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- Convenors:
-
Alan Forrest
(Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
Julian Jansen van Rensburg (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 27 October, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
Methodologies for conservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity have evolved along different trajectories, yet in many cultures and localities are inextricably linked. This panel will feature several case studies and a discussion on how these disparate disciplines might be conserved together.
Long Abstract:
Many methodologies for the conservation of cultural heritage and biodiversity exist and have evolved through diverse cultures, localities, research and conservation agendas and in response to multiple global, regional and national foci. In some localities, the differentiation between cultural and natural heritage is not recognised leading to the imposition of inappropriate conservation systems.
This panel will present several short case studies highlighting different systems in place in specific localities. This will lead on to a discussion where a range of solutions can be proposed, discussed and debated to gain a more informed knowledge base about what systems are most suitable under specific circumstances.
One case study will be the Soqotra Archipelago where biodiversity documentation, research and conservation has been driven by externally funded programmes for decades and where cultural heritage knowledge has lagged far behind until relatively recently. This has led to a situation where a variety of spatially-explicit conservation system have been proposed and implemented, including via WHS listing and through Yemeni law - focusing entirely on biodiversity - but where until recently no consideration had been given to the conservation of cultural heritage in all its forms. In a society where there was until recently no understanding of the term "environment", exploration of diverse methods for the conservation of heritage in its entirety are relevant. This panel will encourage consideration of systems suitable to all heritage components.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 27 October, 2021, -Alan Forrest (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Julian Jansen van Rensburg (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
Paper short abstract:
This paper will describe the relationship between natural and cultural heritage on Soqotra and attempt to demonstrate that separating them in formal or informal conservation management systems is doomed to failure.
Paper long abstract:
The island of Soqotra has long been known for its natural heritage, a heritage that has long been divorced from the very custodians that have been instrumental in its conservation and management. With this paper we emphasise the necessity for a clearer engagement between the natural and cultural heritage on Soqotra to ensure that the long-term conservation measures that have been imposed on the inhabitants takes into account the decades long conservation practices that had and continue to have an impact on this unique Natural WHS environment that conservation measures seek to protect and conserve. Utilising archaeological, historic and ethnographic information we demonstrate how the so-called pristine and untouched environment of Soqotra is actually a palimpsest landscape that has been shaped and re-shaped by humans over the last millennium, and how it is only by acknowledgement of this that we will be able to move forward in understanding and better adapting current conservation measures.
Milo-Rhys Teplin (University of Houston)
Paper short abstract:
Wildflower plants across south Texas have benefited from recent conservation efforts. In many of the same fields the burial grounds of plantations and black churches are lying undocumented and unprotected. Plants used to mark graves 200 years ago can be used to determine where they are located now.
Paper long abstract:
The conservation efforts of specific wildflower plants across south Texas have received decent attention, and yet in many of these same fields the forgotten burial grounds of plantations and black churches are lying undocumented and unprotected from developers. While it is easier to determine the location full area coverage of what is above the ground, what is below the ground is extremely valuable not only to history, but the the living decedents who are often still nearby. Efforts to conserve plant life as well as historic cemeteries can and should be combined. Moreover, many graves made by and for slaves on a plantation would not have been marked following the same conventions used today, and the plants used to mark graves 200 years ago can be used to determine where they are located now. A case study from Hempstead, Texas will be examined in particular for this presentation.
Pavlos Georgiadis (University of Hohenheim)
Paper short abstract:
This ethnobotanical research addresses contemporary sustainability challenges by proposing cultural criteria in the selection of framework species for ecosystem restoration, diversification of agriculture, diets, livelihoods and landscapes.
Paper long abstract:
Climate change, population growth and persistent poverty are applying pressure to the world’s most fragile ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots in unprecedented ways. There is an urgent need to document and catalogue plant species that provide important ecological services, preserve cultural and natural heritage and contribute to overall human quality of life. Participatory rural appraisal tools, collection of herbarium specimens and statistical analysis on the basis of quantitative indices were used to rank the cultural significance of plant species in ethnic communities living inside the mountain forests of Northern Thailand. An ethnobotanical inventory with data on significant plant families, use categories and useful plant parts led to the prioritisation of culturally important tree species for ecosystem restoration on the basis of four quantitative indices. Most of the reported plants are neglected and underutilized resources in need of further research and development for the diversification of agriculture, diets, livelihoods and landscapes. The integration of cultural criteria in the selection of framework species for ecosystem restoration embeds local cultural heritage and community needs in conservation efforts, increasing their potential for success and complying with an integrated approach to sustainable development.
Alan Forrest (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) Susan Bain (National Trust for Scotland) Iain Turnbull (National Trust for Scotland)
Paper short abstract:
This paper will highlight approaches taken to conserving natural and cultural heritage components using two examples from Scotland
Paper long abstract:
The National Trust for Scotland is a conservation charity that cares for a number of places in Scotland important for natural, built and cultural heritage.
This paper will discuss the approach to management of two properties within the Trust’s care:
St Kilda is a remote island archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. Inhabited for thousands of years by a community that lived from the dense colonies of seabirds and small scale farming until the early twentieth century when they abandoned their island home. It is now the UK’s only dual World Heritage Site, inscribed for both its natural and cultural heritage. This paper will discuss how the different needs of conservation are balanced and implemented.
Balmacara lies on the west coast of Scotland and is a fine example of a Highland crofting estate. Crofting is a small-scale and low intensity form of agriculture that has great environmental benefits as well as being the defining social system of Highland communities. This paper will explore the strong links between community, land and traditional farming practices that have created the current landscape and how they can continue into the future
Julian Jansen van Rensburg (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh)
Paper short abstract:
This paper looks at how a social-ecological perspective can allow us a deeper understanding into the societal activities and dynamics associated with traditional knowledge systems and how this can be used to better understand the interactions and dependencies between cultural and natural systems.
Paper long abstract:
This paper looks at how a social-ecological perspective can allow us a deeper understanding into the societal activities and dynamics associated with traditional knowledge systems can be used to better understand the Interactions and dependencies between cultural and natural systems and how this can be used to better inform conservation and management. Moreover, this paper will highlight the considerable research gap that exists between the conservation of nature alongside culture and highlight possibilities in ways that we can understand the temporal scale relationship between humans and their environment.