Cultural landscapes are created by people, and used by people, but still decidedly rich in biodiversity, and in harmony with nature. The landscapes of fairy tales, without dragons. Socio-economic complexity on top of biological diversity is the challenge nature conservation faces in the context of cultural landscape.
This book is an attempt to approach this complexity and provide a theoretical background as well as guidelines and examples for hands-on solutions. It draws on inputs from scientists, administrators, independent consultants and politicians from Europe and the United States. With a particular emphasis on agriculture it attempts to merge disciplines such as philosophy, law, planning, economics and conservation biology toward a common goal: nature conservation and the preservation of biological diversity in landscapes under the pressure of human usage.
The book provides a basic rational why conservation targets must be included into land use schemes
Cultural Landscapes.- Aldo Leopold on the Ethical Foundations for Conserving Biodiversity.- Reflections on the Intelligence of Natural Systems.- Effectiveness of Nature Protection Legislation in the European Union and the United States: The Habitats Directive and the Endangered Species Act.- The Economic Geography of Ecosystem Goods and Services.- Foundations of Poland#x2019;s Cultural Landscape Protection - Conservation Policy.- Sustainable Development, Landscape Conservation and Tourism in the Small Islands of Greece.- Communities as Mediators.- Agricultural Policies Sustaining the European Countryside.- Meka and LPR - Steps Towards an Effective Integration of Land Use and Nature Conservation.- The Effectiveness of Agri-Environment Schemes as a Tool to Restore Biodiversity in Dutch Agricultural Landscapes.- The Pig Grazing Project: Prospects of a Novel Management Tool.
