Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected Areas : Governance, Management and Policy / edited by Bas Verschuuren and Steve Brown.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

INTRODUCTION --1. Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected and Conserved Areas: The deeply seated bond--Steve Brown and Bas Verschuuren -- PART I: CONCEPTS --2. Implications of the Diversity of Concepts and Values of Nature in the Management and Governance of Protected and Conserved Areas--Josep-Maria Mallarach, Fabrizio Frascaroli, Will Tuladhar-Douglas, Jonathan Liljeblad, Radhika Borde, Edwin Bernbaum, and Bas Verschuuren --3. Meaningful Nature Experiences: Pathways for deepening connections between people and place--Matthew J. Zylstra --4. Mainstream Faith Participation in Protected and Conserved Areas--Martin Palmer --5. Spiritual Governance as an Indigenous Behavioural Practice: Implications for protected and conserved areas--John Studley and Peter Horsley --6. Exploring the Usefulness of Nature/Culture Convergences in World Heritage: The case of authenticity --Kristal Buckley --7. Buddhism and the Management of Sacred Sites for Biodiversity-- Will Tuladhar-Douglas --8. The Significance of Indigenous Nature Spirituality-- Radhika Borde --9. The Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature: Involving the general public in the management and governance of protected areas--Edwin Bernbaum -- PART II: POLICY AND PRACTICE --10. Connecting Practice: Defining new methods and strategies to further integrate natural and cultural heritage under the --World Heritage Convention--Letcia Leito, Leanna Wigboldus, Gwenalle Bourdin, Tim Badman, Zsuzsa Tolnay, and Oscar Mthimkhulu --11. Entangled Landscapes: Connecting conservation practices for naturecultures in the Mongolian Altai--Steve Brown and Bas Verschuuren --12. Culture and Nature: The case of the Ramsar-- Convention on wetlands -- Dave Pritchard -- 13. Developing Guidelines for Integrating Cultural and Spiritual Values into the Protected Areas of Spain --Josep-Maria Mallarach, Marta Mgica, Alberto de Armas, and Eullia Comas --14. Managing Religious Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites in Indian Protected Areas--Chantal Elkin, Sanjay Rattan, Soubadra Devy, and Ganesh Thyagarajan -- PART III: CASE STUDIES --15. Chinas Community Fengshui Forests: Spiritual ecology and nature conservation--Chris Coggins, Jesse Minor, Bixia Chen, Yaoqi Zhang, Peter Tiso, James Lam, and Cem Gultekin --16. Father Forest: Batwa culture and the management of national parks in Ugandas Albertine Rift--Medard Twinamatsiko, Mark Infield, and Arthur Mugisha --17. Kaio, kapwier, nepek, and nuk: Human and non-human agency and 'conservation' on Tanna, Vanuatu--James L. Flexner, Lamont Lindstrom, Francis Hickey, and Jacob Kapere --18. Exploring Spiritual and Religious Values in Landscapes of Production: Lessons and examples from Italy--Fabrizio Frascaroli and Thora Fjeldsted --19. The Nature of Attachment: An Australian experience--Steve Brown --20. Reflections on the Spiritual and Relational Contexts of Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected and Conserved Areas. Bas Verschuuren and Steve Brown.

Cultural and spiritual bonds with 'nature' are among the strongest motivators for nature conservation; yet they are seldom taken into account in the governance and management of protected and conserved areas. The starting point of this book is that to be sustainable, effective, and equitable, approaches to the management and governance of these areas need to engage with people's deeply held cultural, spiritual, personal, and community values, alongside inspiring action to conserve biological, geological, and cultural diversity. Since protected area management and governance have traditionally been based on scientific research, a combination of science and spirituality can engage and empower a variety of stakeholders from different cultural and religious backgrounds. As evidenced in this volume, stakeholders range from indigenous peoples and local communities to those following mainstream religions and those representing the wider public. The authors argue that the scope of protected area management and governance needs to be extended to acknowledge the rights, responsibilities, obligations, and aspirations of stakeholder groups and to recognise the cultural and spiritual significance that 'nature' holds for people. The book also has direct practical applications. These follow the IUCN Best Practice Guidelines for protected and conserved area managers and present a wide range of case studies from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas.

Also available in print format.