Coordinators: Thymio Papayannis (Med-INA)
Josep-Maria Mallarach (Silene Association)
Status: The Delos Initiative is a continuous programme.
Description:
The Delos Initiative was named after the Aegean island of Delos, an island in the Eagean with considerable marine interest, which was considered sacred in classical times, dedicated to Apollo (the god of light), and was the centre of a long lasting alliance.
The Initiative is planned to: (1) understand the position of religions and spiritual traditions existing in developed countries on nature and on the sanctity of natural sites (2) assess the pertinence and importance of sacred natural sites, and attempt to estimate the significance of their spiritual values; (3) study how these spiritual values can be maintained and enhanced and investigate whether and how these values can be used as additional means for the conservation of sites; and (4) attempt to resolve eventual conflicts between the character of sacred sites and conservation and management requirements, establishing instead synergy, where possible.
The methodology used combines two complementary approaches: bottom-up and top-down. The bottom-up approach is based on the analysis of specific sites, in order to:
- identify participants and sites in representative countries;
- examine the objectives at the local level;
- debate results of analysis with different stakeholders to reach common conclusions;
- generalise results and extrapolate them to a broader level.
The top-down approach applies basic metaphysical principles that all spiritual and religious traditions share, such as the symbolic character of nature, the sacredness of --at least certain-- natural theophanies, and, as a corollary, the awe and deep respect for the natural order, as a terrestrial reflection of a celestial or divine order.
From these two approaches, it will then be possible to proceed to:
- identify underlying principles of different spiritual traditions;
- examine their pertinence and influence on different contexts;
- propose and validate relationships and analogies.
The Working Group of the Delos Initiative currently consists of 30 members of a diverse scientific background (environmentalists, biologists, architects, geologists, forest engineers, archaeologists, anthropologists etc)
The Delos Initiative during 2005-2007
The following report summarises the progress achieved during 2005 and 2006 within the framework of the Delos Initiative and presents briefly the goals and priorities for 2007-2008.
1. Activities during 2005
1.1 Presentation of the Delos Initiative by Josep Maria Mallarach at the International Symposium on ‘Conserving Cultural and Biological Diversity: The Role of Sacred Natural Sites and Cultural Landscapes’. This important event was organised in Tokyo on 30 May to 2 June 2005 by UNESCO, the United Nations University and IUCN. The results were useful contacts leading to potential additional pilot sites for the Delos Initiative in Asia and America.
1.2 Presentation of the Delos Initiative by Jordi Falgarona at the European Nature Conference, held in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands, on 21-25 September 2005. This was the first time that Eurosite and the Europarc Federation organised a joint annual conference in Europe. This resulted in useful contacts leading to additional sites in central and northern Europe.
1.3. Presentation of the Delos Initiative by Jordi Falgarona in the context of a Panel about cultural and spiritual values of protected areas during the annual meeting of the Spanish Federation of Protected Areas, held in Cangas de Narcea (Asturias, Spain June 2005). Three recommendations were approved as conclusions of the meeting.
- Promote the integration of non-material values, cultural and spiritual, in the planning of Spanish protected areas.
- Encourage the inclusion of non-material values in educational programs, especially for young people, through visitor centres and adequate programs.
- Give formal support to the ‘Delos Initiative’ and the study cases from Spain.
1.4 Preparation of a project pilot entitled ‘Delos1: Significance of pilot sacred natural sites in technologically developed countries’, after a broad consultation among the Steering Group members and other experts. The proposal was submitted for funding to potential donors.
1.5 Preparation of a questionnaire for site analysis to be completed through interviews with local personalities in each site, both secular and religious.
1.6 Application of the questionnaire in two pilot sites, after in situ missions and interviews with various stakeholders:
- in Greece, Meteora, a magnificent natural area with monasteries built on natural megaliths;
- in Catalonia, Spain, the sacred mountain of Montserrat with its famous monastery.
1.7 Contacts established for the inclusion of additional sites in the pilot plan, and specifically:
- Finland: Kolovesi National Park and Ukonsaari at Lake Inari; (Saami spiritual and cultural tradition).
- Australia: New South Wales Coast Sacred Cultural Landscape (Aboriginal spiritual tradition).
- Japan: Sacred Kii Mountain range (Boudhism and Shintoism).
- Spain: El Rocío- Doñana National and Natural Parks (Catholic Shrine and pilgrimage).
- Greece: Mount Athos (Orthodox Christianity, World Heritage Site).
- United States of America: San Francisco Peaks, California (several Native American spiritual traditions).
- Russian Federation: Solvetsky Islands (Orthodox Christianity).
- New Zealand: Tongoairo National Park (Maori spiritual tradition).
1.8. Preliminary contacts for the preparation of the workshop held in 2006 at the monastery of Monserrat, nested in the Muntanya de Montserrat Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain, including the search for potential donors.
2. Activities during 2006
2.1 Funding for the Delos1 project obtained.
2.2 Identification of additional pilot sites and on-site investigation through an improved questionnaire
2.3 Preparation of consolidated reports on the natural sacred sites analysed.
2.4 Preparation and organisation of the 1st Delos Workshop in the Montserrat Monastery in Catalonia 23-26 November 2006 and first substantial conclusions from the work carried out on the pilot sites, which led to the Montserrat Statement. The workshop secretariat was undertaken by Silene Association and was funded by the Board of the Mountain of Montserrat, the Ministry for the Environment and Housing of Catalonia, and the Fundació Territori i Paisatge of Caixa Catalunya Savings Bank.
2.5. Preparation of the publication of the proceedings of the Montserrat workshop with the same sponsors of the workshop.
2.6 Efforts to make the Delos Initiative better known focused on:
- continued presentations by the Delos working group members in appropriate international and national fora, such as the Conference of the Europarc Federation in The United Kingdom, the Europarc-Spain Annual Conference, and selected national and international publications;
- updating and improvements in the Delos website to increase its interactive potential.
3. Priorities for 2007-2008
3.1 Publication of the Montserrat Workshop proceedings by IUCN and the Abbey of Montserrat.
3.2 Work on the Delos contribution to the UNESCO / IUCN draft Guidelines for sacred natural sites.
3.3. Identification of additional members of the work group, and new, representative case studies from other countries, religions, faiths, and Protected Areas types, and preparation of relevant reports.
3.4 Contacts established for the inclusion of additional sites in the second phase of the pilot plan, and specifically:
- Poblet, Spain, Cultural WHS & PA of National Significance (Catholic Monastery)
- Jabal ‘alam, CCA Marocco (Sunni Islam shrine & pilgrimage centre)
- Montsant, Spain, Natural Park (Christian hermits)
- Buila Vinturarita Natural Park, Romania (Christian Orthodox monastic centre)
- Foreste Casentinese National Park, Italy (Catholic)
- Holy circle of Cape Town, South Africa (Islam shrines and tombs of holy men)
3.5 Participation at several international conferences and events, such as the IUCN Almeria Summit on IUCN categories of Protected Areas (May 2007) and the 3S Conference in Cambridge, United Kingdom (September 2007), presenting papers and making contributions.
3.6. Preparation of the Delos2 Workshop, to be held in Ouranoupolis, Halkidiki, Greece, on 24-28 October 2007, including identification of additional case studies and funding sources.
The theme of the workshop is to ‘provide guidance for sacred natural sites in developed countries’ and its objectives are the following:
(a) Presentation and critical analysis of further case studies. Extraction of lessons to be drawn concerning the integration of spiritual concerns in the management of natural sites.
(b) Providing advice to monastic communities on the ecological management of their natural sites, based on presentation of specific case studies.
(c) Process for the development and dissemination of guidance to managers of sacred natural sites.
(d) Planning of further activities of the Delos Initiative, and in particular its participation in the WCC.
3.7 Contribution to the preparation of the World Conservation Congress of IUCN to be held in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2008, with several specific activities, among which a field trip to three SNS included in the Delos Initiative pilot plan, located near Barcelona: Montserrat, Montsant and Poblet.
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