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January 2019

Living Landscape Observer - Nature, Culture, Community
In This Issue
Forward Together : The Culture/Nature Journey the Presidio San Francisco
Best Laid Plans: How to Ensure Programs Survive
News Updates
About Us
Join Our Mailing List
Annual Meeting 
Washington,  DC
February 11-12, 2019

Washington, DC
March 12-14, 2019

Philadelphia, PA
April 4-6, 2019

Culture Nature Journey

The Presidio
 Declaration 

In November 2018, US ICOMOS sponsored the symposium  Forward Together: A Culture-Nature Journey Towards More Effective Conservation in a Changing World  at the Presidio in San Francisco. 

The gathering brought together experts from six continents and 15 countries to share a range of ideas on better integrating culture and nature on the ground. The goal was development of actionable strategies for more effective and sustainable conservation.

One of the outcomes
of  the  symposium was The Presidio D eclaration. It features top level findings and recommendations for next steps. This now available for your  review.
Special thanks to the US/ICOMOS Symposium Planning Committee and it's co-chairs, Bill Pencek and Douglas Comer, the symposium partners, particularly the Presidio, and to the Symposium Program Committee and its Co-chairs Nora Mitchell and Jessica Brown. See the  US ICOMOS 2018 Symposium Program for additional information or contact the US/ICOMOS Symposium -  Send an e-mail.

Living Landscape Observer
Map of the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiative

Large Landscapes Face Outsize Threats
It should come as no surprise to readers of the Living Landscape Observer that conserving large landscapes in the current political climate is a difficult task. There are near constant threats to public lands, including the de-funding of programs aimed at the preservation of cultural and natural resources. In addition, a systemic targeting of landscape-scale work is taking place at multiple departments across the federal government. What is going on and how has this affected efforts to collaborate across jurisdictional, agency, and even national boundaries?   Read all about it here.
President Kennedy meeting with the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission. Photo: Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Boston
Best-Laid Plans: How to Ensure that Programs Survive 
Why do some initiatives seem to "stick" or take root within government and others fade away? This piece takes a modest look at a complex policy issue through the lens of several late mid and late twentieth century state and federal conservation programs. Share your thoughts and experiences. Read more.  
News


Mapping Land Use -  Bloomberg News recently published a set of maps showing how Americans use land to create wealth. The 48 contiguous states alone are a 1.9 billion-acre jigsaw puzzle of cities, farms, forests and pastures that Americans use to feed themselves, power their economy, and extract value for business and pleasure.

Coalition to Protect America's National Parks Issues Statement on Interior Secretary Nominee - During the first week of February, President Trump nominated David Bernhardt to be the agency's new leader. He would replace Ryan Zinke, who resigned in late December.  
About Us

The Living Landscape Observer is a website, blog and monthly e-newsletter that offers commentary and information on the emerging field of large landscape conservation. This approach emphasizes the preservation of a "sense of place" and blends ingredients of land conservation, heritage preservation, and sustainable community development. Learn more about how you can get involved or sign up for the newsletter here.  

Our Mission: To provide observations and information on the emerging fields of landscape scale conservation, heritage preservation and sustainable community development.