| Abstrakt: |
The greatest asset of the Mediterranean Islands is landscape. In its broadest definition, landscape comprises physical resources, being natural, semi-natural and human, as well as cultural resources expressed in local perceptions and identity, traditional management practices, socio-economic and political systems. Mediterranean Island landscapes encapsulate a character of place that is quintessentially Mediterranean. They are microcosms of the basin's geomorphological, biological and cultural diversity, and equally a reflection of the historical coexistence of people and environment, as well as a reflection of insularity. The broad, integrative understanding of landscape underpins the essence of a strategy based on both conservation and management. Accordingly, a landscape strategy acknowledges the twofold character of Mediterranean Island landscapes as (a) the context for evaluating environmental, ecological and cultural resources and (b) the framework for ensuring a sustainable future. Equally, landscape strategies become a roadmap to evaluate concerns, to recognise resource limitation and aspirations, to develop a future vision, to articulate objectives, and to propose the principles and framework for an equitable and sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
