THE DELOS INITIATIVE

IUCN / WCPA Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Natural Protected Areas

Thymio Papayannis & Josep Maria Mallarach

The designation, planning and management of current protected area systems in technologically developed and transitional countries is usually based on approaches that only take into consideration a limited number of the multiple dimensions that can link people and nature. 

The general attitude in technologically developed countries with respect to natural protected areas is determined by the prevalent positivistic and materialistic outlook of modern science, which has caused a weakening, or even a loss, of the spiritual dimension of nature, as well as other deeply rooted cultural connections related to the intangible values of natural areas.

BASIC CONCEPT

BACKGROUND

Since 2003, within the IUCN / WCPA, a Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas (CSVPA) is active at the interface of human beings and nature.

Within this Task Force, The Delos Initiative started in 2004 to study the contemporary pertinence of sacred natural sites in the technologically developed parts of the world and its effects on natural heritage conservation.

2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

2003 – World Park Congress of Durban – Action Plan

How can spiritual and cultural values contribute to the conservation and wise use of significant natural areas in the technologically developed world?

Key challenge the project addresses

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Delos Initiative aims to determine whether the spiritual and cultural values of a sacred site are compatible with its natural values and whether, and under which conditions, conservation efforts can create positive results for both.

Understand the position of mainstream religions and primal spiritual traditions in developed countries on nature and on the sanctity of natural sites.

  

Assess the pertinence and importance of sacred natural sites for contemporary people and estimate the significance of their spiritual and cultural values.

      

Study how these spiritual and cultural values can be maintained and enhanced and whether and how these values can be used for the conservation of sites.

Attempt to resolve eventual conflicts between the spiritual character and uses of sacred sites and conservation requirements, establishing instead synergies, where possible.

OBJECTIVES

.

 1) Bottom-up approach, based on the analysis of specific sites:

- 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.

 2) Top-down approach, applying the basic metaphysical principles that all spiritual and religious traditions share:

- Identify underlying principles of different spiritual traditions.- Examine their pertinence and influence on different contexts.- Propose and validate relationships and analogies.

METHODOLOGY

What will be achieved

• Increase understanding and support of protected areas by the local population by taking into consideration the connection to the land and deep-rooted traditions, such as pilgrimages.

• Increase social support by the inclusion of wider social considerations, often marginalized by technocratic approaches.

• Recognition and protection for the qualitative values of nature, such as beauty, grandeur, loneliness, harmony, which are immediate and universal.

• Establishment of synergies between the spiritual character and uses of sacred sites and conservation requirements, where possible.

• Development of a new tool to attempt to resolve eventual conflicts between apparently competing values.

Establishment of a representative working group

Pilot Plan

• Debate on scope and key issues• Selection of case studies in different world regions • Development and analysis of case studies• Intranet debates followed by a participatory workshop• Conclusions • Proposals to IUCN, UNESCO, etc.• Publication and [findings] dissemination of results

ACTION PLAN

Who is the target audience?

Planners and managers of protected areas with significant spiritual and cultural values

Responsible agencies and private organizations in charge of protected natural areas

Traditional custodians of sacred naturals sites

Spiritual, religious and cultural organizations, responsible or influential in sacred natural sites

People concerned about the limitations of the prevalent technocratic and materialistic approach on protected area planning and management

What makes The Delos Initiative different

The Delos Initiative is the only working group issued from the IUCN / WCPA focusing on sacred natural sites in technologically developed countries.

Using a participatory, professional and multi-faith approach it addresses a key challenge:

Finding positive synergies between the conservation of spiritual heritage and natural heritage in significant protected areas of the technologically developed world

Co-ordinationThis Aegean island, with considerable marine interest, was in classical times considered sacred, dedicated to Apollo (the god of light) and the centre of a long lasting alliance.

In ancient Greek Delos means clear, brought to light

Why Delos?

CONTACTS

Josep M. Mallarach

Director Silene Association

mallarach@natura.ictnet.es

Thymio Papayannis

Director Med-INA

thymiop@med-ina.org

Web site www.med-ina.org/delos

PILOT PLAN CASE STUDIES

Mount AthosAthos peninsula, Greece

UkonvuoriLapland, Finland

MeteoraThessaly, Greece

Aijii / UkonsaariLapland, Finland

Doñana – El RocíoAndalusia, Spain

Montserrat Catalonia, Spain

Solovetsky IslandsWhite Sea, Russian Federation

AverburyEngland, United Kingdom

Holy Island ArranScotland, United Kingdom

Appalachian MtsKentucky, USA

Foreste CasentinesiRomagna-Toscana, Italy

Monti SibilliniMarche e Umbria, Italy

PILOT PLAN CASE STUDIES

.

Select a sample of significant spiritual and natural significance, including diversity of mainstream religions or primal spiritual traditions.

Choose familiar sacred sites that have been established as natural protected areas. Aim at sites that have a strong contemporary religious / spiritual importance, as well as those that represent past beliefs and maintain only heritage values.

Give priority to sites that have people interested in the compatibility of spiritual and natural heritage.

1. Site selection

PILOT PLAN

Carry out an initial bibliographic survey of each pilot site to assess:

- Spiritual and cultural heritage

- Natural heritage

- Development pressures

- Conservation perspectives and sustainability.

Questionnaire for each of these sites, to gather further information on the different perceptions and opinions of major stakeholders.

It will be filled by the responsible member of the Delos Working Group, on the basis of interviews and the analysis of documentation. Divergent views will be carefully recorded and reported.

2. Site analysis

PILOT PLAN

Analyse the results of the questionnaires in order to:

- Identify and assess similarities and specificities for diagnoses and recommendations.

- Develop a methodological approach to be used in a larger number of sites and in a broader geographic context

Communicate and debate the results with key stakeholders in every site to reach consensus on the recommendations and proposals

PILOT PLAN

2. Comparison, diagnosis and conclusions

Place: Monastery of Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain

Dates: 23-26 November 2006

Participants: 23 from 10 countries + observers

Collaborators: Monastery of Montserrat, UICN, Med-INA (Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos) [and Nature], Association Silene, The Mountains Institute, Meetsallius Finlad, Junta de Andalucía

Sponsors: Board of the Mountain of Montserrat, Department for the Environment and Housing of Catalonia & Fundació Territori i Paisatge

Expected publications: Spring 2007

PILOT PLAN

3. First Workshop of The Delos Initiative

• Better understanding of the relationship between spiritual / cultural and natural values • An integrated view of a sample of representative sacred natural sites located in PA found in technologically developed countries • Steps towards the management and conservation of protected areas that include important natural and spiritual / cultural heritage

• Establishment of a network of experts with common concerns • Provision of inputs to the IUCN / WCPA Guidelines on Sacred Natural Sites

• Action plan [for] to move the Initiative forward

4. Expected outputs & outcomes

PILOT PLAN