The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

17. Conclusions – the protected landscape approach
the identification, planning and management of the areas, as they are the most effective
guardians of the landscape heritage” (UNESCO, 2003).
Adrian Phillips and Richard Partington report an increase in local participation through
community partnerships when the decision-making was devolved in the Blackdown Hills Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty in southwest England. Prabhu Budhathoki describes the
enhanced empowerment of local people through their involvement in conservation and the
distribution of conservation benefits to local communities. In Nepal’s innovative buffer zone
and conservation area designations, the role and importance of people in lived-in landscapes
are recognised as integral to the long-term conservation of biodiversity.
In the Philippine Rice Terraces, the importance of self-determination by communities is
critical to “balancing tradition and progress …for each [community or region] to determine its
own path towards sustainable preservation of its culture and distinctive landscape.” In the
Andes, community self-determination and safeguarding traditional knowledge and practices
are central aspects of conservation strategies. In Australia, Lennon writes of the importance of
involving the people living in, or having connections to, a place so that their beliefs and
practices are incorporated into the management of the landscape. As noted in the introduction,
fostering stewardship by those closest to the resource taps their wealth of knowledge, tra -
ditional management systems, innovation and love of place. For protected areas to continue to
be important for biodiversity conservation, they must forge linkages with people based on
equity, linked rights, and responsibilities.
5. The protected landscape approach is based on cross-sectoral
partnerships.
The key stakeholders and stewards of conservation areas are diverse – ranging from different
levels of government, non-governmental organizations, to private landowners and com muni -
ties and, of course, youth, the next generation of stewards. Consequently, as Hughes observes,
multi-sectoral and multi-level partnerships are essential to an inclusive and par ticipatory
approach to conservation.
As described above (in the previous section), the involvement of local communities is key.
Barrow and Pathak note that “where local communities have been mobilized and responsibly
involved, this has often helped save a protected area, or other wildlife habitat, much more
effectively than if the governments were to do it alone.” Lennon also points out the importance
of involving people living in or having connections to the place in order to incorporate their
beliefs and practices into management of the landscape.
In many parts of the world, the NGO sector is growing and providing another level of
capacity for conservation. Several excellent examples from Central Europe illustrate the role of
NGOs, as “proactive innovators and coalition-builders for sus tainable development at the
regional level.” Kundrata and Hukov describe models of partnerships among local com -
munities, NGOs and state administration that are pioneering projects of rural sustainability.
In many countries, it is not possible nor practical nor preferable to accomplish resource
management through government effort alone. Based on experience in the US and Canada,
Mitchell, Tuxill, Swinnerton, Buggey and Brown note that the traditional role of governments
is changing from land-owner and manager to one of partner, facilitator and catalyst, providing
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