Memorandum submitted by the International
Council on Monuments and Sites UK (Appendix 9)
1. EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1.1 ICOMOS-UK welcomes the thrust of the
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill in creating an
integrated Agency for rural affairs to sustain and enhance landscapes
and manage land in a dynamic way, while at the same time working
toward providing a sustainable future for rural communities.
1.2 We do not however consider that the
Bill, or the remit of the new Agency, goes far enough in stressing
the need to see the rural environment as a living, dynamic place
that has the potential, with the support of integrated advice
and support systems, to deliver real economic and social benefits
and provide a sense of well-being.
1.3 The rural environment and rural communities
have a symbiotic relationship: one supports the other. The new
Agency needs not only to protect bio-diversity and historic featuresit
must also be the lead body in putting in place support systems
that help deliver a thriving countryside with sustainable rural
communities. We do not consider that the remit of the new Agency
as it stands stresses sufficiently the need to consider the rural
environment as a dynamic network of people and processes that
sustains cultural diversity as well as delivering products that
people wantboth tangible and intangible products.
1.4 We would like to make one major recommendation
on this Bill: that it should encompass a broader concept than
that of the natural environment. We consider that to achieve Lord
Haskin's vision of an integrated land management system, the new
Agency should have in its title and as its remit the whole rural
environment to signal that land, and particularly rural land,
is seen as a dynamic entity.
1.5 We put forward definitions for landscape
and landscape management that support the idea of the rural environment
as a dynamic entity that reflects the interaction between people
and nature and has the capacity to deliver wide social and economic
benefits. We also suggest that the new Agency be called the Rural
Affairs Agency.
1.6 ICOMOS-UK's function and remit is set
out in Annex 1.
2. RURAL ENVIRONMENT
RATHER THE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
2.1 The rural environment is far wider than
the natural environment. We consider that the scope of the Bill
should be the wider rural environment rather than the narrow natural
environment.
2.2. We do not consider that true sustainable
development will be achieved through the management solely of
the "natural environment" (Explanatory Notes 39). Rather
what is needed is a sustainable development approach to the rural
environment as a wholewhich reflects the interaction of
man with nature and links rural communities to their rural environment.
2.3 The title of the Bill and the key Clauses
stress the "natural environment" as a resource for those
living outside rural areas. We consider that the Bill should stress
the value of rural communities together with their surrounding
landscape as an integrated resource that can benefit, in both
economic and social terms, both those that live in the countryside
and those that visit.
2.4 We would also like to see acknowledged
that no land or landscapes (apart from a few cliffs) are wholly
"natural": all land in England reflects the impact of
people. Landscapes include farmland, nature reserves, national
parks and the pattern of rural communities. (as acknowledged in
Explanatory Notes 36)
2.5 We would like to see the full benefits
and opportunities of the rural environment set out in the Bill:
The rural environment reflect the
many diverse ways that people have interacted with nature.
People should be involved in the
way the rural environment develops and should benefit from development
in economic and social ways.
Landscape is a hugely valuable resource
that can deliver wide benefits.
Landscape can add to the quality
of life and people's sense of well-being.
2.6 It is not just the natural environment
that produces these benefits and opportunities: rather it is the
wider and much more complex cultural landscape that makes up the
rural environment that can deliver these benefits, if managed
with the support of people living, working and visiting the landscape.
We would like to see this acknowledged in the remit of the new
Agency.
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1 The Bill currently uses the following
words somewhat interchangeably and this does not lead to clarity:
3.2 This is especially true in:
(a) Policy Document paragraph 1: which mentions
"conserving, nurturing and enhancing our landscape and
the richness of biodiversity" while paragraph 2 mentioned
the "natural treasure of the countryside".
(b) The main Bill paragraph 2 (2), sets out
the general purpose of the proposed new Agency, and mentions landscape,
nature, countryside, and the natural environment.
3.3 All of these terms used are facets of
landscape. Landscape encompasses the environment, nature, countryside
as well as the built structures of rural communities. Landscape
also reflects social structures and how communities have evolved.
We consider that an overall definition of landscape should be
adoptedsee below.
3.4 Landscape reflects the impact of man
on the natural environment over time: what we have in England
is a diverse collection of landscapes that each reflects a particular
interaction between man and nature. There is a need to respect
both sides of the equation, and sustain people as well as nature.
We consider that the Bill needs to sustain landscape that encompasses
both the natural and the man-made dimensions.
3.5 The Explanatory Notes set out that "landscape"
includes "all aspects of the English landscape such as
its natural beauty and distinctiveness" and stresses
that the purpose includes physical diversity, historic and cultural
environment and monuments and buildings which contribute to the
landscape. It concludes that the Agency will have "powers
to conserve and enhance the English landscape for aesthetic and
historic preservation purposes as well as those carried out for
habitat protection purposes".
3.6 We support this but feel it is too narrow.
We consider that landscape should be seen in more active terms:
landscape is not just a picture, where walls, hedges or habitats
are conservedit is the place where farmers and others earn
a living. Rural land, the rural environment or landscape (whatever
title is considered appropriate) must be seen as the recipient
of an integrated management strategy and management system that
aim to optimise the potential of our rural environment to deliver
real jobs, foster well-being and sustain what is distinctive and
valued as part of on-going processes.
3.7 Management of the rural environment
should be a holistic as well as an integrated process. Nature
conservation, historic landscape and access benefits should be
bi-products of a wider management approach that is in turn part
of sustainable development.
3.8 This wider scope is not brought in the
Bill, or in the remit of the new Agency, or in the Policy document
associated with the Bill. We consider that a wider definition
of the rural environment and broader aims should underpin the
Bill.
3.9 To achieve this wider vision for the
rural environment, we consider that the following definitions
of landscapes and landscape (or land) management should be used
to underpin this Bill:
Landscape means an area, as perceived
by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction
of natural and/or human factors.
(ii) Landscape Management (or Land management):
Managing change in landscape (or land)
means guiding social, cultural, economic and environmental processes
to deliver wide benefits within the framework of sustainable development.
4. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
TO THE
TEXT OF
THE BILL,
POLICY DOCUMENT
AND EXPLANATORY
NOTES
4.1 Proposed Amendments to the text of
the Bill
We consider that the following clauses should
be amended to reflect the need to encompass the rural environment:
(alterations in bold)
2(1) The Agency's general purpose is to
ensure that the rural environment is sustained, enhanced
and managed for the benefit of present and future generations,
thereby contributing to sustainable development
2(2) The Agency's general purpose includes:
(a) promoting landscape and land-management
policies, which deliver social, economic, cultural and environmental
benefits
(b) promoting the sustainable development
of the rural environment
(c) supporting the production of added-value
produce
(d) promoting landscape conservation
and protecting biodiversity
(e) sustaining and enhancing the
diversity of landscapes and landscape products and processes
(f) securing the provision and improvement
of facilities for the study, understanding and enjoyment of landscape
(g) promoting access to landscape
and encouraging open-air recreation
(h) contributing to other ways to social
and economic well-being through management of the rural environment
(i) supporting education and training
associated with land management
4.2 Proposed Amendments to Policy document
We would like the context and introduction
to be amended to reflect the need to encompass landscape more
widely: (alterations in bold)
2. . . . Second, to protect and enhance
the national treasure of our landscapes wherever they exist,
through a more coherent approach to managing and conserving land
across England for the benefit of current and future generations.
3.b for the rural environment, we will
establish a more powerful champion, by bringing together the
world-class strengths of English Nature, the Countryside Agency
and the Rural Development Service to create an integrated Agency.
Working with partners, the new bodyindependent of governmentwill
be responsible for protecting, managing and enhancing landscape
in all its guises, especially biodiversity and cultural qualities,
while seeking to deliver social and economic benefits through
championing the sustainable development of the rural environment
7. . . . They will be expected to take a
fresh approach to land management issues including, biodiversity,
cultural and social issues, and work in partnership with other
to develop solutions that provide environmental, social and economic
benefits . . .
9. . . . The Regional Rural Delivery Frameworks,
under Government Office leadership, will bring together the main
regional and local partners responsible for delivering social,
economic, cultural and environmental outcomes arising
from land management.
4.3 Proposed Amendments to Explanatory
Notes
We would like these amended to reflect an integrated
landscape approach: (alterations in bold)
33. Subsection (1) sets out the Agency's
general purpose is to ensure that the rural environment
is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present
and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
The term landscape is broad and encompassing. Landscape
is found in towns as well as the countryside and includes rivers,
lakes, and the sea, as well as flora, fauna, farmland and settlements.
Benefits include environmental, social and economic benefits
for present and future generations. Subsection (1) sets the Agency's
activities within a sustainable development context. This means
that the Agency should seek solutions which, while achieving landscape
and environmental benefits, also provide long-term social
and economic benefits, and avoid any unnecessary economic and
social and landscape impacts.
37. Subsection (2) (c) provides that the
Agency's general purposes include securing the provision and improvement
of facilities for the study , understanding and enjoyment of landscape.
Amongst other things this is intended to promote respect for
both natural and cultural aspects of this landscape.
39. Subsection (2) (e) . . . This makes
clear that the Agency will contribute to social and economic well
being through land management.
5. TITLE OF
PROPOSE INTEGRATED
AGENCY
5.1 In order to reflect the need for the
new integrated Agency to encompass the wider rural environment,
not just nature conservation, and the natural and the historic
landscape, and people, we consider that the title of the new Agency
should be the Rural Affairs Agency.
Annex 1
ICOMOS-UK'S FUNCTION AND REMIT
ICOMOS-UK
ICOMOS is a non-governmental organisation whose
mandate is the world's cultural heritage. Through more than 110
national committees worldwide, it provides a forum for professional
dialogue. The UK Committee of ICOMOS was formed in 1965.
Landscapes, reflecting the way people interact
with their environment, are a key part of ICOMOS's role.
ICOMOS has special responsibility as adviser
to UNESCO on cultural World Heritage Sites, under the terms of
the World Heritage Convention. ICOMOS is represented at the Council
of Europe meetings on the European Landscape Convention.
International Council on Monuments & Sites
UK
February 2005
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