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October  2019

Living Landscape Observer - Nature, Culture, Community
In This Issue
Second Nature- Culture Dialogue
Maritime Washington NHA
Mesa Verde National Park: Reinterpreting the Landscape
World Rural Landscape Principles
In the News
About Us
The Economic and Social Benefits of World Heritage in the USA
Nov 8-9, 2019
US/ICOMOS
Washington DC

December 3-6, 2019
ICAHM
Arica.   Chile 

World Conservation Congress
June11-19, 2020
Marseille France 

Culture/Nature Journey

Nature-Culture Dialogues

  Session 2 with Rouran Zhang on Cultural Landscape: Discourses from Heritage Stakeholders

For the Second Nature-Culture/ Dialogue,  Rouran Zang presented a paper that critically reviews the impacts of the 'authorized heritage discourse' approach. This approach was adopted in the World Heritage listing of West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, China. The paper examines the discourse through the eyes of marginalized stakeholders - local residents and tourists. 

It explores domestic tourists and local residents' responses to 'official' discourses about the meaning of world heritage, cultural landscape, and its relevant 'outstanding universal value' in the Chinese context.


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One more thing - now is the time to propose sessions for the upcoming  ICOMOS General Assembly  2020   in Sydney Australia.  One of the categories is the Culture -Nature Journey: Reaching Agreemen t. Session proposals  are due January 6, 2020.
 
Living Landscape Observer

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area

The recently designated Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (NHA) is an exciting addition to the NHA program. Its boundaries are the saltwater coastlines of 14 counties in Washington State or roughly 3,000 miles of shoreline .25 mile from the mean high water mark. What opportunities and challenges are present in an effort so clearly focused on water and maritime landscapes?  Learn more.

Mesa Verde National Park: Re-interpreting 
a World Heritage Landscape

Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was one of the first cultural parks in the United States (1906). In 1978, it also became the country's first cultural World Heritage site. How has this venerable park updated its interpretation to incorporate 21st Century research and reality? Read more about it here.
 Namaliwiri Billabong 2016

World Rural Landscapes: Understanding Rural Landscapes and their Heritage Values

The Principles Concerning Rural Landscapes as Heritage  describe these landscapes as a vital component of the heritage of humanity. While they are the most common type of continuing cultural landscapes, they are also incredibly diverse representing a wide variety of cultures and cultural traditions.   For this reason, one of the most important implementing actions identified in the Principles is to understand rural landscapes and their heritage values.  This article examines these critical actions with specific reference to two case studies in Australia.  
 
Latest News and Notes
   Historic Sites at Risk on the Isle oe Wight

English Heritage turns to big data to identify at risk sites.
Sites include historic landscapes such as Registered Parks and Gardens and Registered Battlefields. Under the  National Planning Policy Framework projects that might cause  substantial harm or loss can only be justified in exceptional cases.The policy framework emphasizes sustaining and enhancing the significance of all heritage assets and finding viable uses consistent with their conservation.

House bill to protect Colorado land passes first test despite GOP concerns.   The CORE Act   would preserve Continental Divide land in the White River National Forest, designate more of the San Juan Mountains as wilderness and safeguard about 200,000 acres in the Thompson Divide from oil and gas leases, the most controversial provision in the bill.  If passed, it would be the largest Colorado public lands law in a generation.
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.