Part II Substantive Aspects, Ch.14 The Environment and Cultural Heritage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boer Ben
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
International Instruments ◽  
Legal Integration

This chapter explores the legal and policy links between the cultural heritage and the natural environment. Although there are formal separations between the two realms, there is an increasing convergence between them, manifested in the interpretation of the primary international instruments and associated guidelines and policies. In the Indigenous world, the links between culture and nature have always been more obvious and understood. Thus an increasing legal integration of the concepts of cultural heritage and natural heritage should be seen as a welcome development. It is argued that, unless an awareness of the vital dependence of humanity on its local and global environments can be re-established, the polycentric existential crises facing humanity—represented by climate change, pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss—have little chance of being addressed. A fundamental rethink of our understanding of the legal and policy relationships between the cultural heritage and the natural environment is required.

scholarly journals Tourist Clusters in a Developing Country in South America: The Case of Manabì Province, Ecuador

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 4329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cruz ◽  
Torres-Matovelle ◽  
Molina-Molina ◽  
Gálvez
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Intangible Cultural Heritage ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Natural Heritage

Societies nowadays shape their history by establishing traditions, customs, artisan expressions and, in short, the cultural heritage that represents them as a people in symbiosis with their natural environment. The present investigation analyzes the tourist phenomenon that has developed around intangible cultural heritage and natural heritage in the province of Manabí (Ecuador). Three types of visitors were identified in terms of motivation schemes; these three types were considered valid and useful for segmenting within the province of Manabí as a tourist destination. The conclusions suggest the need to conceive tourism products that improve the image of the destination and, at the same time, enable the sustainable management of the destination itself.

Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss in Southeast Asia

2011 ◽  
pp. 303-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra P. Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
First Case ◽  
Lower Mekong Basin ◽  
The Face

Land degradation and biodiversity loss are important global change issues because of their enormous effect on the functioning of ecosystem. Despite the fact that there have been tremendous concerns on land degradation and biodiversity loss for nearly two decades, there is still the need of having a sound data and information base, specifically in developing countries. The need has been more pronounced in the face of climate change as these three issues are intricately interlinked. Southeast Asia is an important geographic region from all these perspectives, as it has high biodiversity on the verge of rapid loss, continuing rapid land degradation due to desire of higher economic development, and of climate change importance with a large tract of forest areas in the region. This chapter, first of all, examines general status of land degradation and biodiversity in the region and goes on presenting two case studies. The first case study, based on secondary data, presents land degradation assessment in the Lower Mekong Basin demonstrating the use of spatial data and technologies and various land degradation indicators. The second case study specifically documents plant diversity and examines the relationship of plant diversity with biomass and soil erosion by making use of field surveyed primary data. Both studies aim at producing additional information which can help make better landuse allocation and planning for ecosystem maintenance without compromising much on regional or local livelihood through production.

scholarly journals Developing a Global Soil Regime

2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Boer ◽  
Ian Hannam
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
National Level ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Global Soil ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
The Right

From the 1960s onwards, the global community became more aware of the phenomena of air and water pollution. More recently, the issues of climate change, loss of biodiversity, desertification, drought, and land degradation have become more prominent. While biodiversity loss and climate change have garnered close attention, issues of land degradation and sustainability of soils has attracted less focus in international fora and by national governments. We argue here that soil, as a vital biological and cultural resource, demands attention on the same level as biological diversity and climate change, and that this should be reflected in both international law and in legislation at national level. This article explores the elements that could form the basis of a global instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of soil, and sets out the premise for the community of nations to support the negotiation and drafting of such an instrument. It does so in light of the recent discussion on the introduction of a provision in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on the achievement of zero net land degradation, the revision of the World Soil Charter as well as the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. It also briefly explores other complementary mechanisms that can be used for promoting the sustainable use of soils.

scholarly journals GEOPORTAL PROPOSAL FOR THE INVENTORY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN NABÓN (ECUADOR)

2020 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B2-2020 ◽  
pp. 1415-1418
Author(s):  
J. L. Lerma ◽  
V. Heras ◽  
G. Mora-Navarro ◽  
P. Rodas ◽  
F. Matute
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Intangible Cultural Heritage ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Human Actions ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Working Together ◽  
International Experts

Abstract. Humanity is losing cultural heritage faster than it can be documented, preserved and disseminated. A combination of natural and human actions is heavily affecting heritage such as climate change, vandalism, looting and natural hazards such as floods, droughts, tsunamis and earthquakes. This paper presents a cooperation proposal for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage through building a geoportal for the inventory of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in Cantón Nabón, province of Azuay, Ecuador. All the gathered information, historical records, old photographs, architectural and archaeological and geomorphological surveys, in combination with state-of-the-art photogrammetric documentation surveys, will integrate the new heritage geoportal. The initial implementation will be carried out by working together with local, regional and international experts, following the suggestions of the local inhabitants.

scholarly journals Citizen Science Contributions to Address Biodiversity Loss and Conservation Planning in a Rapidly Developing Region

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Diana L. Soteropoulos ◽  
Caitlin R. De Bellis ◽  
Theo Witsell
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Wicked Problem ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Rare Plant ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Natural Heritage ◽  
Northwest Arkansas

Biodiversity data support conservation research and inform conservation decisions addressing the wicked problem of biodiversity loss. However, these data often need processing and compilation before use, which exceed the time availability of professional scientists. Nevertheless, scientists can recruit, train, and support a network of citizen scientists to prepare these data using online platforms. Here, we describe three citizen science projects sponsored by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission to transcribe and georeference historic herbarium specimens and document current biodiversity through iNaturalist for two highly biodiverse and rapidly developing counties in Northwest Arkansas, USA. Citizen science-generated data will be used in a county natural heritage inventory (CNHI) report, including a comprehensive list of taxa tied to voucher specimens and records for rare plant populations. Since the CNHI project started in 2018, citizen scientists have transcribed 8,855 and georeferenced 2,636 specimen records. From iNaturalist observations, 125 rare plant populations of 39 taxa have been documented. This CNHI report will determine the most critical taxa, habitats, and sites for conservation action in the region and will inform conservation stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels as they engage in land acquisition, ecological restoration, natural resource management, planning of growth and development, and environmental review/regulation.

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