The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

The Protected Landscape Approach: Linking Nature, Culture and Community
between protection of the natural and cultural heritage and the social and economic purposes
for those living and working in the area.
Test beds
The biggest challenge to management in Category V protected areas is to achieve conservation
action that is fully integrated with all aspects of environmental, social and economic endeavour.
There are many examples of such pioneer work in the UK’s Protected Landscapes. The
government recently announced a funding programme to support innovative sustainable
development projects in the National Parks of England and Wales, and in AONBs in Wales.
This, and the pioneering fourth purpose in Scotland, show that serious interest is now being
taken in such a role for Category V protected areas. Thus they are being seen not only as places
worthy of protection in their own right, but also as test beds from which successful experience
can be rolled out to the whole countryside.
Two case studies from differing parts of the UK are presented below to illustrate innovative
thinking and new ways of working. The Blackdown Hills AONB in south-west England is an
example of how devolved decision-making increases local participation through community
partnership, whereas the three Welsh national parks demonstrate a new paradigm of linking
rural development and conservation to create sustainable futures.
The Blackdown Hills – a model of community partnership
The activity of the Blackdown Hills Rural Partnership is focused on the Blackdown Hills Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Partnership seeks to safeguard the distinctive
landscape, wildlife, historical and architectural character of the AONB whilst fostering the
social and economic well being of the communities and the people that live and work there. The
Blackdown Hills AONB is in a relatively remote rural area based on an extensive outcrop of
greensand, uplifted to form a plateau that has been dissected by rivers to create a series of
farmed ridges running north-south across the Devon and Somerset county boundary.
Formed in the mid-1990s, the Partnership brings together public bodies, local organizations
and voluntary groups with an active interest in the Hills. Members of the Partnership work
co-operatively to an agreed five-year Management Plan and annual Business Plan, with the key
funders being signatories to a six-year Memorandum of Agreement.
The structure of the Partnership is designed so that local people, businesses and organisa -
tions can share decision-making and project delivery with the public bodies and land managers.
An annual Community Conference is held every March and Partnership Forums held every six
months. Decisions about policy and use of resources are made by the Management Group,
which consists of representatives of the seven key funders plus eight representatives drawn
from the Partnership Forum. A Somerset County Councillor currently chairs the Partnership,
and the small staff team is based at an office in the village of Hemyock in the heart of the
Blackdowns AONB.
The Partnership is funded by seven core-funding partners and draws in other resources from
a wide variety of partner organisations and the community on a project-by-project basis. Core
funders are the Countryside Agency, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Mid
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