Restoration of Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes: Merging Tradition and Innovation for a Sustainable Future (Landscape Series, 30)

This book offers perspectives on how to develop a sustainable global balance of urbanization, land-use intensification, land abandonment, and multifunctional cultural landscapes. The focus is on the latter by describing the large variety of traditional cultural landscapes having evolved through centuries or even millennia by the use of the natural, terrestrial and aquatic resources. Those cultural landscapes encompass pasture, agroforestry, terraced, irrigation, coastal, monastic, and sacred landscapes as well as lake-, river-, and saltscapes. The restoration of low-input land-use systems which often carry a high biodiversity on the species, ecosystem, and landscape level as well as agrobiodiversity and agrodiversity is outlined. The restoration of multifunctional and diverse landscapes, however, is not only an ecological issue but encompasses many socio-economic aspects such as e.g., the revitalization of villages, eco-tourism, healthy food production, infrastructure, and rural-urban partnerships. Global environmental problems, which are related to urbanization and the intensification of the use of land and water resources are comprehensively outlined. Land abandonment which occurs on all continents is qualitatively and quantitatively assessed and the consequences for natural and cultural heritage loss is highlighted. With the presentation of current rural development and landscape conservation strategies on the national as well as international level, the topic reflects the high significance of environmental policy on the global scale. The global implementation of natural and cultural heritage conservation is, for example, given by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Sites, High Nature Value Farmland, and the Satoyama initiative. However, also the “every-day” landscapes can contribute to biodiversity and strong sustainability. This comprehensive compendium, based on about 4,000 references of scientific studies, literature reviews, project reports, and environmental policy papers is thought for all students, scholars, and stakeholders from multifaceted disciplines, interested in multifunctional cultural landscapes and how traditions and innovation on the landscape level can be merged for a sustainable future on our planet. Case studies from all over the world are presented which can be used in Higher Education or to demonstrate the numerous approaches of sustainable rural development. Restoration of Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes Merging Tradition and Innovation for a Sustainable Future Copyright Preface Acknowledgments Contents Part I: Introduction – Traditional Cultural Landscapes in the World Chapter 1: Traditional Cultural Landscapes – A Theoretical Framework 1.1 Cultural Landscape and Traditions 1.2 Operationalization and Valorization of Cultural Landscapes 1.3 Landscape Changes and Dynamics 1.4 Cultural Landscapes of Increasing Global Interest 1.5 Multifunctionality of Cultural Landscapes Chapter 2: Types of Traditional Cultural Landscapes Throughout the World 2.1 Forest Landscapes 2.2 Agroforestry Landscapes 2.3 Pasture Landscapes 2.4 Terraced Landscapes 2.5 Irrigation Landscapes 2.6 Lakescapes 2.7 Riverscapes 2.8 Coastal Landscapes and Seascapes 2.9 Saltscapes 2.10 Hunting and Park Landscapes 2.11 Monastic Landscapes 2.12 Sacred and Spiritual Landscapes Chapter 3: What’s So Important About Traditional Cultural Landscapes? 3.1 Biodiversity 3.1.1 Diversity of Traditional and Extensive Land-Use Types 3.1.2 Agrodiversity and Agrobiodiversity 3.2 Ecosystem Services 3.2.1 Provisioning and Regulation Services 3.2.2 Cultural Ecosystem Services 3.3 Landscape Services 3.4 Traditional Cultural Landscapes as Healthy Environments 3.5 Traditional Ecological Knowledge as an Asset of Traditional Cultural Landscapes Part II: Towards a Sustainable Balance of Urbanization, Intensification, Traditional Land Use, and Wilderness Chapter 4: Global Land-Use Development Trends: Traditional Cultural Landscapes Under Threat 4.1 Urbanization and the Continuous Growth of Cities and Megacities 4.1.1 Urban Environment and Human Health 4.1.2 Food Supply and Food Waste in Cities 4.1.3 Overcrowded Cities and Social Inequality 4.2 Intensification of Agriculture Throughout the World 4.2.1 Environmental Problems Related to Land-Use Intensification 4.2.1.1 Decline of Biodiversity, Agrodiversity, and Agrobiodiversity 4.2.1.2 Eutrophication 4.2.1.3 Pesticides in Soil, Water, and Air 4.2.1.4 Antimicrobial Resistance 4.2.1.5 Soil Erosion 4.2.1.6 Excessive Water Consumption and Water Shortage 4.2.1.7 Soil Salinization and Desertification 4.2.1.8 Climate Change 4.2.2 Socio-economic Impacts of Land-Use Intensification 4.3 Abandonment of Traditional Cultural Landscapes Throughout the World 4.3.1 Land Abandonment in Europe 4.3.2 Land Abandonment in Asia 4.3.3 Land Abandonment in Africa 4.3.4 Land Abandonment in Latin America 4.3.5 Land Abandonment in North America 4.3.6 Land Abandonment in Australia 4.3.7 Land Abandonment as a Part of Global Change: A Synthesis Chapter 5: Developing a Sustainable Balance Between Urban, Rural, and Natural Landscapes on the Global Scale Chapter 6: Traditional Cultural Landscapes as Real Laboratories for Strong Sustainability Part III: Traditional Cultural Landscapes on the World’s Agenda Chapter 7: National and International Initiatives for the Maintenance of Traditional Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes 7.1 National Rural Development Programs and Funding Schemes 7.2 International Initiatives for the Preservation and Restoration of Traditional Cultural Landscapes 7.2.1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites 7.2.2 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) 7.2.3 National Parks 7.2.4 Biosphere Reserves 7.2.5 European Landscape Convention 7.2.6 High Nature Value (HNV) Farmland 7.2.7 ASEAN Declaration on Cultural Heritage 7.2.8 Latin American Landscape Initiative 7.2.9 Santiago de Cuba Declaration on Cultural Landscapes in the Caribbean 7.2.10 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) 7.2.11 Landscapes for People, Food and Nature (LPFN) 7.2.12 The Japanese Satoyama Initiative Part IV: Restoration and Revitalization of Traditional Cultural Landscapes Towards Sustainability and Multifunctionality Chapter 8: A Brief Introduction to Restoration Ecology and Ecosystem Restoration 8.1 History, Aims, and Concepts of Restoration Ecology 8.2 Ecosystem Restoration as an Acid Test for Ecology 8.3 Ecosystem Restoration Beyond Ecology 8.4 References for the Restoration of Traditional Cultural Landscapes and Their Functional Elements 8.5 Measures for the Restoration of Ecosystems and Landscapes Chapter 9: A Century of Practice and Experiences of the Restoration of Land-Use Types and Ecosystems 9.1 Rewilding Cultural Landscapes 9.2 Restoration of Traditional Land-Use Types and Ecosystems as Elements of Cultural Landscapes 9.2.1 European Heathland 9.2.2 Agricultural Grassland of the Temperate Zone 9.2.3 Savannas 9.2.4 Agroforestry Systems 9.2.5 Silvopastoral Systems 9.2.6 Coppice Forests and Coppice with Standards 9.2.7 Lakes 9.2.8 Peatland 9.2.9 Coastal Mangrove Land-Use Systems 9.3 Restoration of Agricultural Terraces 9.4 Restoration of Traditional Irrigation Landscapes Chapter 10: Ecosystem and Landscape Restoration in a Multidimensional Perspective 10.1 Putting Plants and Soil to Work for Sustainability and Multifunctionality 10.1.1 Terra Preta: Ancient Soil Management as a Model for Today’s Sustainable Agriculture and the Restoration of Degraded Land 10.1.2 Multipurpose Plant Species 10.1.3 Cultural Keystone Species Bridging Nature and Culture 10.2 Restoration and Revitalization of Cultural Landscapes as a Socio-Economic Approach 10.2.1 Village as an Engine for Cultural Landscape Maintenance and Rural Development 10.2.2 Traditional Cultural Landscapes as Tourist Destinations 10.2.3 Health Care on the Countryside 10.2.4 Healthy Food and Rural–Urban Partnerships 10.3 Infrastructure and Energy in Rural Areas 10.3.1 Improving Infrastructure in Remote Rural Areas 10.3.2 Locally Adapted Energy Supply in Rural Areas 10.4 Designed Cultural Landscapes Based on Traditions 10.5 Higher Education for Sustainable Landscapes: International, Interdisciplinary, and Intercultural Part V: Case Studies – The Restoration of Traditional and Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes Put into Practice Chapter 11: Case Studies Throughout the World 11.1 Turning a Crisis into a Chance: Eco-Village Brodowin in Brandenburg (NE Germany) 11.2 Adopt a Terrace in Trentino (N Italy) 11.3 Cultural Heritage and Environmental Education: Eco-Museum Vanoi in N Italy 11.4 La Capra Felice (N Italy): Eco-Social Agriculture Serving Humans and Nature 11.5 Cultural Pathways in Europe: Spessart Mountains as an Example 11.6 Multifunctional Agriculture: German Biosphere Reserve Rhön as Real Laboratory for Pastureland Restoration 11.7 Traditional Mountain Farming in the Alps: Putting Sheep to Restoration Practice 11.8 Immigrants Welcome: Riace in Calabria, South Italy 11.9 Unlocking Traditional Forest-Related Knowledge for Landscape Restoration: Javakheti Highland in Georgia 11.10 From Illicit Drugs to Multifunctional Land Use in the Mountains of Northern Thailand 11.11 Ecotourism in Guatemala: Indigenous People Open Their Houses for Guests 11.12 Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Sustainable Soil Management in the High Andes 11.13 Esperanza Verde in NE Peru: Integrating Species Conservation, Rain Forest Restoration, Environmental Education, and Rural Development in the Amazon Basin Part VI: Synthesis: Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Chapter 12: Merging Traditions and Innovation for Sustainability and Multifunctionality of Cultural Landscapes 12.1 Undisputable Facts of Land-Use Intensification, Urbanization, and Land Abandonment 12.2 Sustainable Intensification, Innovation, and Nature-Based Solutions 12.3 Monofunctional Landscapes are Risky and Can Hardly Contribute to the SDGs 12.4 Land Sharing vs. Land Sparing: Towards a Sustainable Balance 12.5 Landscape Restoration as a Driver for Rural Economy 12.6 Who Wants to Live in Traditional Cultural Landscapes? 12.7 Plea for Traditional and Multifunctional Landscapes References Index