Panel 4 Paper 4.3: Rural Landscape Case Study from ICOMOS/IUCN Connecting Practice Project: Learning about resilience and sustainability from practical experience

Rural landscapes with interconnected CultureNature heritage value have much to contribute to the resiliency and sustainability of food production, use of renewable natural resources and overall well-being of communities. Rural landscapes are addressed in UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in SDG 11 as a type of ‘human settlement’ and Target 11.4 calls for \u27strengthening efforts ‘to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.’ Even so, to date, the contributions of rural landscapes have had limited recognition within the global framework for the UN SDGs and some reference in the UN-Habitat New Urban Agenda. This paper will contribute a case study from the ICOMOS/IUCN Connecting Practice project that aims to develop new approaches to the recognition of interconnected character of natural and cultural values in heritage designation and management frameworks. Reflections on a case study from Phase III of this project (2018-2020) will focus on the natural and cultural systems that can support the resilience of agricultural and biocultural landscapes. Conducted in cooperation with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and their program on ‘Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems’ (GIAHS), practical experience with rural landscapes/waterscapes will demonstrate how resilience and sustainability are supported by biocultural practices. This case study will provide insights for a panel discussion on how to more fully recognize the contributions from rural landscapes and mainstream them within the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda