During the last few decades there has been a growing understanding of the inseparable links between culture and nature and how these linkages play a crucial role in sustainable development and ultimately to human well-being.
New and more effectively coordinated approaches encompassing both culture and nature, defined as physical assets and intangible culture, are urgently required. This includes the need for a profound culture change to trigger the transformation towards more sustainable lifestyles. Derived from the Council of Europe's human rights and participatory approach, its various Conventionsas well as relevant visions, strategies, reflections and recommendation, the “L.I.N.K.E.D” – Guiding principles for an integrated approach to culture, nature and landscape management aims to offer member States pointers for a holistic approach in policymaking, management, research and practice with an emphasis on integrating environmental awareness and justice.
Linkages between culture and nature are recognised and synergies identified
- Policy domains, notably culture and nature, have traditionally been established separately, which can lead to adverse fragmentation and the possibilities of synergies being missed.
- Policy domains, notably culture and nature, have traditionally been established separately, which can lead to adverse fragmentation and the possibilities of synergies being missed.
HINTS ON HOW TO PROCEED:
- Emphasise the connections between the cultural, natural and landscape resources to justify an interdisciplinary approach to decisions reconciling cultural, societal and environmental objectives at the landscape scale.
- Before any decision-taking in one domain, consider the importance of its potential spill over effects (either positive or negative) on the other domains that will influence the resulting ecosystems for society.
- Identify and take into account natural diversity, cultural heritage and landscape quality whenever considering the spatial planning of a given area.
Integration of objectives, strategies, legislation and management
- Objectives, strategies and legislation concerning culture, cultural and natural resources and landscape have generally been established separately.
- An integrated culture, nature and landscape management model will benefit from better co-ordination and synergetic effects for the benefit and quality of life of all citizens.
Hints on how to proceed:
- Establish integrated goals and objectives for culture, nature and landscape in strategies and policy documents, and develop integrated management plans through a co-ordination mechanism.
- Amend existing legislation on cultural and natural heritage and landscape to establish measures that foster an integrated approach or even establish new integrated legislation.
- Emphasise the role of culture, nature and landscape interlinkages in green growth and circular economy perspectives, by including them in climate adaptation and action plans.
New approaches to mapping and monitoring
- Cultural and natural resources have usually been mapped and monitored separately. Data have also been kept in separate inventories.
- Technological advancement paves the way for new and more efficient ways of mapping and monitoring with a holistic approach as well as the co-ordination of separate inventories and data sets.
Hints on how to proceed:
- Map and assess land cover and land use in an integrated, long-term perspective, with special regard for cultural and natural heritage and landscape.
- Include both cultural and natural heritage and landscape when designing land monitoring programmes.
- Establish data systems or infrastructures that make relevant data and knowledge about cultural and natural heritage and landscape from separate inventories easily accessible in an integrated manner.
Knowledge building : fitted research and innovation
- Research and innovation have traditionally been organised within the different domains according to sector-specific needs.
- Interdisciplinary and cross-cutting research and innovation are key to pursuing new perspectives, identifying challenges and bottlenecks and to pointing out new and innovative integrated solutions.
Hints on how to proceed:
- Encourage research that generates new knowledge and data on the interdependencies and interactions between people, culture, nature and landscape, as well as new management strategies.
- Promote the innovative use of emerging technologies for an integrated approach (e.g., AI, environmental science, CCI, use of satellite surveillance (Copernicus), networking analysis, social media analysis).
- Support citizen science initiatives, lifelong learning and encourage a holistic approach.
Emphasis on awareness-raising
- The global challenges require new sustainable solutions for a just transition and a change of mindset and action, where the interlinkages and interdependencies between people, culture and nature are brought into the spotlight.
- Culture has the transformative power to incite reflective change in all domains.
Hints on how to proceed:
- Encourage initiatives that raise awareness of the role of all the elements of the environment, and their interdependencies, for sustainable development.
- Promote and include the use of traditional and indigenous knowledge to explore and exploit the potential of a holistic and integrated approach.
- Encourage all stakeholders involved (decision makers, experts, the general public, etc.) to think beyond the conservation of individual species, objects, places and practices, and to pay more attention to the values that arise from the connections and interdependencies between them to improve perception, conservation and management practices.
Democratic participation and broad involvement of stakeholders
- Citizen participation is part of the democratic process and enables people to enjoy culture, cultural and natural heritage and landscape while acknowledging their individual and collective responsibility for them.
- Cross-cutting dialogue, co-operation and participatory processes give citizens the possibility to take part in decision-making and to incite change.
Hints on how to proceed:
- Establish an arena for co-operation and dialogue between all public authorities and all other relevant parties involved in the management of the environment and develop integrated approaches for democratic participation.
- Develop incentives to initiate cross-cutting dialogue and to build partnerships between the public sector and relevant NGOs, cross-cutting cooperation between NGOs and broadening citizen participation.
- Establish co-operation around practical work: (such as restoration, clearing of invasive species, haying of species-rich meadows, and other tasks) where landowners, public authorities from relevant sectors, NGOs and private initiatives can meet and be hands-on.
