The Significance of Cultural Landscape Conservation

Cultural landscapes are important as they have strong influences on both the nature and human society. Identifying and determining the values that cultural landscapes confer could certainly provide a basis for their conservation and management. Thorough understanding of the significance of a place and their attributes are fundamental in key decision-making processes.

Conserving Aesthetic Significance

The essence and charm of the cultural landscapes exhibit high aesthetic values unique to one’s culture and background. For example in China, the beauty of landscape is greatly valued for its “harmony between man and nature” and the Chinese often see “oneness with nature as the highest pursuit” (Han, 2012). Chinese cultural landscapes featuring the unity of mountains, waters and human life are significant aesthetics representations of the deep-rooted philosophy of “oneness”.  

Conserving Ecological Significance

The ecological significance of cultural landscapes is one of the core aspects that should be addressed in conservation planning. Over the last few decades, the ecological importance of conserving rice paddy dominated cultural landscapes is evidenced by the high biodiversity values that they present. These landscapes are effective in providing wetland habitats and nourishment for wildlife, especially species that forage on agricultural crops or harvested remains of crops. (Amano, 2009).

Cultural landscapes provide substantial resources not just to support wildlife, but also humanity. Indigenous knowledge in managing natural resources has proved that wildlife can co-exist and thrive with humans in cultivated landscapes (Kobori & Primack, 2003).

Conserving Historical Significance

Cultural landscapes stand as a reliable historical testimony and contribute towards preserving the rich cultural legacy of the site. Cultural landscapes usually harness stories and collective memories of ancestral feats to maintain historical continuity, some of which might have particular didactic significance which is absolutely vital for our better future (Butler, 2009).

Many physical traces of past human activities are still visible in cultural landscapes area. They could convey meaningful and valuable information about how people designed, utilised and modified the cultural landscape, which allows us to gain a better understanding of the place and its cultural history (UTAS, 2006). In rural Hong Kong, the geomantic and agrarian landscapes have significantly retained contextual information on the occupation history of the village communities (Atha, 2012). The conservation of such rural cultural landscapes is one of the many means to safeguard the important records of our past.

Conserving Social Significance

Cultural landscapes are self-sustained socio-economic systems developed by generations of communities that support human lives. Evidence shows that irrigation cultural lands play such a constructive role in providing livelihood for almost 140 million rice farming households in Asia (FAO, 2014). The Jianan Irrigation System is a typical case that demonstrates the significance of cultural landscape in enhancing economic viability, quality of life and resource efficiency as a whole. Conserving such irrigation cultural landscapes can help to foster economic and social well-being at large (Wang & Fu, 2012).