Cultural landscapes represent the combined work of nature and humanity. They provide a sense of identity and map our relationship with the land over time. Sites may include estates, farmlands, parks, and industrial areas. In 1992, the World Heritage Convention recognized cultural landscapes as a protected category. Cultural landscapes often reflect sustainable land use practices and a spiritual connection to nature. Their protection supports biological diversity.

1. Cultural Landscapes
The term ‘cultural’hasbeenaddedtoexpressthe humaninteractionwiththe environmentandthe
presence of tangible andintangiblecultural valuesinthe landscape.
Provide asense of place andidentity;theymapourrelationshipwiththe landovertime andtheyare
part of our national heritage mayalsoassociatedwithasignificantevent,activity,personorgroupof
people.
Site mayinclude grandestates,farmlands,publicgardensandparks,college campuses,cemeteries,
scenichighways,andindustrial sites.
Fig.1Tokaj wine regionhistoriccultural landscpe
In 1992 the WorldHeritage Conventionbecamethe firstinternational legalinstrumenttorecognize and
protectcultural landscapes.The Committee acknowledgedthatcultural landscapesrepresentthe
“combinedworksof nature andof man”
Cultural landscapesoftenreflectspecifictechniquesof sustainable land-use,consideringthe
characteristicsandlimitsof the natural environmenttheyare establishedin,andaspecificspiritual
relationtonature.
Protectionof cultural landscapescancontribute tomoderntechniquesof sustainableland-use andcan
maintainorenhance natural valuesinthe landscape.
The continuedexistence of traditional formsof land-use supportsbiological diversityinmanyregionsof
the world.The protectionof traditional cultural landscapesistherefore helpful inmaintainingbiological
diversity.
The term “cultural landscape”embracesadiversityof manifestationsof the interactionbetween
humankindanditsnatural environment.

2. Cultural Landscape ofSintra (Portugal):
BACKGROUNDIn the 19th centurySintrabecame the firstcentre of EuropeanRomanticarchitecture.
FerdinandIIturneda ruinedmonasteryintoacastle (PenaPalace) where thisnew sensitivitywas
displayedinthe use of Gothic,Egyptian,MoorishandRenaissance elementsandinthe creationof a
park blendinglocal andover3 000 exoticspeciesof trees.Otherprestigioushomesbuiltalongthe same
linesinthe surrounding Serracreatedaunique combinationof parksandgardenswhichinfluencedthe
developmentof landscapesinEurope.The site wasinscribedasa WorldHeritage cultural landscape in
1995. A monitoringmissionwasarrangedin2000 because of local complaintsandsome awarenessat
the World Heritage Centre cultural landscape.Changes –organizational andfinancial –were intrainat
the time of the mission,whichmayindeedhave indeedactedasa catalystfor change.
ISSUES
1. Re-examinationof the WorldHeritage Cultural Landscape values –Religiosity,literaryandartistic
associations.
2. Local roadsas an integral elementof the cultural landscapes
3. Major monuments –conservationissues
4. Improvingthe managementstructure
5. Tourismimpacts – includingnewbuildingconstruction
6. Restoringwatersystems
7. Re-cyclingthe environment
8. Role of the forestinthe cultural landscape
9. An integratedmanagementplan
10. Interpretationinthe managementof the WorldHeritage site.
RESPONSE
This includedrestorationof individual monuments,gardens,parksandforests.Itrecommendedthey
developaconceptof dynamicconservation,tosetupa programme of publiceducationandpublic
awarenessraisingandtoensure the integrityof the buffer zone andavoidundertakingnew works.A
managementplanwasrequestedforthe site bythe endof 2001.