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3. IntroductionThe Delos FrameworkThymio Papayann<strong>is</strong> <strong>and</strong> Josep-MariaMallarachThe purpose of <strong>the</strong> Delos Initiative <strong>is</strong> toidentify <strong>the</strong> relevance <strong>and</strong> significanceof sacred natural sites in technologicallydeveloped countries <strong>and</strong> to investigatewhe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> how spiritual values cancontribute to both <strong>the</strong> conservation <strong>and</strong>proper <strong>use</strong> of important natural are<strong>as</strong><strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> maintenance of cultural heritage.Its main focus <strong>is</strong> on protectedsites of great natural value that are representativeof <strong>the</strong> world’s religious <strong>and</strong>spiritual traditions.In <strong>the</strong> highly appropriate setting ofMontserrat, resplendent in <strong>the</strong> unique naturalbeauty of its mountain l<strong>and</strong>scapes<strong>and</strong> mon<strong>as</strong>tery <strong>and</strong> ancient hermitages, aworkshop on nature <strong>and</strong> spirituality w<strong>as</strong>held on 23-26 November 2006. Th<strong>is</strong>meeting of international experts w<strong>as</strong><strong>org</strong>an<strong>is</strong>ed <strong>as</strong> part of <strong>the</strong> Delos Initiative, aproject focussed on sacred natural sites indeveloped countries.More specifically, <strong>the</strong> principal objectiveof <strong>the</strong> Initiative <strong>is</strong> to reach an underst<strong>and</strong>ingof <strong>the</strong> views of <strong>the</strong> major faithsin developed countries on <strong>the</strong> sanctityof certain natural sites <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> relationshipof <strong>the</strong>se faiths with <strong>the</strong> naturalworld. A second aim <strong>is</strong> to <strong>as</strong>sess <strong>the</strong>pertinence <strong>and</strong> importance of sacrednatural sites in people’s lives today <strong>and</strong>thus to attempt to estimate <strong>the</strong>ir exactsignificance.1. The Delos Initiative1.1 AimsF<strong>ina</strong>lly, <strong>the</strong> Delos Initiative aims to resolvepossible conflicts between <strong>the</strong> essentialnature of sacred sites <strong>and</strong> conservation<strong>and</strong> management requirements via <strong>the</strong>implementation wherever possible ofinteracting synergies.The aim <strong>is</strong> for <strong>the</strong>se objectives to be fulfilledby <strong>the</strong> Delos Working Group viawork b<strong>as</strong>ed on <strong>the</strong> experience gainedfrom a representative sample of c<strong>as</strong>estudies or pilot sites. Conclusions will bedrawn from <strong>the</strong> analyses carried out <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong>n, after a process of sensit<strong>is</strong>ation,recommendations will be made <strong>and</strong>/orspecific guidance provided.< Hermitage of <strong>the</strong> Holy Grotto of Montserrat, in <strong>the</strong> morning m<strong>is</strong>t, from <strong>the</strong> Rosary Way.29

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