Reference texts
A number of pioneering reports, conventions and other related texts with a critical approach on the relationship between Nature and Humans (Anthropos)
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10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Changwon, Republic of Korea, 28 October-4 November 2008)
Read here the Changwon Declaration on human well-being and wetlands.
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The Nafplion Statement on Greek Landscapes, ‘Reclaiming the Greek Landscapes’ International Workshop, Nafplion, Greece, 17-20 May 2010
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The Prespa Statement on an integrated approach to the cultural and natural values of Mediterranean wetlands, ‘Towards an integrated approach to the cultural and natural aspects of wetlands’ International Workshop, Greek side of Prespa Lakes, Greece, 23-27 September 2009
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Convention on Wetlands Resolution IX.21 on Taking into account the cultural values of wetlands, Kampala, Uganda, 8-15 November 2005
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Dialogue between peoples and cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean Area
European Commission, 2 December 2003
This EuroMed report has been prepared by the High-Level Advisory Group. The High-level Advisory Group, which was established after an initiative taken by the President of the European Commission, is chaired by Assia Alaoui Bensalah and Jean Daniel. The fact that “a common civilisation naturally looks to the universal, and hence equality, while dialogue thrives on diversity, and hence a taste for difference” is the basic principle of the report which then attempts to promote cultural dialogue among civic society in the Mediterranean, while “condemning any doctrines or ideas which legitimise any form of exclusion or discrimination to whatever end”.
The concrete proposals included concern mainly education, cultural exchanges and an increased role for the media; they are not particularly ambitious or far reaching, but may provide some useful first steps.
The relationship between human beings and nature is almost totally ignored, which indicates that there is a lot of work required at this front.
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Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
UNESCO, Paris 17 October 2003
This particularly interesting convention has been approved at the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO (29/09-17/10/2003). Already in its 3rd point, it recognises “the deep-seated interdependence between the intangible cultural heritage and the tangible cultural and natural heritage”. The main purposes of the convention are (article 1):
- to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage;
- to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned;
- to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof;
- to provide for international co-operation and assistance.
A General Assembly of the States Parties and an Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be the bodies responsible for the Convention’s technical and operational issues, and they will be assisted by the UNESCO Secretariat.
Safeguarding methods mentioned in the Convention include policies, inventories, studies, documentation, institution building, education and awareness-raising, with a strong participatory character, as well as two lists of representative and endangered intangible cultural heritage at the global level.
In addition, an Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund will be established to provide international assistance, but its financing will depend mainly on very modest State contributions.
The Convention will come into effect once it is ratified by 30 states, a fact that may require a considerable amount of time. Download PDF
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Draft report of an international workshop on The importance of natural sacred sites for biodiversity conservation, UNESCO MAB et al, Kunming and Xishuangbanna Biosphere Reserve, China, 17-20 February 2003. more
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Convention on Wetlands Resolution VIII.19 on Guiding principles for taking into account the cultural values of wetlands for the effective management of sites,
Ramsar Bureau, Gland, Switzerland, November 2002.
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Europæ Archaeologiæ Consilium, A strategy for the heritage management of wetlands (2 February 2001). http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-news-archives-2001-wetlands-and-cultural-19128/main/ramsar/1-26-45-88%5E19128_4000_0__
