human settlements have been located close to
wetlands, significant archaeological remnants are found today within them or
in their vicinity. Beyond isolated structures, these may include entire
ancient cities, such as Nicopolis, in the Amvrakikos Gulf of Western Greece,
some of them inhabited even today, as in the case of Empúrias, in
9.
However, the particular interest of wetlands from the archaeological
point of view is that they carry and preserve records of human activities
through the ages, which cannot be found in other environments. Especially
peatlands, due to their anoxic and waterlogged conditions, preserve well
organic matter, such as wood, leather and textiles, as well as pollen,
insects, plants and bodies, materials that in drier conditions degrade
rapidly. Recent archaeological excavations in wetlands, carried out mainly
in the
10.
Wooden elements from prehistoric settlements have been found
preserved in the muddy bottom of the
In
the autumn of 2001, a 1-hectare area of the
The
ensuing archaeological research not only found the traces of the
monastery, but also discovered in good conditions two large ships, a
galley (38 m. long by 5 m. wide) and a transport vessel (24 m. and 6 m.),
which had been sunk to the bottom and covered with sand. Presumably they
were on the verge of decommissioning and had been sent to act as
barricades for the protection of the vulnerable island. Both were dated to
the early years of the 14th century and their remains provided
invaluable information on the construction of boats of that period.
Archaeological
authorities have detailed information about 300 such cultural areas of
interest in the bottom of the Venice Lagoon, whose locations are kept
secret until excavation becomes feasible.
11. It should not be forgotten, however, that cultural values are not only associated with the past (either remote or recent), but also with the present, as culture evolves and is being created, in one form or another, on a continuous basis.
12.
From a broader perspective, a large percentage of Ramsar sites have
major cultural significance, as demonstrated by their corresponding Ramsar
Information Sheets (RIS)[4],
as they include many of the elements that constitute cultural values.
13.
Thus the importance of the cultural values of wetlands may broaden
their appeal to significant sectors of society not initially concerned with
nature conservation. These include not only specialists in the various forms
of culture, from archaeology to music, but also the considerable segment of
the wider public interested in culture. In this way, powerful alliances can
be created, which would be of benefit to both sides.
14.
As a result of the efforts to combine cultural values with the
natural environment in wetlands, a single integrated interpretive tourism
modality can be created, with strong attraction possibilities. The financial
benefits and employment that could be generated through this will be a great
asset for local communities, and will enhance their appreciation of wetlands
as resources. These in turn will increase the economic valuation of wetlands
and contribute to their conservation and wise use. Such an approach can be
valid in many wetlands with significant cultural values, where visitors can
be attracted to both their cultural and natural heritage. A particular case
is the sites that have already a very strong visitor interest for their
monuments, but little yet for their natural elements. In all cases, care
must be taken that such activities do not exert undue pressures on wetlands.
15. It is not only financial considerations that concern local communities, and more particularly indigenous people. For them, culture is part of their tradition and social identity. Thus a fuller recognition of the significance, and sometimes the uniqueness, of the cultural values of wetlands should increase their self-esteem and their readiness to safeguard particular sites, and especially Ramsar sites. Experience throughout the world has shown that the conservation and wise use of wetlands depends to a considerable degree on the links of local populations to them. Enhancement of the cultural values, wherever they still exist, and efforts to preserve them where they are at risk of disappearing, can become a powerful tool in strengthening the links of local populations to their wetlands, their ‘sense of place’, and thus involve them actively in their conservation.
Section II
Inventory
of cultural values
16. Without entering into the discussion of the exact definition of culture and the nature of cultural values, it seems evident that in the case of wetlands, these values emerge from a variety of elements, tangible or intangible, material or spiritual, ancient or contemporary. These can be identified, experienced and appreciated in many different ways, singly, combined or in an integrated manner. To view them separately is sometimes useful in analysing and describing them. However, they are all bound together by wetland space and are integral parts of it. In addition, many of them retain links to one another. Thus an inventory of the most significant cultural values of wetlands might include the ten categories listed below (which could be grouped in various other ways).
16.1
Paleontological
and archaeological records in wetland water and sediments and especially
peat. This category could be extended to include archaeological findings in
the immediate vicinity of wetlands or in clear relation to them.
With
the encouragement of the General Direction of Cultural Affairs, Ministry
of Culture, through its Regional Services of Archaeology, and with the
active participation of academic institutions, careful excavations and
research have been carried out during the 1990s in the rivers and lakes of
16.2.
Cultural landscapes and agro-
and other production ecosystems, as transformed by human action related
to traditional primary production activities. This would include ricefields
(flat or terraced), salinas, lagoons or estuaries exploited for fisheries,
and other similar areas.
Since
the birth of agriculture, human primary sector activities have modelled
the land on the basis of production needs and at the expense of immense
labour. In traditional societies, the results were often landscapes of
great beauty, in complete harmony with nature.
A
case of exceptional beauty is the ricefields in
Similar
landscapes are found in many other parts of
16.3
Historical structures in
or related to wetlands, including buildings and settlements, hydraulic
works, water mills, transport systems (such as jetties, roads, and bridges).
Box
8: The water wheels of Hamah in Syria
To
raise water from the lower part of the town of
The
wheels are made of large pieces of wood, cleverly connected to give them
stability and strength. They do not have symmetrical and concentric
spokes, but the cross pieces are placed off centre, thus relieving the
axle from direct stresses. Their construction and maintenance is the task
of specialised workmen that inherit the knowledge from generation to
generation.
Besides their utilitarian purpose, the water wheels create an imposing landmark in the heart of the town and have become an important tourist attraction. Unfortunately, due to the drought of the last years, water flow in the river has dwindled, and now only one wheel is still in operation, just for the visitors. It is feared that, if the situation continues, the techniques and cultural values associated with them will be lost.
16.4
Artefacts, and in
particular transport equipment (such as boats and carts) and tools used in
traditional activities related to wetland resources.
Boats
made out of wood are a common and distinctive feature of practically all
wetlands. Used mainly for fishing and transportation, they have existed
since Neolithic times. Although no systematic study has been done on them,
there are certain general features that can be pointed out.
·
Wetland boats
and the methods of their construction have changed very little during the
past three millennia. As a result, their characteristic forms have
remained practically unchanged, and have evolved slowly and slightly.
·
Wood has been
the most commonly used material, although there have been cases of reed
and papyrus use (such as in
·
Invariably,
they are flat-bottomed and keel-less so that they can go into very shallow
waters. Their sides are often elevated for functional reasons, in
particular to increase their carrying capacity.
·
Oars or poles
have been the main method of locomotion, which is slow, but silent and
inexpensive. The introduction of internal combustion engines changed
considerably the conditions of exploitation of wetlands, although their
initial and operational costs are high.
·
On the
aesthetic side, traditional wetland boats are often of great beauty, as
they combine austere functionality with a sleek elegance.
16.5
Past and present collective water and land use management systems (such as
irrigation, water distribution and drainage associations, and traditional
dispute settlement practices).
Box
10: Sustainable water management in India[5]
In
most parts of
Tank
irrigation systems are one of these methods. In the State of
Box
11: Traditional and modern water management in Ecuador[6]
In
the Ecuadorian part of the
To
correct the situation, recent governments have attempted to apply a new,
liberal approach, through a water privatization scheme (proposed by the
World Bank and first applied in
Following
faithfully the teaching of the Qur’an, and inhabiting essentially arid
regions, the Arab people devised a comprehensive and wise approach to
water management which had profound impacts in many parts of the world as
the Islamic religion spread. Some of the main ones are the following:
The
concept of al-hima is an
obligation to establish reserve areas for the public good, which would be
required for the conservation and wise management of rangelands and
pastures, forest and woodlands, watershed and wildlife. The importance of
these reserves for the conservation of wetlands and water resources cannot
be underestimated.
The
equitable management, however, of water resources made necessary the
existence of social mechanisms for resolving disputes. Thus water
tribunals were established, which met in public and heard complaints,
before passing judgment. This efficient system was transmitted from the
Moors to the Spaniards and are still in existence, for example in the city
of
On
the technical level, many Arab cities (such as
16.6
Traditional techniques for
exploiting wetland resources (salt, rice, fish, reeds etc.) and their
associated products and structures. Some of them may be still in practice,
while others already abandoned.
16.7
Languages, customary law
systems, political structures, roles and customs, including oral
traditions, as they exist in the memories of local inhabitants or have
perhaps been recorded in the past and can be found in appropriate
bibliographic sources.
16.8
Traditional knowledge,
including traditional medicine and ethnobotany. Such knowledge is practiced
today in many places. In others it is at risk or has already been lost, due
to many factors.
16.9
Mythology, beliefs and
religious aspects, including sacred sites and ritual ceremonies. As
water is one of the critical elements for sustaining life, it is natural
that it has given rise to a multitude of beliefs. Thus, from mythology and
the religious beliefs of indigenous societies to the contemporary teachings
of the major churches, one common thread is reverence for water. On a
broader level, many of the churches have become sensitive in recent years to
nature conservation and the sustainable use of its resources, as stewardship
of the Creation and veneration of the Creator, and have restudied their
traditional texts from this perspective.
In
most religions, water is considered a sacred element of great importance.
As the Qur’an states: “We made from water every living thing”[7].
Some other examples of the religious use of water:
-
The sacred bathing in the
-
The sacrament of baptism in Christianity.
-
Ablutions before prayer in Islam.
- The blessing of the waters in many religions.
16.10
The arts that
have drawn inspiration from wetlands and water include mainly:
a)
many expressions of popular art, such as “naïve” and other forms
of painting, including engravings on rocks, sculptures, carvings and
handcrafts in general, as well as music, dance, poetry, etc., and including
traditional festivals in many parts of the word;
b)
literature,
such as Swift G. (1983), Waterland,
William Heinemann Ltd, London, UK, pp. 310.;
c)
painting and
sculpture, such as the landscapes of Joseph Mallord William Turner
(1775-1851) and John Constable (1776-1837) and the work of Chinese and
Japanese artists for many centuries;
d)
music and
dance (see table below); and
e)
cinema and
theatre, such as “Rizzo amaro” (
Naturally,
there are great differences from society to society, but generally water and
wetlands have provided inspiration for many of the art forms.
Table
1: Characteristic classical music works related to wetlands and/or water
|
Composer |
Period
|
Title |
|
Handel,
Georg Friedrich |
1685-1759 |
Water
Music Suite |
|
Respighi,
Ottorino |
1879-1936 |
Fontane
di Roma (Fountains of |
|
|
|
Gli
Ucelli (The Birds) |
|
Schubert,
Franz Peter |
1797-1828 |
Trout
Quintet |
|
Smetana,
Bedrich |
1824-1884 |
Vlatava |
|
Tchaikovski,
Peter Ilyich |
1840-1893 |
|
|
Telemann,
Georg Philipp |
1681-1767 |
|
“On
September 4 (2001), we organized ‘The Japan Water Sound Night’ at the
site of the opening ceremony. The event attracted a capacity audience. The
performance of melodies on a water theme, played by shakuhachi
(bamboo flute), koto (Japanese
harp) and kozutsumi (Japanese
hand drum), received a standing ovation at the end. Through this concert,
I recognized the characteristics of both the universal as well as the
local features in common of ‘water and music’.” Hideacu Toda
Current
situation and trends
17. The current situation concerning wetlands and their cultural values is far from satisfactory. Obviously, substantial wetland loss (well documented in all regions) also destroys the cultural values associated with them. The plight of indigenous people, natural guardians of wetland values, has resulted in the gradual or rapid erosion of those values. In addition, globalization has an impact on traditional cultures and has caused widespread homogenization, reinforced by industrial development, urbanization, intensive agriculture, and mass tourism pressures. Thus the technical and social framework for preserving wetland values is not propitious and the current trends, unless reversed, are far from positive.
18.
Substantial archaeological knowledge related to wetlands has been
gathered during the recent past, although not in every part of the globe,
but there has been little effort to manage and conserve this invaluable
heritage. The European Archaeological Council estimates that in
19. Other forms of cultural expression related to
wetlands have been neglected because of lack of understanding and
appreciation. Perhaps an exception is traditional salt extraction and
salinas, where considerable work has been carried out in recent years,
especially in the
Salinas (salines, salt-pans) are shallow, usually coastal, lagoons in which saline water is allowed to evaporate under the heat of the sun and the resulting salt crystals are gathered for domestic and industrial use. They provide habitats for many species and maintain high cultural values, in buildings, artefacts, exploitation methods, landscapes, and life styles. In many parts of the world, however, salinas are today facing intense pressures in the face of changing social values and economic stresses, notably their conversion from low intensity to mechanised production, or their abandonment or conversion to other uses such as urbanization, rice production, or aquaculture. All of these affect their role as a cultural landscape and the coexistence of sustainable salt production and natural biodiversity.
On
the other hand, networks to promote such solutions have been established.
For traditionally managed salinas there exist opportunities to maintain
such management, working with salters and local communities, in
recognition that it maintains both their cultural and historic values and
landscapes and their wetlands and biodiversity importance. As this may not
be economically feasible on a large scale, traditional management should
be applied in at least part of each salina. For the rest, management
regimes can be developed that maximise the maintenance of biodiversity
without jeopardising salt production capacity, and that capitalise on the
tourism potential of such systems, through appropriate infrastructure
(salt museums, ecotourism facilities, guided visits, etc.).
In addition, abandoned salina sites can be returned to a natural state as saltmarshes, including the maintenance of their hydrology, as long as property rights are respected and economic considerations taken into account.
Cultural
aspects and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB)
20. CBD established an Ad hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Article 8(j) deals with the maintenance of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities.
21. On the recommendation of the Ah Hoc Working Group, CBD COP6 [adopted Decision VI/xx with 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.
22.
[The Decision requests the Ad Hoc Working Group to carry out further
work on guidelines for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social
impact assessments, with the aim of strengthening the social and cultural
aspects, to complement, and in conjunction with guidelines for incorporating
biodiversity-related issues into environmental assessment legislation and/or
processes and in strategic environmental assessment. The Decision addresses
those secretariats of intergovernmental agreements, agencies, organizations
and processes whose mandate and activities involve potential significant
impacts.
23.
[The CBD recommendations state that through the cultural impact
assessment process, issues that are of particular cultural concern should be
identified, such as beliefs and religions, customary practices, forms of
social organization, systems of natural resources use, including patterns of
land use, places of cultural significance, sacred sites and ritual
ceremonies, languages, customary law systems, political structures, roles
and customs. The recommendations also state that there is a need to respect
both the custodians and holders of traditional knowledge and the knowledge
itself, and that the possible impacts on all aspects of cultural, including
sacred, sites should therefore be taken into consideration while developing
cultural impact assessments.]
24.
[CBD COP6 also adopted Decision VI/xx on the Outline of the Composite
report on the status and trends regarding 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. Phase 1 of the preparation of the Report will include issues
related to the state of the retention of traditional biodiversity-related
knowledge, and the identification and assessment of measures and initiatives
to protect, promote and facilitate the use of traditional knowledge.
Subsequent phases of the preparation of the Report will include issues
related to the relationship between biological, cultural and linguistic
diversity, identification of national and community level processes that may
threaten the maintenance, preservation and application of traditional
knowledge, and lessons learned and identification of best practices for the
maintenance, preservation and application of traditional knowledge.]
Conclusions:
a major role for Ramsar
25.
The Convention on Wetlands, including the Contracting Parties, the
Ramsar Bureau and its regional activities (such as the Mediterranean
Wetlands Initiative, MedWet), as well as its International Organization
Partners, should play a key role in the implementation of the Guiding
principles that follow and in catalysing the launching of the proposed
actions. In this process, the Convention on Wetlands should actively seek
partners from the cultural sector and decentralise as much as possible the
necessary activities, retaining only a general coordination role. In a first
phase, these efforts could perhaps be incorporated in the work plan of the
Ramsar Bureau. In the medium term, however, once the programme starts
expanding, it will require more substantial human (and, therefore,
financial) inputs to carry out the tasks agreed, which must be secured
through appropriate fundraising.
26.
In addition, the debate concerning the use of cultural values as one
of the criteria for the listing of Ramsar sites should continue. In this
context, it should be noted that the 26th meeting of the Standing
Committee discussed a range of issues concerning the role of cultural and
socio-economic issues in the Convention, including the question of a new
criterion, and how to enhance that role, and requested the preparation of a
discussion document to facilitate debate on this matter at COP8 in Technical
Session 5.
“Decision
SC26-14: The Standing Committee determined to have a broad-ranging
discussion on the role of cultural and socio-economic issues in the
Convention, and on how to enhance that role, and requested the preparation
of a discussion document to facilitate talks at COP8.
27. It should also be noted that a paper prepared by
the CBD Secretariat and Ramsar Bureau concerning the CBD and Ramsar
approaches to criteria and classification of inland water ecosystems will be
considered by CBD COP6 (April 2002). This paper notes that the CBD includes
some criteria (notably concerning wild relatives of domesticated species;
species, communities, or genes of social, scientific, or cultural
importance; and importance for research) that Ramsar does not. The COP8
discussion paper should also examine the CBD’s suggestions and the extent
to which they might make expansion of the Ramsar Criteria desirable.
28.
Thus the approval by
Ramsar COP8 of a Resolution on the cultural values of wetlands should
constitute the launching platform for the sustained efforts of the
Convention in this field, which must have both a medium-term (5 years) and a
long-term (20 years) horizon.
“In
many cases, not just some cultural values, but entire societies with all
their social and cultural values depend fully on well-functioning wetlands
or specific wetland habitats. (Significant) ecological change can thus
destroy not just some cultural values, but the foundation of culture: the
human societies including their cultural heritage that have formed over
thousands or years in these particular habitats or in relation to (some
of) their functions. Almost any indigenous society that relies on wetlands
or wetland productivity for its basic livelihood falls under this. All of
these have their own, often unique cultural and social features. It will
be easy to make a very long list of such societies and the wetlands on
which they depend. In some regions or even countries over half the
population may fall in this category.
Destruction
of the wetlands or wetland functions on which these societies depend can
be regarded as an infringement on the human rights of these
societies/cultures and could amount to “cultural genocide”.
Cultures
and their environment do change and evolve of course, and they cannot be
“preserved” as museum pieces. However, there is a major difference
between, on the one hand, a culture adapting from within to gradually
changing environmental, social and economic conditions (which generally
allows building on and enriching the cultural heritage), and on the other
hand, a culture being confronted with an “overnight” annihilation of
its (wetland) resource base (for instance as a result of a dam,
deforestation, pollution, drainage, etc), which may lead to a complete
disintegration of the society and its cultural heritage.
I,
therefore, would like to plead for a ninth criterion for Ramsar site
designation.”
Marcel Silvius, Wetlands International
29. All of this work on cultural values of the Convention on Wetlands must be based on a sound scientific basis. It is proposed, therefore, that a special working group for that purpose be established in the framework of STRP, which should include experts on cultural heritage management.
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N. S., M. K. Talley Jr. and A. M. Vaccaro (eds.) (1996), Historical and Philosophical Issues in the Conservation of Cultural
Heritage, The Getty Conservation Institute,
Pritchard,
D. (2000), “Values: Don’t be shy!”, 2 pp.
Ramsar
Bureau (2001), “Cultural Sheets”,
Draft
Guiding principles for identifying the cultural aspects of wetlands and
incorporating them into the effective management of sites
General
principles
1. This document proposes a number of general principles for identifying, preserving and reinforcing the cultural values of wetlands, which could be supplemented with additional ones at future meetings of the Conference of the Parties, as more knowledge and experience are obtained. Some of them may overlap, but this is only natural as cultural values are often related and require an integrative approach.
2.
There is a strong link between wetland
conservation and benefits to people. In addition, a positive correlation
between conservation and the sustainable use of wetlands has been repeatedly
demonstrated. Therefore, conservation requires the involvement of indigenous
and local communities and cultural values offer excellent opportunities for
this.
Guiding principle 1 – Identifying cultural aspects and collaborators
To
make the best possible use of the opportunities offer by cultural aspects
for involving indigenous and local communities in wetland conservation, a
systematic effort is necessary when undertaking wetland management
planning to:
a)
identify the governmental and
non-governmental organizations and/or individuals within the communities
and in the wider vicinity of the wetland site concerned with cultural
issues;
b) contact these organizations and/or
individuals to explain the links between cultural values and wetland
conservation, in order to enlist their active support;
c) work closely with them to prepare a
first inventory of all cultural aspects listed below in the section on
Specific guidance, both existing cultural aspects and those that may have
disappeared;
d)
identify the cultural aspects that may have
the best potential to contribute to effective management of the site; and
e)
for cultural aspects that may have
disappeared, filter those strongly related to wetlands and water and
assess the possibility to re-establish them, with the view to undertake
trial efforts in this direction.
3.
On the cultural level, wetlands
and water should be treated in an integrated manner, as their
inextricable links have existed since early civilizations and are still
pertinent today. It is reasonable, therefore, to consider wetlands and water
as one entity when assessing or promoting the cultural aspects related to
them.
Guiding principle 2 - Linking the cultural aspects of wetlands and water
a) promote the understanding by
decision-makers and the public of the role of wetlands in the water cycle;
b) identify such linkages in oral
traditions, religion and mythology and the arts and make them widely
known;
c) place particular emphasis on
traditional methods of water management related to wetlands, and draw from
them useful lessons and public awareness material;
d) identify opportunities provided by
religious/cultural events and festivals focusing on water to advance the
notions of wetland conservation and wise use; and
e) continue to present water as a key
issue in wetland management and in the application of the Convention on
Wetlands.
4.
The protection of cultural landscapes which have resulted from traditional human
activities should be an important component of policy and management
objectives. Traditional activities often created landscapes compatible with
the natural environment, of considerable biodiversity and of a unique
beauty. Examples include the sculptural rice fields in many parts of
Guiding
Principle 3 - Protecting the wetland-related cultural landscapes
In
order to achieve the long term conservation of wetland-related cultural
landscapes:
a) proceed to identify and inventory them,
including their conservation status and their prospects to be maintained
in the long term;
b) encourage official recognition at the
national and international level of wetland-related cultural landscapes as
part of the national and, where appropriate, international heritage, with
a view to provide to them effective protection status;
c) promote their protection in policies
that concern them directly or may affect them indirectly;
d)
ensure that these landscapes are taken into
account in territorial planning and in the determination and control of
land and water uses;
e)
in the case of wetland-related cultural
landscapes that still maintain some of the traditional activities that
have formed them, as in the case of salinas, promote economic and
regulatory measures for stimulating these activities and ensuring their
sustainability. Wherever this proves impossible, search for other means to
maintain the beauty and function of the cultural landscapes; and
f)
where advisable and useful, promote the
inclusion of wetland-related cultural landscapes in tourism promotion
activities.
5.
Invaluable lessons can be learned from traditional
approaches to water and wetland resources management (especially
sustainable use, floods, recurrent drought and desalinization), which can be
useful in developing contemporary approaches to the same issues. These
approaches are still practiced with good results in many parts of the world,
such as the Saharan oases, with highly effective and sustainable results.
Guiding principle 4 - Learning from traditional approaches
Before
promoting and/trying to incorporate new water management technologies and
approaches:
a)
make an inventory of the traditional
approaches to water resources management, both those still in practice
and, if possible, those that have been abandoned;
b) undertake a careful analysis and
assessment of their advantages and weaknesses;
c) study the possibilities of improving
these approaches through the careful use of cost-effective contemporary
and innovative methods. The goal should be to meld the old with the new,
not necessarily to replace the traditional practices;
d)
test the composite approaches in selected
pilot cases; and
e) make the lessons learnt widely known, in developing and developed countries and in countries with economies in transition.
6.
Traditional self-management practices that have demonstrated their value over
time should be strengthened, as they led to the empowerment of local
societies, and constitute in themselves an invaluable part of the
socio-cultural assets. That is why
contemporary governance approaches should be introduced in a balanced and
sensitive manner taking them into account. The role of ‘elders’ or
socially recognized community leaders in allocating resources equitably, for
example, which was widely respected in many countries, has had a stabilising
influence which would be lost if they were replaced by government services
or the private sector. Special care, therefore, should be taken when
applying modern governance systems that traditional ones are not discarded,
but are instead complemented and can benefit from contemporary technological
and management developments.
Guiding principle 5 - Maintaining self-management practices
The
steps outlined in Guiding Principle 4 are also applicable in this case. In
addition:
a) analyse the social characteristics of traditional self-management practices and extract lessons useful for the present and the future;
b) in case of practices already abandoned,
assess the reasons of their abandonment and determine whether they could
be re-established, wholly or in part;
c) for each new resource management
proposal, evaluate the cultural and social impact that it might have (see
Guiding principle 25 on cultural impact assessment below); and
d) ensure the active participation in
management of local societies and indigenous people, using the Ramsar
guidelines contained in Ramsar Handbook 5.
7.
The cultural aspects of wetlands have the potential to become a
strong element of interest and attraction for a considerable percentage of
visitors, bringing benefits to local populations and demonstrating the
importance of wetlands; but this will not occur automatically. Educational
and interpretive activities in wetlands (ecotourism and cultural routes,
eco-museums, etc.) should be promoted in an organized and consistent manner,
taking into account the carrying capacity of each site.
Guiding
principle 6 – Incorporating cultural aspects in educational and
interpretive activities in wetlands
In
order to incorporate cultural aspects in educational and interpretive
activities at wetland sites:
a) take into account all appropriate
cultural aspects in management planning, and treat then distinctly in all
its phases, from preliminary inventories and analysis, to final proposals;
c) make provisions to provide appropriate
infrastructure, facilities and services for visitors, by including them in
spatial planning of wetland sites and of their surrounding areas;
d)
institute visitor control and monitoring
tools and mechanisms to minimise the damage that they may cause on fragile
habitats and other sensitive elements of natural and cultural heritage.
Special attention should be given to the control of mechanised traffic,
which should be restricted to certain designated areas only, while
alternate means of transport should be provided;. and
e) in addition, include sections on the
cultural aspects of wetlands in eco-museums, visitors’ centres and other
similar facilities, and consider the production of pertinent publications
about this matter.
8.
Gender, age and social role
issues should be explicitly taken into account to identify the roles
played in relation to cultural aspects by women and men and by members of
the group at different stages of their life cycles. In the case of women, in
many cases, they are the custodians of traditional management practices and
social habits (such as modes of preparing food), are in charge of natural
resources use, in particular water, and are the ones who transmit the
cultural values to the new generations. Men, in turn, may be the custodians
and practitioners of particular cultural aspects, such as hunting, an
activity with strong cultural components, both in traditional and modern
societies. Members of the group may have particular roles according to their
ages, for example as members of the group that have had their initiation
into adulthood at the same time, youth groups (both of men and females), and
the elders. In addition, there are social roles that have strong and
significant cultural components, including those of the traditional or
elected local authority, local land owners and business leaders, teachers,
medical doctors, religious figures, artists, traditional healers, shamans,
and fortune-tellers. Thus gender, age and social role issues should be taken
into account in the entire process, starting from the planning and inventory
phases.
Guiding
principle 7 – Ensuring adequate treatment of gender, age and social role
issues
In order to ensure an adequate and equitable treatment of gender, age and social role issues in relation to the cultural aspects of wetlands:
a)
invite representatives of local women and men
groups, age groups and members of the community with recognized and valued
social roles to participate in the initial inventory of cultural aspects
and in the identification of their significance;
b) evaluate ways and means to involve
these groups and individuals in an appropriate manner in wetland
management;
c) ensure an active role of such groups
and individuals in educational and public awareness campaigns directed at
appreciating the cultural aspects of wetlands, as a tool to ensure their
effective management; and
d) promote the participation of community
groups in the development of tourist and other income-earning activities
related to cultural aspects, ensuring that there is no discrimination due
to gender and/or age in the access to the benefits.
9. The differences of approach between culture specialists and wetland managers should be bridged, as they have interests which should not be in conflict. Up to now their concerns have seemed to be divergent. In recent times, however, culture specialists have started understanding the impact of environmental issues on the cultural heritage. From their side, wetland managers, normally trained in the natural sciences, have become increasingly sensitive to aesthetic considerations in planning visitors’ facilities and exhibitions, to the importance of the remnants of older civilizations in or close to the sites under their responsibility, and to other cultural aspects. Thus a propitious climate has been developing, which should facilitate collaboration and eventually synergy between the concerns of these specialists.
Guiding principle 8 - Bridging the differences of approach
In
order to bridge the different approaches that may exist between
specialists coming from different backgrounds in the natural and social
sciences:
a) make efforts to find a common language
between the two disciplines and define carefully some key concepts such as
‘cultural values’ and ‘management of cultural values’, and if
necessary chose a more easily accepted concept such as “cultural
aspects”;
b) promote the understanding of each
others’ objectives and attempt to agree upon certain common ones;
c) include culture specialists in wetland
management project teams, from the initial project development phases; and
d) develop a joint methodology for managing cultural values in wetlands, benefiting from the scientific background and the experience of both sides. This can best be done through pilot cases, where collaboration can be nurtured in a controlled environment and the results evaluated and then exported for wider use (see specific examples in the next section)
10.
Collaboration with
international organizations concerned with cultural issues and with the
interface between culture and biodiversity and culture and development should
be established and strengthened, as appropriate. Such organizations may
include:
·
Convention on
Biological Diversity;
·
Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage
Convention), focusing on World Heritage Sites overlapping with Ramsar Sites
(see also paragraph 42 below);
·
International
Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM);
·
International
Council of Museums (ICOM), with a focus on the appropriate methods of
presenting cultural elements in wetland sites;
·
International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), mainly in developing guidelines for
the protection of historic buildings and structures;
·
UNESCO;
·
WARP – the
Wetlands Archaeological Research Project, a network with 300 members
worldwide;
·
World Bank,
coordinating donor interest and support[9];
·
European
Archaeological Council[10].
Guiding
principle 9 - Mobilising international cooperation in the area of culture
issues related to wetlands
In
order to reinforce the capacity of the Ramsar Administrative Authorities
and wetland managers to incorporate fully the cultural aspects of wetlands
into their management, identify the international and regional
institutions that have an expertise on this matter or that may be
interested in developing it, and enlist their support in international,
regional, national and local activities aimed at incorporating or
reinforcing the inclusion of cultural aspects in the management of
wetlands.
Specific
guidance
11. The above general Guiding principles can be further complemented by reference to some of the key cultural aspects of wetlands, taking into account regional, national and local specificities.
12.
Paleontological and
archaeological records in wetland water sediments and especially peat.
In some cases, the first requirement on this matter could be the promotion
of applied research. This is necessary because a large part of the cultural
heritage of wetlands is still hidden and its discovery, conservation and
enhancement present difficult scientific and practical problems. As funds
for such research are often limited and the time necessary for it long,
rapid survey methods may provide a cost- and time-effective approach. The
results of such research could improve vastly the existing knowledge of
wetland cultural heritage, and could also help in raising public awareness
of the cultural richness existing in them, thus augmenting substantially
their values and attraction to both local inhabitants and visitors. The
second requirement is to encourage an interest in cultural values among
specialised groups such as the International Peat Society, the International
Mires Conservation Group, the Society of Wetland Scientists and others.
Guiding principle 10 - Encouraging applied research on paleontological and archaeological records in wetland water sediments and especially peat
The
following actions may be required:
a) to promote thematic applied research,
as well as archaeological fieldwork on specific sites, through systematic
programmes of survey and excavation, on issues that may include:
a.i) historic
models of wetland exploitation, providing also useful
lessons for future sustainable use;
a.ii) effects of
re-wetting on organic archaeological and palaeo- environmental evidence,
including issues of water quality;
a.iii) history of the
hydrology of cultural heritage sites;
a.iv) development of new
methods for rapid assessment of potential cultural content in cases of
imminent threats;
a.v) preservation
of archaeological remains in situ, to analyse the changing burial
environment of wetland sites; and
a.vi) balancing
educational and recreational access to wetlands with the need to protect
their archaeological heritage.
b) to develop rapid survey methods to assess wetland sites with high cultural potential to which efforts should be concentrated in a first phase;
c) to use the results of such research for
education and public awareness purposes, to enhance knowledge and
appreciation of wetland values; and
d) to encourage specialised wetland groups
to include cultural values in their programmes.
13.
Wetland-related cultural
landscapes and traditional production and agro-ecosystems (ricefields,
salinas, exploited estuaries etc.). In many cases cultural landscapes
and traditional production systems are under threat due to technological
innovations and changes in the socio-economic conditions. There is a need to
take a proactive approach to their conservation and, when required, their
revitalization.
Guiding
principle 11 - Safeguarding wetland-related cultural landscapes and
traditional production systems
The
required actions may include:
a) to proceed to a detailed inventory of
the existing cultural landscapes in each country, including the
identification of the traditional production activities that are at their
origin, and recording their conservation status and the prospects for
their long-term viability;
b) to promote in-depth feasibility studies for the sustainability of the activities that originated the cultural landscapes and/or those that are being practiced on them;
c)
to identify complementary activities that can
reinforce the economic feasibility of such activities (such as education,
ecotourism and sports); and
d) to work with governments and, where
appropriate, aid agencies and international donors, to develop programmes
aimed at the long-term conservation of wetland-related cultural
landscapes.
14.
Historical structures
(buildings and settlements, hydraulic works, transport systems, etc) in
wetlands or closely related to them. Sufficient knowledge already exists on
the conservation and restoration of such structures. Yet they are very
numerous and in danger of disappearance in many places.
Guiding
principle 12 - Protecting historical structures in wetlands or closely
related to them
The
following actions may be required:
a) to identify historical structures such
buildings and settlements, hydraulic works, transport systems, etc.,
located in wetlands or closely related to them, and to inventory them
through description and photographic and drafting means, registering their
conservation status;
b) to study their historical,
architectural and technical characteristics, encouraging, where
appropriate, schools of architecture to include such work in their
programmes;
c) to consider assigning to these
structures an appropriate protection status (such as ‘listing’), and
thus preserving them from eventual demolition;
d) to develop projects and/or programmes
for their long-term conservation, including their purchase if necessary,
restoration, and maintenance; and
e)
to consider converting these structures,
where appropriate, into visitor centres, eco-museums, conference centres
and/or hotels, with the aim to ensure their maintenance, taking into
account the sharing of benefits with the local communities and other
stakeholders.
15.
Wetland-related artefacts
(transport equipment and tools). In wetland fisheries, for example, only
traditional wooden boats could be allowed, thus encouraging their
construction and use.
Guiding principle 13 - Preserving wetland-related artefacts
The
following actions may be required:
a) to identify and inventory all
wetland-related artefacts and tools used in each site;
b)
to consider ways and means to maintain them
in use, if at all feasible, especially in the case of traditional boats;
c)
to develop projects to ensure that the
know-how to produce them is not lost;
d)
to identify and apply appropriate incentives
for their maintenance, use and production;
e)
to collect ancient artefacts, to restore and
conserve them, and to mount exhibitions in local museums or in visitor
centres; and
f)
to organize thematic museums,
preferably close to wetland sites, if rich material is available.
16.
Past and present collective water and land use management systems (such as
irrigation, water distribution and drainage associations, and traditional
dispute settlement practices). Insufficient attention has been given to such
social organization structures, which, for a given period of time, have been
a sophisticated and effective response to specific problems, most of them
focusing on the critical resource of water and on its equitable allocation;
and yet they have been integral parts of the traditional culture and may
contain invaluable lessons for the present and the future. In addition, some
locations and structures associated with them merit preservation.
Guiding
principle 14 - Preserving collective water and land use management systems
The
actions required may include:
a) to identify, analyse and record the
existence of collective water and land use management systems;
b) to assess the possibility of their
maintenance or, if this is not possible, their partial integration in
contemporary management systems;
c) to preserve and enhance the tangible
elements associated with them;
d)
to incorporate the results in educational and
public information activities; and
e)
to work with local government structures and
civic societies to enlist their participation in the maintenance of these
systems.
17. Traditional techniques for exploiting wetland resources (salt, rice, fish, reeds, etc.) and their associated products and structures. In a rapidly changing world, it is not possible to maintain artificially traditional production methods and products, but given their social and cultural significance and the growing interest in at least some countries in naturally-produced food, efforts should be made to maintain traditional techniques
Guiding
principle 15 - Maintaining traditional techniques used in wetlands and/or
around them, and the resulting products
The
following actions may be required:
a) to encourage the careful and sensitive
study of the economic aspects of traditional production systems in
wetlands and/or around them, and of the resulting products;
b)
to devise imaginative methods for promoting
and marketing traditional products, including extensive use of the
Internet; and
c)
to associate local techniques and products
with education and sensitization campaigns on the cultural aspects of
wetlands.
18. Wetland-related oral traditions. Such traditions are still maintained and transmitted by word of mouth from generation to generation in many societies, and in particular among indigenous people, as a means of transmitting knowledge and social values. In many societies, though, as the means of communication and of information storing and dissemination became more sophisticated, starting with printing and expanding with electronic and digital means, some of these traditions were not considered important enough to be recorded. So they are in great danger of being forgotten and lost.
Guiding principle 16 - Safeguarding wetland-related oral traditions
The
following actions may be required:
a) to record in a systematic manner
wetland-related oral traditions;
b) to promote the appreciation of the
value of these traditions as part of the cultural heritage and to
encourage local groups to maintain them;
c) to consider establishing an archive of
oral traditions in digital form; and
d)
to disseminate by all appropriate means the
information collected.
19.
Wetland-related traditional
knowledge. The Convention on Biological Diversity is considering this
issue through the Ad-Hoc Open-ended Inter Sessional Working Group on Article
8(j) and Related Provisions[11].
The Ad-Hoc Group defines traditional knowledge traditional knowledge as
“the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local
communities around the world. Developed from experience gained over the
centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment, traditional
knowledge is transmitted orally from generation to generation. It tends to
be collectively owned and takes the form of stories, songs, folklore,
proverbs, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws, local language,
and agricultural practices, including the development of plant species and
animal breeds. Traditional knowledge is mainly of a practical nature,
particularly in such fields as agriculture, fisheries, health, horticulture,
and forestry.” In addition, especially in medicine, there is a resurgence
of the systematic practice of traditional methods, including the use of
medicinal plants,
Guiding principle 17 - Keeping traditional knowledge alive
The
actions required may include:
a)
to search for linkages between such
traditional knowledge and wetlands, and in particular with wetland flora;
b)
to establish systematic cooperation with the
organizations interested in this matter, such as the Society for Economic
Botany, the International Society for Ethnobiology, the Center for
International Ethnomedicinal Education and Research, the Society for
Medical Anthropology, and others;
c)
to urge that the Ad-Hoc Open-ended Inter
Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the
Convention on Biological Diversity incorporates fully all wetland-related
issues in its work and that the Ramsar Administrative Authorities and the
Ramsar Bureau contribute to the preparation of the CBD’s 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;
d) to disseminate information about
traditional medicines related to wetlands as part of public awareness
activities, and to encourage the trends to use again traditional medicines
in societies that had, to a large extent, abandoned them, in those aspects
related to wetlands and water.
20.
Wetland-related religious
aspects, beliefs and mythology: Religion in its broader interpretation,
most often solidly based on a long historical development, can be an
important medium for reaching and mobilising a large number of people in
most parts of the world. Its traditional links with water can be
strengthened to convey a powerful message. Beliefs and mythology, in
particular foundation myths, may also have a powerful significance for the
conservation of wetlands, in particular those in, or related to, sacred
sites.
Guiding
principle 18 – Incorporating wetland-related religious beliefs and
mythology-related aspects in the efforts to conserve wetlands
The
following actions may be required:
a) to study in detail for each religion
and belief and mythological systems their links with nature, water and
wetlands, with the active participation of religious institutions and
leaders and the custodians and practitioners of the belief and
mythological systems in indigenous and local communities;
b) to use this knowledge to present the
conservation and sustainable use message in the appropriate form;
c) to work with the churches and/or
religious leaders and the appropriate members of indigenous and local
communities to encourage them to convey these messages and to participate
actively in the efforts for the respectful management of the Creation.
21.
Wetland-related aspects of the
arts can provide a very significant medium for approaching and
sensitising the wider public. In all societies, the arts play an important
role, and in many of them the arts are embedded in their very structure and
are of particular significance. The “arts” include all forms of popular
art as well as the professional expressions in the fields of music, singing,
dance, painting, literature and cinema production.
Guiding principle 19 - Using the arts for wetland conservation
The required actions may include:
a)
to identify art forms and specific works that
have been inspired by wetlands and water, in cooperation with artists and
art-related institutions at the local and national level;
b) to use and promote these art
expressions as means to advance the conservation and wise use of wetlands;
c)
to cultivate the interest of the art
community in wetland and water management;
d)
to incorporate appropriate art in visitor
reception facilities and especially in eco-museums; and
e) to sensitize wetland managers, and all
those involved with wetlands and water, to culture and to the art forms
that express it.
Implementing
the Guiding principles
22. The Guiding principles listed above should be
implemented systematically through a variety of means, many of which are
indicated in detail in the corresponding guiding principle. In addition, the
general measures included below would greatly facilitate the implementation
process
23.
Inventory and the Ramsar
Information Sheet (RIS) for the designation of Wetlands of International
Importance. The cultural aspects of wetlands should be fully
incorporated in wetland inventory systems. Cultural aspects should also be
recorded with as much detail as possible in the RIS, so as to take them into
account when preparing management plans for these sites.
Guiding
principle 21- Recording cultural aspects in the Ramsar Information (RIS)
The
actions required may include:
a) to ensure that cultural aspects are fully incorporated in all wetland inventory systems, with the cooperation of experts on identification and recording of cultural elements;
b) to ensure that when filling
out the RIS for new designations of Wetlands of International Importance,
as well as when preparing updates of the RIS of Ramsar sites designated in
the past, the cultural aspects of the sites in question are fully
researched and reflected in the RIS.
24.
Management planning. Cultural aspects of wetlands should be fully
incorporated in the management planning of sites, as a means to involve the
concerned indigenous and local communities and stakeholders that feel
identified with these cultural aspects.
Guiding
principle 22 – Incorporating the cultural aspects of wetlands in
management planning
The
required actions may include:
a) to research and inventory all relevant
cultural aspects in the site in question and to select those that will be
subject of concrete management interventions, with the active
participation of the concerned communities, groups, institutions and
individuals, taking into account these Guiding principles; and
b) to incorporate in the management plan
specific activities addressed to the cultural aspects of the site.
25.
Monitoring mechanisms
for wetland ecological character should include indicators related to
cultural aspects. In general, indicators are measurable - and therefore
objective - means for identifying and documenting trends, both positive and
negative. They are also invaluable for communicating these trends in a
convincing way to decision-makers and the public. Usually, within the
wetland monitoring context, indicators are set for ecological and often
social parameters, but not yet for cultural ones.
Guiding principle 23 - Monitoring cultural values
The
required actions may include:
a) to prepare and incorporate indicators
for cultural parameters in the monitoring of the status of ecological
character of wetlands and its change or possible change, on the basis of
scientific work of development and testing such indicators; and
b) to train practitioners in the gathering
of cultural-related data and its interpretation.
26.
Protection and enhancement of wetland-related cultural aspects should
be incorporated in legal and institutional frameworks; in turn, nature and culture
protection measures should be integrated and streamlined. In this context,
it should be realised that policies and measures addressing wetland
conservation are often implemented with a degree of laxity, while
legislation for the protection of archaeological heritage is much stricter.
Streamlining the two should ensure a higher degree of implementation (and if
necessary enforcement) of both, avoiding the least common denominator
effect.
Guiding principle 24 – Making use of institutional and legal instruments
The
required actions may include:
a)
to review the existing legal and
institutional framework concerning wetlands and water, on the one hand,
and cultural values on the other, and identify weaknesses (see Ramsar
Handbook 3);
b) to incorporate cultural-related issues
in national wetland policies or equivalent instruments; and
c)
to enact or when necessary strengthen
legislation for the conservation of cultural wetland landscapes.
27.
Environmental impact
assessments (EIAs), when adequately applied, have proven useful in
mitigating negative impacts from development activities on wetlands. They
should be now extended to include cultural values as well, as a means for
their conservation and enhancement. Within the framework of the Convention
on Biological Diversity, [CBD COP6 has adopted Decision VI/xx containing
Recommendations for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact
assessments 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.]
Guiding principle 25 - Assessing the impacts on cultural values
To
actions required may include:
a)
to propose and encourage, when required,
modifications/additions in the existing national legislation governing the
application of environmental impact assessments (EIA) to incorporate
proper consideration of the cultural aspects of wetlands;.
b) to include the cultural aspects of
wetlands in all EIAs of wetland and water development and management
projects, as well as of any projects or programmes that may affect
wetlands;
c)
to promote the incorporation of similar
considerations in the process for the enactment and enforcement of
legislation on strategic environmental assessment (SEA); and
[d)
to apply the Recommendations for the conduct of
cultural, environmental and social impact assessments 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, adopted under Decision VI/xx of the
Convention on Biological Diversity.]
28.
Wetland-related communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) actions
concerning the cultural aspects of wetlands should be instituted and
strengthened, as they are practically non-existent at present. The reasons
may be both limited understanding and appreciation of the issue, as well as
lack of appropriate material and trained personnel.
Guiding
principle 26 - Improving wetland-related communication, education and
public awareness (CEPA) in the area of the cultural aspects of wetlands
Actions
required may include:
a) to sensitize teachers at the various levels of education, starting with schools in the wider vicinity of major wetland sites, about the cultural aspects of these sites;
b) to develop educational and public
awareness materials and training modules;
c) to encourage the production and
dissemination of videos and films on the cultural aspects of wetlands;
d) to design and launch public awareness
campaigns, addressed to local inhabitants, the wider public, and wetland
visitors, on the values and significance of the cultural aspects of
wetlands and their recovery when they are been lost or abandoned;
e) to incorporate the promotion of the
cultural aspects of wetlands in national and local tourism campaigns,
taking into account the carrying capacity of each wetland in relation to
its potential for tourism activities; and
f) to use the mass media and
wetland-related traditional festivals as means to disseminate information
and appreciation of the cultural aspects of wetlands.
29. The quality labeling of wetland-related traditional products could be promoted as a means to maintain traditional production practices, which are often rich in cultural values. The increasing demand of healthy food and ecologically sound products is today reinforced by the growing interest on local specificities, as a counterweight to a globalised and homogenised world. Relating traditional products from wetland sites with cultural elements can assist in making use of these social trends and lead to a greater demand for them.
Guiding
principle 27 - Promoting quality labelling of traditional wetland products
The
required actions may include:
a)
to identify appropriate partners from the
private and public sectors for promoting wetland-related products and to
undertake efforts to relate these;
b) to promote the quality and origin
labeling of wetland products as a means to increase their attractiveness
and demand;
c) to encourage advertising campaigns of
wetland products under the responsibility of appropriate national and
local authorities as well as of the interested communities and the private
sector; and
d) to ensure that the economic benefits of
these undertakings reach the local communities, thus making possible the
maintenance of traditional production activities.
30.
Development of projects
for conserving cultural aspects of wetlands should be promoted and donors
should be encouraged to support such initiatives. It is evident that the
application of the principles contained in this guidance require
considerable funding. At present such funding is either absent or exists in
limited amounts through the budgets of central and sub-national cultural
services and institutions.
Guiding principles 28- Finding the necessary resources
The
required actions may include:
a)
to incorporate cultural activities in wetland
management projects, which would allow resources to be channelled to this
sector;
b) to identify funds for basic research on
the cultural aspects of wetlands through specialised financing lines at
the national and international level; and
c) to create awareness among donors of the
contribution of cultural aspects to the sustainable use of wetland
resources.
31.
In many countries, horizontal cooperation on wetlands and water – even at the
government level, and between clearly related sectors – is weak or absent.
Thus operational relations between government sectors dealing with wetlands
and water and those with culture should be established, as in most countries
they do not exist today.
Guiding principle 29- Encouraging cross-sectoral cooperation
The
actions required may include:
a) to initiate dialogue between the
sectors dealing with wetlands and water and the sectors dealing with
cultural issues;
b)
as a first step, to invite the culture sector
representatives to participate as full members in the National Ramsar/Wetland
Committees;
c)
to undertake joint policy reviews aimed at
the conservation of both the natural and cultural heritage in wetlands;
and
d) in all cases, to ensure the active participation of indigenous and local communities and stakeholders in such collaborative processes (see Ramsar Handbook 5)
Proposed
actions
32. Maintaining and enhancing the cultural values of wetlands will require long-term efforts by a wide variety of actors and stakeholders throughout the world. The following list of suggestions should be considered by the Convention and its collaborators for implementation when the required resources are identified or become available.
Wider actions
33.
A short- and medium-term strategy
for the identification, safeguard and use of the cultural aspects of
wetlands should be developed, defining measurable and realistic objectives,
a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities, activities to be carried
out with priorities assigned, the resources required, and appropriate
indicators to allow the monitoring of progress made. The Convention should
coordinate this task, but wide participation of all the relevant
organizations interested in this matter. The strategy should include both a
general approach and regional components. It could be drafted during 2003,
widely circulated for comments and indications of commitment to its
implementation, and submitted for endorsement by Ramsar COP9.
34.
As part of the Strategy, a systematic inventory
of cultural aspects based on the Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) of
Ramsar sites should be organized and maintained and their results widely
disseminated. Compatible methods and tools for such inventories should be
prepared in advance and widely disseminated, so that the information
collected is both verifiable and comparable.
35.
Universities and other research and learning institutions should be
encouraged to undertake more applied research to increase the knowledge of all cultural aspects
related to wetlands and the results disseminated in a form useful to wetland
managers and policy makers. In addition, existing scientific knowledge of
cultural aspects should be found through bibliographic research and
repackaged and disseminated so that it can become accessible to those
responsible for wetlands.
36.
Examples of
good practice in the area of identification, safeguarding and use of the
cultural aspects of wetlands should be identified and made widely known.
This work could be organized on a regional basis. The Mediterranean Wetland
Initiative (MedWet) could take the lead and identify such examples in the
37.
Practical
tools, mechanisms and other concrete guidance should be provided to
those responsible for wetland management, complemented by training and
know-how transfers. As first steps a practical manual (see point 40 below)
and a training module should be produced. This should constitute one of the
first projects to be developed and launched, once the executant(s) and
potential donors are identified.
38.
A wide programme of public
awareness activities concerning the cultural aspects of wetlands should
be organized through Web sites, publications, exhibitions, events (such as
the World Wetland Day 2002 celebration) and other appropriate means. A most
effective medium could be the reconnection of existing traditional festivals
to wetlands and efforts to re-establish those that have been abandoned. A
typical example would be the El Rocío procession through the
Specific
initiatives
39.
A traveling exhibition on
culture and wetlands prepared by the Ramsar Bureau and other interested
organizations and circulating globally (physically and through the Web) may
be a cost-effective means for increasing public awareness and support.
Already the European Archaeological Council has proposed to participate in
such an endeavour.
40.
A manual on the
conservation and enhancement of cultural values related to wetlands and
water is a necessary tool at an early stage. Although there is little
practical experience available in the management of many types of
wetland-related cultural resources and the enhancement of their values,
sufficient material has been gathered to provide an initial basis for such a
manual. It would certainly not be either complete or exhaustive, but it
would act as a powerful tool for the sensitization of those responsible for
wetlands and for bringing them into contact with culture-oriented
institutions and individuals.
41.
An intense effort should be made to include
social and cultural values in all ongoing wetland management projects
and to incorporate them in all new project proposals. Already this has
started in certain cases:
a)
in MedWetCoast,
a GEF/FFEM, USD 15.5 million, 5-year project, concerning 15 sites in 6
countries, an inventory of cultural elements has been included as part of
the diagnosis of each site. In addition, two case studies for managing
cultural heritage are being carried out in greater detail in two sites, in
b)
the Initiative
for the Pantanal and the
c)
in the GEF
project under development for the Prespa Park, a transboundary wetland site
shared by Albania, Greece and the FYR of Macedonia, cultural values have
been included in the project brief, with the intention of incorporating the
management of the rich cultural interest of the area in the project
activities.
42.
Particular attention should be given to launching integrated
management projects for sites that
are included both under Ramsar and
the Convention on World Heritage and/or are Biosphere
Reserves under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) that are found
to have important cultural components.
[1]
Prepared by
[2]
An interesting report on such a settlement in NW
Greece is found in Hourmouziades G.H. (1996), The
Prehistoric
[3]
For the impact of malaria on the Mediterranean
people, see Braudel F. (1990), La
Méditerranée, 9th edition, Armand Colin,
[4]
According to a research project carried out in the
summer of 2000 by David Pritchard, BirdLife International, on some 600
Ramsar Information Sheets.
[5]
As reported by Pasumai Thaayagam (Green
Motherland).
[6]
Based on the paper: Ruf T. (2000), “Water
disputes in the Ecuadorian context up to the third millennium: The
transition of
[7] Qur’an: Surat al-Anbiya’ (21), ayah 30.
[8]
As
reported in the World
Water Forum Newsletter No 44, September 2001, on the occasion of the Fourth
Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management, held in
[9]
Its Environmental Assessment Sourcebook Update
(September 1994) provides a useful basis.
[10]
The EAC has taken a lead in the joint cultural and
natural approach to wetlands.
[11]
CDB’s Article 8(j)
establishes that “Subject to national legislation, respect, preserve
and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and
local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote
their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders
of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the suitable
sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge
innovations and practices.”
