Panel 4 Sustainability and Rural Landscapes: CultureNature-based solutions

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. Their contributions have had limited recognition within the global framework for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and some reference in the UN-Habitat New Urban Agenda. Rural landscapes are addressed 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’. The World Rural Landscape Initiative of the ICOMOS-IFLA ISC on Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL) has compiled an ICOMOS doctrinal text of principles that advocates for more recognition of heritage values of rural landscapes and provides guidance on conservation. These principles address the CultureNature interconnectedness integral to many rural landscapes. This workshop will explore in more depth strategies for this aspect of rural landscapes in order to provide further guidance. The workshop will include three 10-minute presentations followed by discussion led by the co-convenors. The speakers include: Paper 4.1 - ICOMOS perspective on addressing CultureNature integration in the implementation of the SDGs – Dr. A. Ege Yildirim; Paper 4.2 - a case study on resiliency of rural landscapes of Ghana – George Ortsin, UNDP Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Program; and Paper 4.3 - a case study from the ICOMOS/IUCN Connecting Practice Project – Kristal Buckley, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The intended outcomes of the workshop are to: (1) identify ways that ISCCL can work with ICOMOS, IUCN and other partners to mainstream rural landscapes within the SDGs and New Urban Agenda; (2) outline key components of additional guidance for CultureNature interlinkages on rural landscapes; and (3) develop a network of individuals to advance these outcomes by 2020 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress and at the ICOMOS General Assembly Scientific Symposium