The Ministry of Culture and Sport celebrates in Palma, within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the ‘European Technical Days of Cultural Landscape’

The meeting focuses on one of the strategic lines in cultural matters of the Spanish Presidency, already included in the ‘Declaration of Cáceres’: the sustainable management of cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture and Sport continues to deepen one of the lines of work of the cultural program of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which has already been embodied in the ‘Declaration of Cáceres’: the sustainable management of cultural heritage. To this end, it has organized in Palma (Balearic Islands) the ‘European Technical Days of the Cultural Landscape’, focused on the imposition and development of the category and concept of ‘cultural landscape’, as an example of sustainable and resilient cultural heritage that coexists in balance with nature.

The meeting, inaugurated this morning by the general director of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts, Isaac Sastre, brings together at the Official College of Architects of the Balearic Islands (COAIB), until October 20, technicians from different national public administrations, experts from European and American countries, representatives of agencies and institutions linked to the landscape, as well as teachers from Spanish, European and Latin American universities.

These three days of work will allow us to debate, reflect and analyze the most sensitive and strategic issues that affect ‘cultural landscapes’. The objective is to continue to disseminate, raise awareness and value this crucial heritage category for the sustainable development of the territories, which is in line with the commitments made by Spain with the ratification of the European Landscape Convention in 2007.

The management and legal protection of ‘cultural landscapes’, their contribution to local development and interaction with other areas such as cultural industries or tourism; the effects of climate crises and the impact of the implementation of renewable energies; the example of resilience and good practices, their dissemination and awareness; as well as the need to involve citizens in their protection, are the topics that will be discussed through the contributions of national and international experts.

The cultural landscape, a conglomerate of living, material and immaterial heritage, combines traditional knowledge, constructive techniques and crafts that have been able to take advantage of natural resources without exhausting them, with centuries of experience that demonstrate their adaptation to changes. Spain provides centuries-old examples of cultural landscapes, which extend throughout all its regions. The conference will present national experiences such as the Palmeral de Elche, the Sierra de Tramuntana or Risco Cae and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria. The focus will also be on international enclaves such as the Industrial Landscape of Fray Bentos (Uruguay), the Cultural Tobacco Landscape of Viñales (Cuba), the Walking Landscape (Bolivia) or the Cultural Landscape Andean Road System (Argentina).

Green Paper for the Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage

In addition to the work to promote the ‘cultural landscape’ category, and continuing with the same line of work to enhance sustainability through cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture and Sport will present at the conference the ‘Green Paper for the Sustainable Management of Cultural Heritage’, a publication that it has already shared with the 29 delegations participating in the Informal Meeting of Ministers (RIM) of Culture of the European Union held in Cáceres on September 26.

It is a guide for cultural managers to have tools, resources and examples of good practices that allow environmental, economic and social sustainability criteria to be applied in the management of cultural heritage. The publication, available in Spanish and co-official languages, as well as English and French, is free to download through a website that expands the information with different materials.

Culture as an essential public good

The ‘European Technical Days of Cultural Landscape’ are part of the agenda of meetings and working meetings of the cultural program of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). The main milestone of this programme has been the ‘Cáceres Declaration’, unanimously adopted by the EU Culture Ministers at the RIM chaired by Minister Miquel Iceta in the city of Extremadura. The document reflects the commitment of the 27 Member States that “culture will henceforth be considered an essential public good and a global public good at the highest political level”. Thus, it is a step forward for Europe to take the lead in achieving the 18th Culture-specific Sustainable Development Goal in the post-2030 Agenda. In this regard, the RIM of Cáceres discussed the need to promote, at a European level, the sustainable management of cultural heritage, its universal access and its role as the backbone of the territory.