Cultural Landscapes: Current Situation

Landscapes are dynamic systems with multiscale complexity. They are characterised not merely by the physical structures and biological assets, but also by cognitive (or intangible) features that are embedded in the environment (Leader-Elliott, Maltby, & Burke, 2004). Based on this premise, certain sites may exhibit high ecological integrity, while others may appear to be largely associated with the living traditional cultures. In other words, landscapes are more than just the visible elements, they also reflect human activities and the intimate relationship between people and place, and this is where the cultural value comes into play. As suggested by Schama (1995), such cultural values could be captured in a variety of landscapes, including the Fung Shui woodlands, cultivated terraces, gardens, temples and many other ancient monuments. These sites, with a rich deposit of traditional cultural elements, are often shaped by the interactions between humans and their environment over time, they are therefore regarded as cultural landscapes.

In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognised and affirmed the “Outstanding Universal Value” of cultural landscapes and adopted guidelines for the inclusion of living cultural places, natural sacred sites and cultural landscapes on the World Heritage List. Under the current assessment framework of world heritage, cultural landscapes are generally considered as cultural heritage. While there is broad recognition that cultural landscape demonstrates a significant combination of cultural and natural features, it is essentially different from a mixed property. A useful way to identify cultural landscape is to look at the degree of interactions between people, place and identity, and whether such intrinsic links can ultimately lead to sustainable land-use outcomes.

Until 2018, globally there are a total of 102 properties being inscribed on the World Heritage List as cultural landscapes, among which 22 landscapes are found in Southeast and East Asia. The number continues to grow in recent years. It implies that not only the concept of cultural landscape itself has been widely acknowledged and appreciated, but also the need for their protection has now been amplified.

Visit the Website of UNESCO World Heritage Centre https://whc.unesco.org/en/culturallandscape/

 

 

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