Dynamism and Change of Cultural Landscapes

UNESCO today 2|2007 Werner Konold Dynamism and Change of Cultural Landscapes What can biosphere reserves accomplish? When developing perspectives for cultural landscapes/cultural spaces a general framework of values is needed. In that context, the question of which visionary model of the landscape is appropriate, comes up. Such a framework of values and such a vision can relate directly to the Seville Strategy of the MAB programme. Biosphere reserves are ideally suited for combining types of traditional and modern cultural landscapes as well as for further developing them in a modern approach. Cultural landscapes: thermore there were clear use-gradients The essence involved from the settlement down to the district boundary. There was no conserva- Cultural landscapes are human-modified tion, only movement, dynamics, progres- environments; human modification or use sive and regressive succession (i.e. se- transforms the natural landscape into a quences of plants and animal societies at cultural landscape. Man formed nature one location), a pulsation between forest according to his needs, what his liveli- and non-forest. This dynamism had, as a hood depended on and what his creativity whole, the effect of preserving habitats. and technical means made possible at any one time. He had to adapt or even All cultural landscapes, also those, which bow to the natural scheme of things: to to us appear to be old-fashioned, were the rocks, the ground, availability of water and still are subjected to dynamism, they and natural nutrients, flow of waters and demonstrate movement on a time axis. the altitude. Cultural landscapes have or There were and are delayed and almost had – apart from the specific use of the stagnating, as well as accelerated area – a specific cultural geomorphology. phases. These processes run differen- These are for example, walls, tree rows, tially, in a special sense: here – batches waling, scarps, fences, tree-lined roads, of change, there – stagnation, perhaps individual trees, pits and marshes. At under the pressure of economic distress Photo © Werner Konold the same time they possess many non- and migration. The relationships and functional or useless coincidences, by- dependencies between the political and products or refuse-products resulting socio-economical framework conditions from human economic activity, like shrub- and the picture and state of the land- beries, small fallows, gorges and much scape have not really changed over the more. The remains of ‘natural’ nature can years. The dynamism, which is inher- be found at best where cultivation was ent to these relations, is something we not worthwhile, where it is too wet, too have to face up to and also shape. steep, too dry or too stony. This assess- ment was, of course, always relative. The Change in the cultural landscapes has general economic conditions for estab- speeded up considerably in the last lishing many elements of the cultural decades, accompanied by a dramatic geomorphology, for example boulder increase in developed and especially cov- walls, today are no longer given. These ered areas and the well-known negative forms are, as such, relics of economic effects on habitats, flora and fauna and history; nevertheless they can shape on the geomorphology. Individual facial the face of a landscape, even today. features of the cultural landscapes, their value and character were often obliter- The traditional cultural landscape was ated or removed. Landscapes have been mostly used polyculturally, i.e. there were designed in many so-called ‘favoured numerous ways of use in one area. Fur- areas’ in such a similar way that they appear exchangeable to a large extent. • The development of landscape is to Trans-regionally there is a remarkable follow the concept of sustainability levelling of standards in the areas of in a consistent manner. building construction, landscape garden- • The respective identity of the landscape ing, types of settlements, route plan- must remain intact or be replaced ning and the arrangement of roads and by another unmistakeable identity. paths, equipping the landscape with • Diversity, typical for a specific natural noise-insulation measures, dumpsites or and cultural space should be aimed leafy slopes along motorways. Energy for in space and time, which includes landlines are ever-present, the landscape an optimal, regional biodiversity. is being torn up to a frightening extent, • Cultural landscapes should not be forestation engulfs hillsides and valleys, dependent on maintenance measures use-gradients only exist locally. We are in and landcare. a dilemma: on the one side, such change • Important landscape functions should is a characteristic of the cultural land- be re-established, for example flood scape; on the other hand we do not know and mass containment in floodplains. how all-encompassing change can be so • Burdening mass transfer is to be that people can cope with it mentally or kept to a minimum. at least accept it and so that a sustain- • The ‘use’ of areas and the dissection able landscape development is not of the landscape are to be minimised. prevented. • Allowing natural processes to unfold without interference should be en- A complimentary aspect: The preserva- couraged on limited areas, without tion of ecological, aesthetic and social setting targets of trajectories. qualities of our cultural landscapes cannot • Acutely endangered, recently over- mean that landscape is ‘freezed’ and hauled cultural landscape should that landscapes turn into museums. be protected and maintained. Thus Landscape must definitely be able to they can be secured for some time, develop further. On the one hand, typical until they become useful again. attributes and identification marks have to • All goals should be realised with as be preserved, and on the other hand new little interference as possible and also ones should be defined and consciously with a minimum of energy expenditure. Traditional vineyards are the most created. Also the process element of impressive cultural landscapes in landscape and the characteristics and If we compare these goals with the state Central Europe. They often stem from ageing of landscape elements must be of our landscapes today then it is obvi- the middle ages and were formed by considered in the way we act nowadays. ous that stronger efforts are required; significant interference with the lands- new proportions of use and protection cape. They were mostly re-allocated or The resulting fundamental question is are needed. A more specific version of completely closed down. The remai- as to what a modern cultural landscape these goals can only be agreed upon ning vineyards must be preserved should look like, a landscape with its own on the basis of actually existing land- and maintained in the long-term, for profile, which shows continuity, whose scapes, at the regional or communal example in buffer zones of biosphere parts are also established in functioning level. To work out such more specific reserves. relationships. What is, in the broadest goals publicly conducted discussions Photo © Werner Konold sense, a functioning modern cultural on landscape planning and regional landscape, which is, at the same time, development have to take place. home? Instruments and ways Framework of values Considering the above mentioned prin- When it comes to developing perspec- ciples, biosphere reserves are abso- tives for cultural landscapes / cultural lutely ideal for combining traditional and spaces, we must focus on a general modern cultural forms of landscapes framework of values. Connected to that and for developing these appropriately, is the question, which visionary model in other words, controlling the inherent of a landscape, in which we plan, decide dynamism of the cultural landscape. and shape, is fitting? A framework of The concept of zoning of biosphere values and a vision could almost seam- reserves could lead to the interpreta- lessly latch onto the Seville Strategy of tion that trusted, traditional cultural the MAB programme and also to the landscapes be placed primarily in the conventions of the World Summit of buffer zone and newer, modern cultural Rio: landscapes in the transition area. One UNESCO 0 today 2|2007 should however, consciously decide In concrete terms, what can be achieved the field of maintenance and devel- against such a straight interpretation of in biosphere reserves? opment of cultural landscapes and zones. One should get away from formal, home-landscapes. This includes clubs established segregation of old / traditional • What is urgently needed is an open and for preserving local traditions, hiking and new / modern and follow integrative public discussion on the future of our clubs and associations connected with concepts, which use the character cultural landscape. All stakeholders, nature conservation and preservation and distinctiveness of the region. such as communal umbrella organisa- of historic monuments. For their work, tions and clubs for preserving local which partly covers state obligations, New landscapes can be for example: traditions should be involved by the they will need political acknowledge- extensively used half-open landscapes, biosphere reserve administration. ment in future as well as financial which consist of a mosaic of grasslands, Some important points of discussion support. They are obvious partners shrubberies, pioneer forests and smaller are briefly outlined here: Amount of re- of biosphere reserve management. forest resources created

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