"Developing Indicators for Monitoring and Management of Sacred Natural Sites based on Cultural and Spiritual Values in Protected Areas".
Why is the research being done?
Although ecosystems provide many goods and services that support human well being (ecological, economic and social) they are often undervalued. In particular, their cultural and spiritual importance is often ignored. Over time it has become evident that cultural and spiritual values also play a pivotal role in the sustainable and equitable management of protected areas.
In protected areas the management of non-material, cultural and spiritual values forms a challenge for park managers, policymakers and indigenous people alike. The management of Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) especially requires approaches to comprehend a range of intangible values that may only be identified and truthly understood by people to whom these sites are important or held sacred. Whilst considerable progress has been made in this field and work is ongoing, a comprehensive knowledge base and effective field tested tools for the management of SNS requires further development.
The aim of the research is to develop a tool to facilitate the inclusion of cultural and spiritual values into park management decision making with in particular, a contribution to the UNESCO/IUCN Guidelines on Management of Sacred Natural Sites. These guidelines are a synthesis of synergies and opportunities for the management of SNS and the intangible culural and spiritual values of indigenous people. Suitable indicators and indicator criteria can be extremely helpful when putting in place related management objectives in protected areas.
The use of indicators is highly relevant to the work of IUCN, not just in protected areas, but potentially for conservation planning in areas worldwide where cultural and spiritual values are also important.
What are the objectives of the research?
- Based on case studies and scientific literature, explore the conceptual (scientific and practical) basis for managing and monitoring cultural and spiritual values of SNS in protected areas, considering the related worldviews and belief systems.
- Explore the current status of and opportunities for indicator selection and their suitability in monitoring and management approaches of SNS through the use of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
- Develop a framework for identification, and selection of suitable indicator criteria that assist management opportunities and innovative monitoring systems based on cultural and spiritual values of SNS in protected areas
Who is involved in the research?
Bas Verschuuren from the Foundation for Sustainable Development in The Netherlands will be carrying out the research in partnership with IUCN, under a Sustainability and Conservation Fellowship funded by the Alcoa Foundation. Bas is a voluntary member of the WCPA and of the steering committee of the taskforce on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas (CSVPA), which arose from the WCPA. He runs one of its five projects concerning communication.
IUCN is one of the three Sustainability Institutes that have been selected to provide mentoring support for the Sustainability and Conservation Fellowship programme, which aims to further research by mid-career professionals in fields that are relevant to conservation and sustainability. IUCN’s mentoring support is provided through Mr Gonzalo Oviedo, Senior Adviser for Social Policy.
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Contact |
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Bas Verschuuren
Foundation for Sustainable Development - www.fsd.nl
Email: bas.verschuuren@fsd.nl
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PO Box 47,
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
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Tel: +31 (0)317 485089
Fax: +31 (0)317 484839
Mobile +31 (0)6 49393904
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