Article about The National Danish Environmental Protection Agency - Project M226-0057 Ecological Handling of Human Urine, Human Feces and Greywater in Allotment Gardens using Dry Diverting Toilets and Zero Discharge Willow Wastewater Evapotranspiration Systems.

1. Hyphen
Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins Familiaux
N° 31 | 2003
Nachrichten News Bulletin
a s s o c i a t i o n s a n s b u t l u c r a t i f

2. Hyphen 31 | 2003 2
CONTENTS
Table of contents
Hyphen N° 31 - 2003
Activity report 3
Report of the General Assembly 5
The leisure gardens in the residential areas of the towns (4th part) 7
European Urban Charter: Memorandum part 2 9
Agenda 21 and leisure gardens (1st part) 12
Council of Europe: Nature - the common heritage of mankind 14
- Interpretation: a discipline for heritage 14
- Role of botanic gardens 16
Council of Europe: Employment and environment 18
- Role and functions of voluntary work 18
- Managing the heritage wisely and creating jobs 19
Informations from the federations: 21
Denmark - Ecological sanitation 21
France - The Garden of Eden 24
Germany - International garden exhibition in Rostock 2003 26
a very diversified gardening culture
News from the federations 28
Program of the international seminar in Bratislava 30
Addresses of the national federations 33
Impressum 34

3. Hyphen 31 | 2003 3
ACTIVITY REPORT
Activity report 2002
The executive board has the pleasure
to submit you today the activity report
2002.
1) Internal affairs
Since the last statutory meeting the
executive board has met on March 2nd,
August 22nd, November 16th and 17th,
2002 as well as on March 13th, 2003.
The executive board has especially
dealt during its meetings with the sub-
jects of a sustainable development,
particularly on the sensitisation of the
leisure gardeners for a sustainable de-
velopment, with the subject of soil ana-
lyses and has prepared the question-
naire for the final document, has elabo-
rated different memorandums, has pre-
pared the revision of the information
brochure of the Office and has discussed
intensively the co-operation between
the Office and the International Organi-
sations (European Union and Council
of Europe).
2) International Congress
This year the international congress
took place in York from August 22nd till
August 24th and has dealt with two
important subjects: the sustainable
development and the town planning.
These two subjects that are closely
linked have now to be discussed and
realized by the federations because they
are the two essential elements for
protecting the leisure garden movement
for the coming generations.
Besides these technical discussions
the delegates had the opportunity to
familiarise themselves both in theory
and in praxis with the English leisure
garden movement and to take better
conscience of the differences existing
between the national leisure garden
movements.
One has on this place not to forget
to thank once more very heartfully the
English federation for its great hospitality
and the good organisation of the con-
gress.
Unfortunately one had to acknow-
ledge that the English national leisure
gardeners did not massively take part
in this great international meeting, which
is certainly very regretful.
On basis on the facts that had to be
acknowledged during the last congres-
ses one has to consider in future how
the congresses can again be made more
attractive, and the national federations
that organize such international mee-
tings have certainly to consider how in
the years preceeding these celebrations
they can regularly, both in their journals
and at the occasion of other events,
inform their members on the Office and
on the international leisure gardeners
in order that they better understand the
benefit of such international meetings
and motivate them to take part in them.
3) Co-operation with the national
federations
In order to reach an optimal func-
tioning of the leisure garden movement
both from an external and from the in-
ternal point of view, the co-operation
with the federations has to function in
an excellent way and has constantly to
be improved.
The federations have not only to re-
turn the required informations in the
requested delay to the Office but have
as well to inform on all positive and
negative experiences and on all other
important events so that these informa-
tions can be put at the disposal of the
European leisure gardeners.
This year for the first time we had
reserved during the statutory meeting
in Luxembourg half a day in order to
enable the federations to inform exten-
sively on their national activities. One
can consider if these informations ought
not to be given in writing to the Office
so that their summary could not only be
published in the report of the meeting
but could as well be published in the
HYPHEN in order to allow a greatest
possible diffusion of these experiences.
On invitation, the Office has taken
part in the congress of the Luxembourg
federation and in the 75th anniversary
celebrations of the Norwegian federa-
tion. For time reasons the invitations
from the German, Finnish and French
federationscould not be accepted.

4. Hyphen 31 | 2003 4
The Polish federation has at the oc-
casion of the Day of the Garden in Sep-
tember 2002 made a sensitisation cam-
paign of the Polish leisure gardeners
for the international movement. All the
information material at the disposal of
the Office has been given to the Polish
leisure gardeners. The flags of the Office
they asked for could however not been
sent as the Office has not got any.
The Danish federation has published
the Office brochure on the social respon-
sibility of the leisure gardeners as ap-
pendix in its national journal. In this way
every Danish leisure gardener has this
brochure. This is an example among
others how the national leisure garde-
ners can be informed on the Office and
on their international leisure garden
colleagues.
During this year one had to acknow-
ledge that the Slovakian and Czech
federations did not take part in any of
our international meetings. The co-
operation with the Czech federation is
nearly unexistant.
4) International Organizations
a) Council of Europe
The Office has taken part in the mee-
tings organized for the NGO’s.
During these meetings, different me-
morandums have been elaborated as
for example a memorandum on the re-
vision of the European Urban Charter
ten years later as well as a memoran-
dum for the summit in Johannesburg
on the subject of a sustainable develop-
ment. Each time the Office has tried to
integrate the taking into consideration
of the leisure gardens by the authorities
into these texts.
The Office has presented an indivi-
dual memorandum on the revision of
the European Urban Charter, the subject
concerning the urban violence and on
the co-operation between the NGO’s
and the local authorities. The aim of
these memorandums is that the leisure
gardens are incorporated in the texts of
the Council of Europe which become
recommendations for the member states
of the Council of Europe after their
adoption. They will then become logically
a means for the national leisure garde-
ners in order to support their requests
for new leisure garden sites or their
request to protect the existing leisure
garden sites.
b) European Union
The executive board has several
times discussed the proposals of R.
WILTSHIRE in order to see if the leisure
gardens can take part in the research
programs of the European Union. All
the members of the executive board
agree that the realisation of such re-
search projects cannot but increase the
importance of the activities of the Office
and of the national leisure gardeners.
But of course one has to solve first of
all some important questions as for
example: which projects can be realised
and are adequate for all 15 federations,
who presides and directs these projects,
do the federations have qualified per-
sons in order to realise these projects
or do we have to ask the contribution of
third persons or institutes, do we have
the necessary financial means and finally
do all the national leisure gardeners
understand the necessity of these re-
search works and if such projects are
realisable will they be supported by the
national leisure gardeners.
The discussions in the executive
board are not yet ready in order to be
submitted to the general assembly. It
can however not be excluded that in the
near future these or similar projects
have to be discussed and have even-
tually to be realised if the leisure garde-
ners wish to take part and be present
on the international level, there where
in future the decisions will be taken.
5) Contacts with the federations that
are not member of the Office
As in the past the Japanese leisure
gardeners have taken part in our inter-
national congress. In October they in-
formed the Office that they wish to be-
come member of our movement.
There are no news from the leisure
gardeners in Hungary.
An Italian association dealing with
gardens for elderly people wishes to
cooperate with the International Office
as well as an English organisation
dealing with the protection of urban
green spaces.
The Finnish leisure gardeners have
contacts with their colleagues in Russia
and on basis of a project subsidised by
the European Union a co-operation
could be created in the framework of
the nature and environment protection
between the Finnish and Russian leisure
gardeners.
Following to an invitation, the German
leisure gardeners have taken part in the
congress of the American Community
Gardeners. The German representatives
have informed their colleagues in Ame-
rica on the European leisure garden
movement. The latter have utility gar-
dens as we know them as well in Euro-
pe, but they have no legal protection
and the gardens are put at their disposal
only from year to year. It will be certainly
interesting to create intense contacts
with them. Contacts have already exi-
sted in the past with the French leisure
garden movement. Even if in the past
theAmerican community gardeners had
been invited to take part in our interna-
tional meetings as for example in the
seminar in Hradec Kralové, the invita-
tions got never a positive answer.
Luxembourg, November 2002
The executive board
ACTIVITY REPORT

5. Hyphen 31 | 2003 5
PROTOCOL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Decision protocol
of the general assembly held in
Luxembourg on March 7th and 8th 2003
Were represented: the federations of
Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland,
Germany, Great-Britain, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slo-
vakia, Sweden and Switzerland
Were excused: the federations of
Austria and of the Czech Republic
1) The agenda is adopted with una-
nimity.
2) The reports of the general assem-
bly held in York are adopted with una-
nimity.
3) In execution of a decision taken
by the executive board the national
representatives get a résumé of the
lectures to be held during the seminar
in Bratislava as well as keywords for
the discussions in the workshops. Aim
is to reach a better preparation of the
workshops and consequently a more
constructive discussion. The French
federation will send additionally a ques-
stionnaire on the subject "allotment gar-
dens in the heart of the cities" to the
federations.
4) The activity report is adopted with
unanimity.
5) The memorandum concerning
the Agenda 21 is postponed to the next
general assembly.
6) The memorandum concerning
the European Year on Sport is adopted
with unanimity. The general secretariat
will send this memorandum on Office
paper to the federations so that they
can continue it to the authorities and
can use it. The Office will continue the
memorandum to the European authori-
ties and publish it on Internet.
7) The memorandum concerning
the Year of the United Nations on fresh
water is postponed to the next general
assembly.
8) On proposal of the executive
board and after intensive discussions it
is decided unanimously to use the Da-
nish formular as model for the final report
of the campaign on soil analyses. The
final report has to be sent to the general
secretariat till January 2004.
9) Because the national allotment
gardeners are not sufficiently informed
on their colleagues in the other countries,
it is decided, on proposal of the executive
board, to put not only the information
brochure at the disposal of the federa-
View over Luxembourg

6. Hyphen 31 | 2003 6
tions but to publish it as well on Internet.
The national federations can also use
the presentations of the federations in
their national reviews.
10) On demand of the Austrian fe-
deration the executive board proposes
to grant the diploma on an ecological
gardening to the allotment garden site
"Hentzigasse" with the condition that no
woodashes will be used any more on
the site. This proposal is adopted with
unanimity.
11) The executive board proposes
the subject "Allotment gardens and chil-
dren" for the study session 2004 in
Poland. It asks the Polish federation to
present a provisional program till begin-
ning of June 2003.
12) The executive board informs
that on November 25th 2003 will take
place the Day of the United Nations
against violence. It proposes to elaborate
a memorandum on basis of the memo-
randum presented by the Office to the
Council of Europe. This proposal is
adopted with unanimity. The executive
board will elaborate a draft for the next
general assembly.
13) C. ZYDEVELD informs on the
possibilities to cooperate with the Euro-
pean authorities within the programs on
research and nature protection. He in-
forms that the Dutch federation in co-
operation with the Luxembourg and
German federations are elaborating a
pilot project that has to be submitted to
the European Union before April 15th.
This should open the way for a further
cooperation with the European Union.
This project might still be extended to
other federations. This way of procee-
ding is accepted with unanimity.
14) The treasurer presents the fi-
nancial report and gives the necessary
explanations.
15) The auditors inform that they
could find no mistake and they ask that
discharge is granted to the executive
board.
16) The financial report is adopted
with unanimity and discharge is granted
unanimously to the executive board.It
is decided unanimously to unify the re-
serve item “Internet” with the one deno-
minated “miscellaneous”. It is decided
with unanimity to omit the splitting be-
tween ordinary and extraordinary finan-
cial report.
17) The draft budget for 2003 is
adopted with unanimity.
18) The draft budget for the solidarity
fund 2003 is adopted with unanimity.
19) The contents for the Hyphens
n° 32 and 33 are adopted with unanimity
as modified during the assembly.
It is decided with unanimity not to
publish the Hyphen on Internet. It is
decided to publish only official memo-
randa and, if necessary, articles from
the HYPHEN on Internet.
20) The federations inform in detail
on their activities.
PROTOCOL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

7. Hyphen 31 | 2003 7
THE ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS (4)
The leisure gardens in the
residential areas of the towns
Making Local Agenda 21 a success
The need for a range of local indi-
cators
Agenda 21, launched at the Rio Con-
ference in 1992, list principles for sus-
tainable development and sets out an
international approach for the 21st cen-
tury, right down to local level.
To that end, the European Sus-
tainable Cities and Towns Campaign,
set up in 1994, and various networks of
towns and cities in such countries as
the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden,
are working to raise awareness and
encourage action among local authori-
ties and development agencies.
Agenda 21 is also intended to be of
great practical value and in particular
advocates the use of indicators (instru-
ments designed to assess progress).
Indicators consist of politically significant
scientific data and should allow for eva-
luation of progress in policies and acti-
vities under way.
The need to develop indicators at
local level was affirmed at the European
Conferences on Sustainable Cities and
Towns in Lisbon (1996) and Hanover
(February 2000), which provided a com-
mon platform for local authorities’various
initiatives.
The authorities present expressed
their desire to have access to machinery
to assist decision-making at their own
level, enabling them to compile, process
and analyse environmental data, to en-
courage communication and dialogue
between elected representatives, tech-
nical experts and the public (as well as
between local authorities), and to incor-
porate environmental management into
their strategies, establish different levels
of priority and make choices.
This machinery would make use of
factual data, assessing and validating
them in relation to operational objectives;
it would, however, have to be practical,
tangible, geared to the local context and
easy to use.
RESPECT: a method, a set of indica-
tors and a monitoring schedule to make
local authorities’ environmental policies
a success.
With these aims in mind, the RES-
PECT network, formed in 1997 by 30
local authorities from six European Union
countries, co-ordinated by the French
National Centre for Local and Regional
Government, launched a programme to
develop and try out an environmental
monitoring schedule as a tool offering
genuine assistance to local decision-
makers.
Over the past three years, with sup-
port from the EU’s LIFE programme,
the French Environment Ministry and
the French Agency for the Environment
and Energy Management (ADEME), the
network has managed to:
approve a methodology for devising
indicators (a prerequisite for local autho-
rities wishing to adopt the scheme);
finalise a set of indicators, validated
by the network, which are representative
of local authority policies;
develop back-up software for the
monitoring schedule, setting out the
indicators, ordering them, organising
them into groups and analysing data.
The environmental monitoring sche-
dule means that local authorities have
access to a tool designed by and for
them, allowing them to evaluate their
environmental policies in connection
with other planning tools such asAgenda
21. It also provides European and na-
tional institutions with a common struc-
ture on which to base activities on a
wider scale.
Lastly, it represents a means of
Laure-Agnès Suita
Engineer/Director of Training Ecole nationale
d’application des cadres territoriaux Montpellier
part 4
Leisure gardens in large cities of Germany

8. Hyphen 31 | 2003 8
developing an “assessment culture”
requiring a high level of democratic
participation by all those concerned, as
well as a cross sectoral approach to
problems.These factors are instrumental
in making sustainable development a
success.
To disseminate and promote these
tools, the network recently obtained the
legal status of an association (under
French law) comprising European local
authorities. The association will provide
a particularly suitable forum for
exchanging information on results and,
in more general terms, on environmental
policy inititatives.
Article published in the journal
NATUROPA n°. 94/2000
Allotments in a residential area of Dortmund
Allotments in a residential quarter of Berlin Allotments in Hamburg
THE ALLOTMENT GARDENS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS (4)

9. Hyphen 31 | 2003 9
THE EUROPEAN URBAN CHARTER
Memorandum
of the NGOs at the Council of Europe
concerning the European Urban Charter
part 2 (translation)
A number of NGOs involved in the
debate would like to make a contribution
to putting these ideas into effect and
articulating the various themes.
Their contributions, which reflect their
own points of view on the subject and
not the views of NGO-Towns as a whole,
will be submitted without delay to the
Council of Europe.
CHAPTER 3 - HOW CAN THESE IDEAS BE PUT INTO EFFECT AND
THE VARIOUS THEMES ARTICULATED?

10. Hyphen 31 | 2003 10
Following the joint reflections of the
NGOs in the NGO-Towns grouping and
in particular their stance on the need
for correlation between the rights and
obligations of town and city dwellers
with regard to the development of their
towns and cities, the 3 million gardening
families grouped together in the Office
International du Coin de Terre et des
Jardins Familiaux are pleased to submit
the enclosed comments on chapters 4.2
and 4.3 of the European Urban Charter.
Subject to one or two reservations,
they endorse the ideas developed in
chapters 4.2 and 4.3..
I) The obligations of member garde-
ners, or their contribution to urban
development
1) Chapter 4.2: Environment and na-
ture in towns
Allotments and leisure gardens occu-
py large tracts of land in towns and
cities. As islands of greenery in a sea
of concrete, they are becoming increa-
singly important for the protection, con-
servation and promotion of flora and
fauna. It is not only the great variety of
indigenous plant species grown there
that makes these gardens ecological
niches of a special kind, but also the
deliberate creation of certain types of
plantations, such as shrubberies, flower
beds, lawns, orchard meadows, or sour-
ce plant species on unused land areas.
These areas carry between 13.5 and
43.5% of endangered plant species, for
example. In addition there are a large
number of small specific biotopes, like
ponds and lakes, wetlands, dry walls,
green roofs, pergolas, hedgerows and
so on. These green spaces are an inva-
luable asset to wildlife, which thrives on
them.
The importance of allotment areas in
improving the urban climate is already
well known. More balanced temperature
curves in the summer months, higher
atmospheric humidity, less noise and
dust, fewer pollutant emissions from
motor vehicles, these are some of the
considerable environmental advantages
of such green spaces. Not to mention
the effects on groundwater: if these
areas were covered with buildings,
sealed off, vast quantities of rainwater
would be evacuated through the sewage
system without being used.
Gardeners’ organizations have well
organised bodies for technical consulta-
tion. They teach their members the basic
principles of environment-friendly/ orga-
nic gardening and, in so doing, consi-
derably heighten popular awareness of
environmental protection problems. This
is seen in the move away from chemicals
(fertilisers and pesticides) and towards
environment-friendly gardening me-
thods. Needless to say, this increase in
awareness affects not only gardeners
who are members of gardening asso-
ciations but also a broader, less com-
mitted public.
The opening of increasing numbers
of allotment areas to the public helps to
enhance residential neighbourhoods
and promote awareness. The existence
of green, traffic-free leisure areas, play
areas, meeting places for people with
mobility handicaps, elderly people, sin-
gle-parent families, people who live
alone, etc, which offer something to look
at - natural gardens, show gardens,
educational gardens and so on - provi-
des city dwellers with an essential con-
tact with nature and makes them aware
of the need to protect nature and the
environment and to think about how
they can contribute to sustainable de-
velopment.
2) Chapter 4.3.: the physical form of
cities
The allotments that are part of our
city landscapes, just like the buildings
and public places, are the result of urban
development. Their role is to satisfy the
need of the urban population for a piece
of living nature, and they are an essential
part of the overall picture of the city, and
will continue to be so in the future. Con-
cern to preserve and incorporate them
into the future shape of the city should
be an integral part of any municipal
deliberations on the future of the archi-
tectural heritage. Allotments are every
bit as important as buildings. This means
not only preserving them but also adop-
ting a creative, innovative approach.
Position paper of the Office International du Coin de Terre et des Jardins
Familiaux on chapters 4.2 and 4.3 of the European Urban Charter
Green calm zones in leisure garden sites
THE EUROPEAN URBAN CHARTER

11. Hyphen 31 | 2003 11
Social changes in the urban population
must find a creative echo in the spaces
devoted to allotments. The changing
needs of future generations must not
lead us to conclude that people will no
longer need allotments. On the contrary,
these gardens will increasingly become
“open air living spaces” close to home,
not only for gardeners who have allot-
ments but also for all city dwellers, since
the common areas of housing estates
have been opened up to the public.
They perform valuable functions in terms
of both urban architecture and urban
ecology, offer meaningful leisure activi-
ties, play, learning and leisure areas for
children and places of communication
and integration for all, including ethnic
groups. They help to preserve diversity
in the city.
There is probably no more effective
way of involving the population in the
environmental development of their ur-
ban neighbourhood and strengthening
their ties with these natural areas and
the local gardeners’ associations, with
their own neighbourhood.
II) Rights and expectations of member
gardeners in the context of the revi-
sion of the urban charter
Including allotments in municipal plan-
ning projects and providing for their legal
protection, as well as involving federa-
tions and associations of gardeners in
local projects under Agenda 21 and
providing them with the corresponding
support, contribute to the social and
human quality of the city and are there-
fore an essential ingredient of sustaina-
ble urban development. It is important
that this is acknowledged all over Euro-
pe.
Accordingly, our European member
gardeners would be grateful if you would
give allotments and leisure gardens a
more prominent place than in 1991 in
the new provisions of the Urban Charter.
III) Proposed amendment
Chapter 4.2: Environment and nature
in towns
General: paragraph 3
The notion of “nature conservation
areas” is misplaced here. The reference
should be to “nature parks”, or even just
“parks” or simply “green spaces” in ge-
neral.
“Nature conservation areas” in the
legal sense are not feasible in towns
and cities, and the restrictions on activi-
ties inherent in that legal status would
prevent people from fully enjoying them.
Paragraph 5
At the end, after the word “transport”,
add“, living conditions”.
Principle 1, paragraph 2
It seems unwise to present the city as
an ecosystem in the nature and environ-
ment context. It is certainly more logical
to relate the city to its immediate peri-
phery. It is in this context that we must
highlight the notion of “regional develop-
ment of resource use/management”. It
certainly seems more practical to build
regional circuits rather than just local
ones limited solely to the town or city
itself. Replace “disruption at source” by
“overexploitation”.
Principle 2, paragraph 2
We suggest adopting the idea of
“specific consumption reduction”, which
would concern, for example, energy
consumption, traffic reduction, optimum
economic structures, less packaging,
etc..
Principle 4, second line
In the French text, replace the word
“potagers” by “jardins”.
Chapter 4.3: the physical form of
cities
Principle 4, paragraph 2
This is where the idea of “interconnec-
ting” green spaces of every type to crea-
te “allotment parks” should be introdu-
ced. This planned development of the
layout of the city’s green spaces is the
best way to achieve the desired urban
environmental effect.
Principle 4, paragraph 3
“Local-level Agenda 21” should be
brought in here.The municipal level is
the best level for active citizen partici-
pation.
THE EUROPEAN URBAN CHARTER
Teachings paths and educational gardens
in allotment garden sites

12. Hyphen 31 | 2003 12
AGENDA 21 AND ALLOTMENT GARDENS
The Agenda 21 and the allotment
garden movement
part1
Dr. sc. Achim Friedrich
President of the Landesverband Brandenburg der Gartenfreunde e.V.
Member of the Directorate of the BDG
The Conference for Environment and
Development of the United Nations
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro has appro-
ved theAgenda 21 in 1992. TheAgenda
21 was accepted by more than 170
countries and includes an action pro-
gram for the 21st century. In a total of
40 chapters with 285 DIN-A4 pages in
total, all essential political domains in
the interest of an environmental friendly
long-term development are dealt with.
The aim of the Agenda 21 is to act
against a further deterioration of the
environment by setting specific and
detailed objectives to be achieved in
order to gradually improve and conti-
nuously insure the use of natural re-
sources. The integration of environmen-
tal aspects in all political fields is one of
the main objectives of which the imple-
mentation is required from industrialized
as well as from developing countries
alike.
Requirements to fight against poverty,
population politics, trade and environ-
mental considerations, policies as to
waste disposal, chemical substances,
climatic conditions, energy and agricul-
ture are forming the content of theAgen-
da 21 for the member states of the UNO
(United Nations Organization). Further-
more, problems of financial and tech-
nologic co-operation in industrialized
and developing countries are analysed
as well. This allows encompassing the
close ties between environment, ecology
and economy.
It is decisive in order to achieve the
objectives set within the implementation
of the Agenda 21, that all countries
establish and settle accounts regarding
national action plans to put into practice
the UNCED results. This should be done
on the assumption that the Agenda 21
is a dynamic program, which, in the
course of the time, will evolve in accor-
dance with needs and circumstances.
In the introductory remarks it is acknow-
ledged among others that humanity is
at a decisive point of its evolution. "We
experience an increasing inequality be-
tween populations and also inside po-
pulations, a growing poverty, more fa-
mine, sickness and analphabetism as
well as a continuous damaging of eco-
logical systems of which our well-being
is depending". The solution of the related
problems requires a global partnership
aiming at a long-term development.
The implementation of the problema-
tic linked to the Agenda 21 is first and
foremost the task of governments but
a maximum involvement of the public
and an efficient support from non go-
vernmental organizations and other
groups should be organized in order to
be able to deal with the extend of the
challenges to be taken up. It proved
efficient to set up "local agendas" in
order to deal with specific priorities "on
site" and to find adequate solutions.
Federations, associations and organiza-

13. Hyphen 31 | 2003 13
tions, which are active in the territory of
the communes, are requested to parti-
cipate in the establishing of these "local
agendas".
In this sense, the Agenda 21 delega-
tes to the allotment gardeners organized
in national federations the responsibility
and obligations to take over their part
in achieving the defined objectives. Prio-
rity in this context is given to show and
achieve possible solutions, which take
into account local situations.
It can never be the aim to set up a
generally applicable program for all al-
lotment garden associations. It is the
goal of this contribution to define the
fields of intervention, which can be of
orientation for the allotment gardeners
"on site" in order to participate with their
activities in the "local agendas".
Meaning and current situation
Two questions arise in this context.
First: Does the allotment garden move-
ment in accordance with the terms of
the Agenda 21 make sense?
A rough calculation can be convin-
cing. In the German allotment garden
federation f. ex. about one million allot-
ments are registered. With an average
surface of 400 m2 per garden the overall
surface amounts to about 40.000 hec-
tares. Every single allotment gardener
is responsible for life on this surface
and in the soil of this garden.
This surfaces receives every year
about 240 million m3 of precipitations
(600 mm per year) and with a nitrate
quantity used of 10 g/m2, about 4.000
tons of plain nitrate (14.800 tons of
ammonium nitrate) are spread out over
this surface. There are still allotment
gardeners who ignore the possible con-
sequences of inappropriate actions.
Second: What's the reason behind
the Agenda 21? It's about 10 years old
now! We have taken the direction indi-
cated therein a long time ago already!
That's right, but it should be highligh-
ted that theAgenda 21, for the first time,
grouped the problems on a global level,
which problems came up necessarily
earlier in industrialized countries, thus
could be acknowledged earlier and fi-
nally lead to a corresponding legislation.
It is not appropriate to be overbearing
regarding this point.
And in spite existing laws there's still
much to be done even in our country.
Everyone knows the problems. Laws
are good but they are best if accepted
and complied with by every single per-
son. Participating in the establishing of
"local agendas" therefore offers an ex-
cellent opportunity to achieve this.
Priorities for the movement of allot-
ment garden
The movement of allotment gardens is
linked, by its social and specific aspects,
to many chapters of the Agenda 21.
This is illustrating the complexity of the
relationships.
Within the frame of this contribution
reference should be made to chapter 7
"Promotion of a sustainable develop-
ment in housing areas" as well as to
chapter 14 " Promotion of a sustainable
development in agriculture and rural
areas". Chapter 7 states: "The first goal
of urbanistic planning policy is the im-
provement for social and economic con-
ditions and the quality of the environment
in urban and rural housing areas as well
as in the working and living environment
of all human beings (...)".
In relation with the study "Importance
of the allotment garden movement in
urbanistic planning, in ecological and
social issues" and with the federal com-
petition "Gärten im Städtebau" (gardens
in urbanistic planning) in Germany much,
if not everything however, has been said
about the importance of allotment gar-
dens now and in future. For this reason
it should simply be reminded here that
allotment gardeners have, regarding
this problematic, and by their active
participation in the use of surfaces and
urbanistic planning, enough opportuni-
ties to be involved and to defend their
interests in order to anchor their visions
and expectations for the movement of
allotment gardens in the overall territorial
concept of their commune.
to be followed
Biotop structures in allotments help to foster endangered species of wild flora and fauna
AGENDA 21 AND ALLOTMENT GARDENS

14. Hyphen 31 | 2003 14
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Nature - the common heritage
of mankind
Interpretation - a discipline for heritage
Jorge Morales Miranda
Interpretive Planning and Training Consultant
Among the varied environmental
communication strategies (pedagogical-
didactic, diffusion campaigns, mass
media, etc.), heritage interpretation
stands out particularly because it is
carried out in situ, in other words, it
takes place where visitors are, in places
of heritage significance, which can be
protected or not protected areas. This
means that all those persons who are
not usually in touch with other commu-
nication strategies, can be reached at
one moment or another when “visitors”
in a natural, rural or cultural environment.
All of us can be “visitors”, from Europe
or from abroad, without forgetting the
local inhabitants of the areas being visi-
ted.
As mentioned above, interpretation
practice is not only limited to the natural
protected areas (national or regional
parks, etc.), it also refers to a large range
of places with heritage values. It would
be anachronic – if not erroneous – to
separate today the cultural and historical
heritage from the natural. The natural
environment is strongly influenced by
the human (historical) action. Therefore,
I use here the concept “heritage” in a
wide sense.
In situ discovery
Our SpanishAssociation for Heritage
Interpretation has adopted the definition
on interpretation as “the art of in situ
revealing the natural, cultural or historic
legacy to the public visiting these areas
in their leisure time”, a definition which
is inspired in others, but emphasises
the context: the general public visiting
a site of heritage value in their leisure
time.
This large group – the general public
– is very heterogeneous: different age
and origin (local people or tourists), and
the level of interest and type of group
(families, friends, couples, etc.) are also
diverse. However, it being their leisure
time, one thing is clear: these persons
are not looking for “educational” or any
other activities that can remind them of
school. They probably do not look for
interpretation either.And this is the chal-
lenge: to make attractive a set of activi-
ties that have, with no doubt, an
“educational intention”.
The interpretative media and messa-
ges are the visible aspects of interpre-
tation. Visitors will find offers like guided
or self-guided trails, leaflets, interpretive
signs and other media, which contain a
message revealing the site significance
in a stimulating and provoking way, and,
best of all, in a clear way. As well as
showing the site significance, interpre-
tation has the mission of contributing to
the prevention or solution of a problem:
avoiding environmental or cultural da-
Cultural heritage: historical garden sheds in Heilbronn (Germany)

15. Hyphen 31 | 2003 15
mage on a local or global basis. That is
to say, the fact of being in situ should
not be an obstacle to the positive attitu-
des that can surpass the limits of the
visit itself.
Well chosen messages
How to achieve effectiveness in in-
terpretive practice? Effectiveness is the
objective achievement; interpretive fa-
cilities should succeed in improving the
conservation conditions of a particular
place. And in the interpretive message,
which I would define as the imaginative
treatment of the information to be pre-
sented to the public, lies the achieve-
ment of this goal. It is the “language”
used that determines, in part, the suc-
cess of this action. As with publicists,
we look for a suitable message for a
particular audience. However, there is
a critical difference between interpreta-
tion and advertisement. Interpretation
is not looking for a sale – in the com-
mercial sense – it “just wants to bring
up the values hidden in the heritage
features” that generally would be only
understood by specialists and resear-
chers. Europe is full of places and land-
scapes of great significance, not only
from the ecological point of view, but
also by their history, and the visitor often
does not have the keys to appreciate
what he is visiting.
Interpretation must attract the visitor’s
attention, it has to be significant and
easily understood, and it has to be in-
teresting and amusing. It must contain
relevance to the visitor’s ego, so it can
captivate him or her in a personal way,
through strong, provoking and evocative
words. It has to be structured around
an easy-to-remember idea, a complete
sentence synthesising the message like
a newspaper headline. This sentence
can also be the headline of panels and
brochures or of the “interpreters” activi-
ties.
Without these ingredients, the hardest
efforts will not achieve real communica-
tion and will be sterile. To tell you the
truth, I must say that in Europe the
interpretive discipline is not sufficiently
developed, except in those regions with
a strong Anglo-Saxon influence, where
there is a major theoretical and practical
knowledge. Many institutions of different
countries use the term interpretation
incorrectly, not corresponding with the
essence of the discipline, which is to
reveal the meaning of a particular place
instead of giving facts and data, and to
stimulate curiosity more than merely
satisfy it. There are cases of “environ-
mental information” that are far from
being interpretation. Let us hope that
the imminent creation of the European
Interpretation Network will enhance de-
velopment of this discipline in our region.
An effective management tool
I would like to emphasise that inter-
pretation is a management tool. Through
good interpretive programming, the be-
nefits are synergically passed to other
management plans such as for admini-
stration or finance, those in the area of
maintenance and security, and those in
charge of public relations - the image
of the institution. Interpretation which is
in tune with the public will promote a
positive behaviour on the site, making
people aware of the importance of its
conservation. Appropriate designing of
trails, centres or interpretive points helps
to make optimal use of the space, mo-
ving the visitors from vulnerable sites
to others with a higher carrying capacity.
Finally, whether we want it or not,
interpretation will always be the “public
face” of the institution supporting it. It is
therefore inevitable that poor (or non-
existing) interpretation will negatively
affect the institution’s image. On the
contrary, good interpretive services will
give a positive public image of an insti-
tution. And I am not talking about pro-
paganda, but about support and colla-
boration, which can be legitimately used
to help the institutions to better realise
their functions as guardianships of our
heritage, undoubtedly a great task.
Article published in the journal
NATUROPA n° 91/1999
Cultural landscapes are essential parts of the
natural heritage of mankind
COUNCIL OF EUROPE

16. Hyphen 31 | 2003 16
Nature - the common heritage
of mankind
There are almost 350 botanic gar-
dens in the European Union member
States that are visited by more than 20
million people every year.Although many
people think of them simply as parks
with a collection of exotic plants preser-
ved in cultivation, they contain valuable
plant collections which are grown for
particular purposes – for reference, re-
search, conservation, plant breeding
and for restoration programmes. Many
botanic gardens also have facilities such
as germplasm, banks, herbaria, and
ethno botanical and palaeobotanical
museums. With their expertise and fa-
cilities, botanic gardens can make a
significant contribution to the conserva-
tion of Europe’s plant and landscape
heritage trough their conservation,
scientific research and educational ac-
tivities. Botanic garden managers see
this as the most important long-term
aim and justification for their institutions.
Conservations and scientific activi-
ties
Many European botanic gardens are
important research centres. They alrea-
dy undertake research in taxonomy,
biology and the traditional uses of wild
plants, as well as investigating econo-
mically useful plants such as fruits, me-
dicinal and aromatic plants, land races
and ornamentals. Increasing they are
becoming more involved in biodiversity
conservation and have become im-
portant centres not only for ex situ con-
servation but for fully integrated conser-
vation.
One major factor in the degradation
of the European environment is the
utilisation of, and commerce in, wild
plant resources. Over-collection has a
direct impact on wild populations and
plants with medicinal uses suffer in par-
ticular. Botanic gardens are one of the
groups of institutions that are addressing
this issue, by monitoring the impact of
this trade and by bringing plants into
cultivation to take the pressure off the
wild collections. Botanic gardens such
as Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden
Kew UK are researching the horticultural
cultivation of endangered species such
as Origanum dictamus from Greece, to
reduce the pressure on natural popula-
tions from over-collecting.
The seed banks of European gardens
also play a vital role in the conservation
and protection of Europe’s natural heri-
tage. The Soller Botanic Garden in Spain
has created a seed bank to conserve
the germplasm of wild species that are
under threat from tourism and building
development. It also works with the
Balearic government, and other insti-
tutions like national parks, to carry our
reintroduction programmes, enhance
existing wild plantings and provide seed
for use by local people.
Education activities
Developing an awareness of the need
to conserve wild plants amongst the
general public is already seen as a
priority by botanic garden managers.
The majority of botanic gardens are
easily accessible because they are si-
tuated close to large urban populations.
These gardens are in a prime position
to assist in the protection of European
natural heritage through programmes
of environmental education.
The ultimate aim of these program-
mes is to develop attitudes and values
in visitors that lead to positive actions
towards protecting and nurturing the
environment. People are encouraged
to appreciate the natural world and value
Lucy Sutherland
Education officer
Botanic garden conservation International Richmond (GB)
Role of botanic gardens
COUNCIL OF EUROPE

17. Hyphen 31 | 2003 17
biodiversity, as a first step towards ma-
king an active contribution to the protec-
tion of Europe’s natural heritage.
Of considerable importance
Botanic gardens can play an im-
portant role in contributing to the pro-
duction of Europe’s natural heritage:
conserving a broad range of the
genetic diversity of endangered taxa
and locally useful plants;
contributing to broad- based recovery
programmes for threatened taxa;
enhancing the long-term survival of
plant populations in the wild;
raising the awareness of the public
and decision- makers of the contribution
that botanic gardens can make to pro-
tecting Europe’s natural heritage.
Article published in NATUROPA
n° 91/1999
COUNCIL OF EUROPE