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March 2019

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In This Issue
Proposed National Register rule poses a threat to historic and cultural landscapes
Senate Hearing on Interior Nominee
News Updates
About Us
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Philadelphia, PA
April 4-6, 2019

  Keeping History Above Water
St. Augustine FL
May 5-8, 2019

Marrakesh Morocco 
October 17, 2019

Culture Nature Journey

 
This month's column will recap a few of the landmarks along this Journey. The idea was first  launched in September 2016 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Hawai'i. At the Congress, a one week Nature Culture journey offered a track  that  examined 
the importance of integrating the work of conservation.

In December 2018 the 
19th ICOMOS Triennial General Assembly in India turned the discussion around and featured a  "Culture/Nature Journey" h ighlighting
the recognition of the interconnected character of  both types of heritage as critical for the future of conservation. 

In November of 2018, US ICOMOS took the next step by sponsoring 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 how to better integrate culture and nature on the ground. The goal was development of actionable strategies for sustainable conservation.
 
The two fields have been brought together by the growing evidence that lasting conservation of natural and cultural heritage in landscapes/seascapes depends on better integration for resource planning and management. The need for this approach is made more urgent by threats such as climate change, urban expansion and globalization that can only be addressed on a large landscape scale.
Living Landscape Observer
Mouth of the Ch'u'itnu - Traditional Cultural Landscape Alaska . Photograph by Alan Boraas.

Proposed National Register Rule Threatens 
 Historic and Cultural Landscapes
It is not news that the current administration is unfriendly to landscape scale conservation.  So, it comes as no surprise that a proposed U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) rule-making has taken another step to discourage landscape conservation. This time by making it more difficult for the public to nominate historic properties, in particular cultural landscapes, to the National Register of Historic Places. The reasons for this change are not hard to discern. Recognition of the cultural value of landscapes is seen as an impediment to allies of the administration, especially those with interests in resource extraction and energy development projects.   Read more about these proposed changes here.

Interior secretary nominee David Bernhardt at his March 28 Senate confirmation hearing. Image: www.energy.senate.gov

Senate Hears from Nominee for Interior Secretary 
David Bernhardt, the President's nominee for Interior Secretary, answered questions from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during his confirmation hearing on March 28th. Bernhardt has been the acting Secretary since the resignation of Secretary Ryan Zinke, who departed amidst a number of ethics investigations. A former lobbyist for the oil and gas industries, Bernhardt also served as the Interior solicitor during the George W. Bush administration. For more on acting Secretary Bernhardt, see this recent profile in The Washington Post.  The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks has also issued a statement, outlining its concerns regarding the Bernhardt nomination. A full video of his confirmation hearing is here. Many Interior agencies and bureaus remain without permanent leaders, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Latest News and Notes
Sage Grouse Strut their Stuff

Who doesn't love Sage Grouse?
Well, by their recent actions, the current administration. They have put a stop to a series of landscape scale conservation plans to protect this iconic bird.  These plans had been hammered out by interested parties across the West, including energy companies, western politicians, and environmental organizations  to limit development on sage grouse habitat.  For more information on Conserving the Landscape of the Greater Sage Grouse read this Living Landscape Observer article. 

Upcoming Grant Opportunity 
The Network for Landscape Conservation (NLC) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for those seeking support from the new Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund. The effort seeks to build  critical capacity and forward momentum in landscape conservation partnerships by supporting the key building block activities and collaborative processes that move partnerships forward. Funds are also set aside for  Indigenous-led landscape partnerships. Responses are due by April 26.  For more information click here.
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.