Recognition and conservation of sacred natural sites in protected areas
RECOGNIZING that one of the oldest forms of culture-based conservation has been the protection of the sacred natural sites of indigenous communities and mainstream faiths, and that these sacred natural sites often harbour rich biodiversity and safeguard valuable landscapes and ecosystems;
AWARE that Sacred Natural Sites are defined in the Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines published in 2008 by IUCN and UNESCO as: “Areas of land or water having special spiritual significance to peoples and communities” (Sacred Natural Sites: Guidelines for Protected Area Managers, No. 16, IUCN, 2008, page xi);
UNDERSTANDING that sacred natural sites – springs of pure water, glaciated mountains, unusual geological formations, forest groves, rivers, lakes and caves – are today and have long been integral to human identity, survival and evolution;
AWARE that many sacred natural sites are at risk and subject to a wide range of pressures and threats, such as: (a) impacts from the operations of extractive industries (e.g. mining, logging); (b) encroachment by outsiders (e.g. poaching, illegal fishing, vandalism, looting of burial grounds and archaeological sites);
(c) poverty and population dynamics (e.g. new settlers, conversion to other faith groups);
(d) disrespectful tourism and recreational activities;
(e) degradation of neighbouring environments; and
(f) climate change (e.g. extreme weather events, sea-level rise, drought, floods and erosion);
ACKNOWLEDGING that many sacred natural sites have been integrated into legally declared protected areas without adequate recognition of the local communities’ cultural and spiritual values and the traditional beliefs, practices and knowledge that have sustained the associated locations, cultures and resources;
CONCERNED that legally recognized protected areas sometimes deny access to sacred natural sites to indigenous peoples or religious groups who have utilized and cared for them for many generations; and
RECALLING that protection of sacred natural sites has been encouraged in the Man and the Biosphere Programme (1970), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), the World Heritage Convention (1972), the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992), the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), Recommendation V.13 Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas endorsed by the Vth World Parks Congress (Durban, 2003), Resolution 3.049 Community Conserved Areas adopted by the 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress (Bangkok, 2004), and the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007);
The World Conservation Congress at its 4th Session in Barcelona, Spain, 5–14 October 2008:
AFFIRMS that urgent action is needed for culturally appropriate sacred natural site conservation and management within (and near) official protected areas;
CALLS on:
(a) government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to recognize the rights, the skills and the knowledge that local and indigenous custodians and mainstream faith communities have in managing the resources and ecosystems associated with sacred natural sites;
(b) government agencies, NGOs and conservation agencies to work with and support local traditional and indigenous communities and custodians to directly confront threats affecting sacred natural sites by improving the management of sacred natural sites, and where appropriate by adopting laws and policies – with the full and effective participation of communities or organizations concerned – that protect the biological and cultural integrity of sacred natural sites; and (c) protected area agencies and managers to recognize the cultural and spiritual values of sacred natural sites included within their designated boundaries, and to recognize and facilitate the rights and interests of the communities or organizations concerned to manage and use those sacred natural sites where possible as places for their cultural and spiritual realization and reverence;
CALLS for increased scientific research into the complex relationship between biological diversity, cultural diversity and sacred natural sites;
ENCOURAGES additional investment in public education and international networks dedicated to the conservation and protection of sacred natural sites; and,
REQUESTS the conservation community to promote and participate fully in intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution with indigenous peoples, local communities and mainstream faiths to improve collaborative protection of sacred natural sites;
In addition, the World Conservation Congress, at its 4th Session in Barcelona, Spain, 5–14
October 2008, provides the following guidance concerning implementation of the IUCN
Programme 2009–2012:
REQUESTS the Director General to:
(a) implement and field test the 2008 Sacred Natural Site Guidelines in all IUCN protected area categories; and
(b) encourage their implementation and field testing in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites. State and agency members of the United States abstained during the vote on this motion.
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