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3.9
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Land
Special Issues
Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage
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Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2023) | Viewed by 17522

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Richard W. Stoffle

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85718, USA
Interests: heritage preservation; native people; environmental impact assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cultural landscapes and heritage places exist together in the minds of traditional people and in the natural topography of the Earth. The relationship between cultural heritage and natural landscapes is complex and thus debated. The articles in the Special Issue will include largely descriptive discussions of natural landscapes and their role in Native heritage as well as more abstract analyses on the phenomenology of landscapes. It is expected that the landscape papers will involve interesting natural topographies and unique cultural interpretations.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to invite contributions covering, but not limited to, the following:

  • Ideally, some of the articles will address the role of landscapes and cultural heritage in public debates and policies.
  • There is a general problem with Native landscapes that have little or no anthropogenic modifications in that when they involve some public action, opponents simply maintain they do not exist. Therefore, a key research issue is how to make policy-relevant arguments for the existence of non-archaeology cultural heritage landscapes and places.
  • Native landscapes are often perceived as existing in multiple time and space dimensions, so how can this be studied and presented to a public that must allocate educational space and preservation resources for the landscape?
  • Different cultural layers defining the meaning of landscapes and heritage.
  • How to offer a coherent landscape interpretation to the public when many cultural groups have cultural ties to heritage places.

Prof. Dr. Richard W Stoffle
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural landscapes as cultural heritage
  • landscapes and dramatic places such as volcanos
  • pilgrimage places and activities
  • social perception of topography
  • role of fauna and flora in defining the heritage value of landscapes
  • landscape interpretation and public policy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 5803 KiB  
Article
Conserving the Sacred: Socially Innovative Efforts in the Loita Enaimina Enkiyio Forest in Kenya
by Joan Nyagwalla Otieno, Vittorio Bellotto, Lawrence Salaon Esho and Pieter Van den Broeck
Land 2023, 12(9), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091706 - 31 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1025
Abstract
Indigenous Communities residing inside or next to autochthonal forests conserved them through governance frameworks that invoked traditional sacral law and reverence for their resource commons. More recently, however, the link between communities and forest conservation has been mired by dynamics of dispossession and [...] Read more.
Indigenous Communities residing inside or next to autochthonal forests conserved them through governance frameworks that invoked traditional sacral law and reverence for their resource commons. More recently, however, the link between communities and forest conservation has been mired by dynamics of dispossession and displacement. Through a qualitative case study approach, using key informant interviews, transect walks, focus groups, and interviews, the researchers explore the conservation dynamics in Loita, in the South of Kenya, specifically looking at the sacred Enaimina Enkiyio forest. The study evaluated how the Loita community has challenged two state initiatives predicating conservation efforts and mobilised the sacred to conserve their resource commons. It combines a social-ecological approach with social innovation theory, spiritual geography, cultural studies and literature on indigenous knowledge systems, looking at, among others, sacred values attributed to places, nature–culture relationships, and value and belief systems and rituals. The findings point to the embeddedness of the forest resource in the way of life of the Loita Maasai and the appropriation of the ritual/sacred element as a framework to negotiate and mediate access, use, and conservation outcomes. The Loita community is grappling with and responding to the pressures exerted by various forces on the Loita Enaimina Enkiyio in socially innovative ways, as exemplified in the conservation efforts by the Ilkimpa Community Conservation Association (ICCA). It leverages aspects of the sacred in negotiating its claims over the Enaimina Enkiyio forest, showing that community-driven initiatives present alternative approaches capable of maintaining the connection between communities and their resource commons by integrating the sacred in this connection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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18 pages, 1812 KiB  
Article
Satisfaction with Sustainable Tourism—A Case of the Special Nature Reserve “Meadows of Great Bustard”, Vojvodina Province
by Igor Trišić, Sara Stanić Jovanović, Snežana Štetić, Florin Nechita and Adina Nicoleta Candrea
Land 2023, 12(8), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081511 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 942
Abstract
The Special Nature Reserve, a part of the nature “Meadows of Great Bustard” (MGB), is a protected area with an extremely rare and sensitive ecosystem. The MGB spreads in the northeast of Vojvodina in Serbia. The natural potentials of MGB, in addition to [...] Read more.
The Special Nature Reserve, a part of the nature “Meadows of Great Bustard” (MGB), is a protected area with an extremely rare and sensitive ecosystem. The MGB spreads in the northeast of Vojvodina in Serbia. The natural potentials of MGB, in addition to diverse flora and fauna, are symbolized by a jeopardized species of bird called the Great Bustard (Otis tarda). Only a few specimens of this species live in this protected area, and they need to be protected. Globally, the Great Bustard is vulnerable species (VU) and a seriously protected species in Serbia. The goal of the research in this paper is to determine whether sustainable tourism affects the satisfaction of residents, using a quantitative method through the Prism of Sustainability (PoS) research model, which includes the technique of surveying respondents (residents). In this part of Vojvodina lives a population that has specific social characteristics. The cultural legacy, customs of this part of Banat, way of treating nature, local crafts, and local events stand out among those characteristics. The favorable geographical position of MGB, the proximity of Romania and Hungary, and good traffic connections with numerous cities in Serbia and the region represent significant potential for tourism development. The natural motives of MGB and ecological interests should be a priority in planning and developing tourism. A nature-based tourism destination can be formed by combining natural and social motives. The main forms of tourism, important for the development of this area, are ecotourism, scientific research tourism, and birdwatching tourism in the MGB. The significant results of the research are those that point out that the respondents rated ecological and socio-cultural sustainability as the most important. Also, these two dimensions have the greatest impact on sustainable tourism in the MGB. After the conducted research, it can be concluded that the residents are satisfied with sustainable tourism, i.e., sustainable tourism significantly affects the satisfaction of residents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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17 pages, 2312 KiB  
Article
Developing Sustainable Behaviors for Underground Heritage Tourism Management: The Case of Persian Qanats, a UNESCO World Heritage Property
by Hossein Mousazadeh, Amir Ghorbani, Hossein Azadi, Farahnaz Akbarzadeh Almani, Ali Zangiabadi, Kai Zhu and Lóránt Dénes Dávid
Land 2023, 12(4), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040808 - 02 Apr 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4097
Abstract
The Persian Qanats, ancient underground aqueduct systems that have provided irrigation water to arid regions in Iran for over 3000 years, are recognized as a vital element of the country’s cultural heritage. Eleven of these impressive structures have been included on the UNESCO [...] Read more.
The Persian Qanats, ancient underground aqueduct systems that have provided irrigation water to arid regions in Iran for over 3000 years, are recognized as a vital element of the country’s cultural heritage. Eleven of these impressive structures have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, underlining their cultural, social, political, and physical significance. As these underground heritage sites offer a unique opportunity for fostering territorial collaboration and social capital between tourists and the local community, it is important to develop a comprehensive model to influence the behavior of tourists, officials, and natives in their treatment of these invaluable sites. This study aimed to design a sustainable behavior model for underground heritage tourism management in Persian Qanats that have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage properties. The research employed a theme analysis approach, utilizing a statistical sample of 22 base managers and Qanat tourism experts. The study used content and thematic analysis to develop a research model that guarantees the sustainable protection of these valuable underground heritage sites by shaping the behavior of tourists, officials, and natives. The proposed model serves as a guideline for effective behavior management, leading to the preservation of these significant underground heritage sites for future generations. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the sustainable management of Persian Qanats and the promotion of a strong sense of territorial collaboration and social capital between tourists and the local community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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29 pages, 33600 KiB  
Article
Analyzing Transregional Vernacular Cultural Landscape Security Patterns with a Nature–Culture Lens: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Demonstration Area, China
by Jiaying Yan, Shuang Du, Jinbo Zhang and Weiyu Yu
Land 2023, 12(3), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030661 - 11 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Cultural landscape security is important to national spatial and cultural security. However, compared with the many achievements in the study of ecological security, transregional cultural landscape security research lacks enough attention to match its importance. In the context of advocacy of ‘connecting practices’ [...] Read more.
Cultural landscape security is important to national spatial and cultural security. However, compared with the many achievements in the study of ecological security, transregional cultural landscape security research lacks enough attention to match its importance. In the context of advocacy of ‘connecting practices’ between nature and culture in the field of international heritage conservation, this paper developed an approach for constructing transregional vernacular cultural landscape security patterns and identifying the key protected areas. A method is put forward based on the case of the Yangtze River Delta Demonstration Area, one of the fastest urbanizing regions in China, and included the following three steps: (1) analyze the core values of the transregional vernacular cultural landscape from a long-time series and multi-scale perspective; (2) integrate ecological security assessment and value security evaluation by combining qualitative with quantitative methods; (3) build a comprehensive vernacular cultural landscape security pattern to identify key protected areas and develop a zoning and grading conservation strategy toolkit. The results proved that our new method could effectively build a cross-regional network of integrated spatial and functional relationships between the historical cultural and natural landscape and have great significance in improving the level of transregional territorial spatial governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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26 pages, 12770 KiB  
Article
Anthropogenically Created Alpine Pastures as Landscape Resources for the Alpine Chamois Population in the Western Carpathians Mountain Range: Ďumbier Tatras Case Study
by Pavel Hronček, Peter Urban, Bohuslava Gregorová, Vladimír Čech and Dana Tometzová
Land 2022, 11(12), 2177; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122177 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1330
Abstract
This study analysed the history of anthropogenically created alpine pastures from the 15th century to the present, as landscape resources for the chamois reintroduction in the second half of the 20th century in the Western Carpathians mountain arc (Slovakia), using the example of [...] Read more.
This study analysed the history of anthropogenically created alpine pastures from the 15th century to the present, as landscape resources for the chamois reintroduction in the second half of the 20th century in the Western Carpathians mountain arc (Slovakia), using the example of the Ďumbier Tatras (the second highest mountain range of the arc). Analysis and reconstructions were carried out on the basis of detailed archival and field research, which showed that grazing herds in the mountain peaks from the Middle Ages to the 20th century created anthropogenically suitable and sufficiently extensive grassy habitats for the chamois reintroduction and the survival of its population. The native chamois population became extinct in the Ďumbier Tatras at the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago). However, anthropogenic deforestation has once again created suitable conditions for its distribution. In the 20th century, a new factor emerged, namely nature conservation and the proclamation of a national park, which meant the end of grazing in the alpine environment and the onset of succession. In the second half of the 20th century, modern tourism became another negative factor for the relocated Alpine chamois population, from the High Tatras back to its quasi-original environment. Tourism development was related to the construction of extensive infrastructure and superstructure in the chamois habitats in the Chopok and Ďumbier massifs. At present, therefore, the preservation of these ‘anthropogenic’ habitats requires active conservation and landscape management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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17 pages, 6458 KiB  
Article
Imagining the Multilayered Cultural Landscape: A Template from the Columbia Plateau of North America
by Paul R. Nickens
Land 2022, 11(10), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101613 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2915
Abstract
Cultural landscapes encompass a diversity of manifestations of the interaction between humankind and the natural environment occurring in both space and time. In some instances where the human occupation of a specific area or region encompass a continuous and extended timeframe, successive cultural [...] Read more.
Cultural landscapes encompass a diversity of manifestations of the interaction between humankind and the natural environment occurring in both space and time. In some instances where the human occupation of a specific area or region encompass a continuous and extended timeframe, successive cultural layers yield contrasting and disparate landscapes and heritage values. This “layering” of past cultural landscapes often leads to conflicting modern-day land, cultural resource management, and heritage value issues. A case study is presented from the Hanford Site in south-central Washington state, USA, where the natural landscape comprises prehistoric Native American, historic ethnographic, and historic period non-Indian evidence from over 10,000 years of occupation and use that clearly separate into several culturally and chronologically defined and overlapping cultural landscapes, which can be visualized as layered entities occurring on the same physical space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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33 pages, 12496 KiB  
Article
Landscape Is Alive: Nuwuvi Pilgrimage and Power Places in Nevada
by Richard Stoffle, Richard Arnold and Kathleen Van Vlack
Land 2022, 11(8), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081208 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3448
Abstract
Cultural landscapes are defined at Creation, according to the beliefs of the Nuwuvi (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone peoples). After Creation, the Native people came to understand the purpose of living landscapes and special places within them. During this time, some places that were [...] Read more.
Cultural landscapes are defined at Creation, according to the beliefs of the Nuwuvi (Paiute) and Newe (Shoshone peoples). After Creation, the Native people came to understand the purpose of living landscapes and special places within them. During this time, some places that were designated as essential parts of landscapes at Creation had been inscribed by Native people with peckings and paintings and honored with offerings. Special spiritual places within the landscape were networked like the pearls on a string to produce the foundation of pilgrimage trails. This is an analysis of one such valley landscape in southern Nevada, USA and a pilgrimage trail extending between the Pahranagat Valley and the Corn Creek oasis at the foot of the Paiute Origin place called Nuvagantu (Spring Mountains). Tribal representatives from 18 consulting tribes participated in a special environmental impact assessment to explain this landscape, its components, and potential impacts that could derive from it being removed from a wildlife refuge to become a part of a military land and air use area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Landscape and Cultural Heritage)
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