Celebrating 25 Years of World Wetlands Day

The purpose of this Special Issue is to celebrate 25 years of “World Wetlands Day”. There is no other ecosystem that has its very own Ramsar Convention or such a challenge impacting ecosystem sustainability. Papers for this Special Issue provide an overview of wetland status and function within different regions of the world. The papers in this Special Issue of Land consist of three review papers, ten research articles and one perspective paper. Edward Maltby’s review paper provides us with an overview of the paradigm shift of how we value and assess wetlands over time. Ballut-Dajud et al. provide us with a worldwide perspective on factors affecting wetland loss. Finally, Jan Vymazal provides us with a historical overview of the development of water quality treatment wetlands in Europe and North America. The research papers can be grouped into four groups: 1) use of remote sensing to analyze stability and dynamic factors affecting wetlands; 2) factors affecting the wetlands’ ability to store carbon; 3) assessment of wetlands effect on water quality; and 4) understanding historical use and value of wetlands, farmer’s attitudes about wetland management, and how we can value wetland ecosystem services. Finally, Bryzek et al. remind us that, as wetland researchers and managers, we should minimize damage to wetlands even through field monitoring work

Conservation of vervets, Africa’s most ubiquitous primates

When conservation concerns are multiple but budgets finite, conservation priority setting is often linked to the threat status of a species. Here, I aim to make a case for proactive conservation of common species. Vervets are ecologically flexible, widespread, relatively abundant monkeys with few major threats. Data were obtained through systematic literature reviews (habitat use, crop-raiding), analysis of CITES trade records (international trade, trophy hunting), websites and internet posts (trophy hunting) and direct observations at the Vervet Monkey Foundation (VMF) in South Africa (rescue centre intake). Vervets occupy mangroves in Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Senegal, and, to a lesser extent, Tanzania and Kenya. A potential habitat shift extension has been observed in Côte d’Ivoire where vervets were observed outside their previously described range. Vervets dominate the CITES-reported international trade in individual primates of African origin, accounting for 35% of captive-bred trade and 51% of wild-caught. Although hunting only accounts for 3% of wild-caught trade, it has been increasing, particularly over the last decade. Baboons and vervets dominated with 100 hunting establishments in 9 countries offering vervets. They are the cheapest primate to hunt and are often ‘opportunistic’ kills offered free of charge. Farmers rank vervets as problem animals with reported damage ranging from 2-20% of crops; the most common crops grown were also the most common crops raided by vervets. Intake in the VMF amount to almost 200 vervets over a decade, some injured (vehicle collision, shooting), most orphan infants. Combined these results imply that, while vervets are common and adaptable, they face a plethora of anthropogenic risks because of their ability to exploit human-altered environments. It suggests we need to pay more attention to common species, their extraction, and, perhaps most importantly, try to address human-monkey conflict and the associated perceptions and obstacles to conserving common species

Protected Area Governance and Management

Protected Area Governance and Management presents a compendium of original text, case studies and examples from across the world, by drawing on the literature, and on the knowledge and experience of those involved in protected areas. The book synthesises current knowledge and cutting-edge thinking from the diverse branches of practice and learning relevant to protected area governance and management. It is intended as an investment in the skills and competencies of people and consequently, the effective governance and management of protected areas for which they are responsible, now and into the future. The global success of the protected area concept lies in its shared vision to protect natural and cultural heritage for the long term, and organisations such as International Union for the Conservation of Nature are a unifying force in this regard. Nonetheless, protected areas are a socio-political phenomenon and the ways that nations understand, govern and manage them is always open to contest and debate. The book aims to enlighten, educate and above all to challenge readers to think deeply about protected areas—their future and their past, as well as their present

Salt in our veins. The patrimonialization processes of artisanal salt and saltscapes in Europe and their contribution to local development

[eng] This thesis aims to understand the processes of patrimonialization that take place in artisanal salinas in Europe and analyzes how these can contribute to the preservation of heritage, landscape and local development in their environment. In the last century, artisanal salt making sites in Europe have suffered a progressive decline, as a result of profound socio- economic changes, that have affected productive activities in general. This has limited their ability to compete in the mainstream salt market, which has ultimately led to the permanent abandonment of the salt making activity in most cases. In others, however, local stakeholders (environmentalists, cultural associations, scholars, public administrations, others) have been able to spark, push forward and even consolidate a patrimonialization process based on the sustainable use of the associated heritage and landscape values. To achieve this, many products and services associated with the production of high quality salt, as well as ecocultural tourism activities and salt-related museums, and the provision of health services from salt sub-products have been designed and offered. These have contributed to maintain a multifunctional use of the site with a diversified socioeconomic activity with enough profitability, while respecting the natural values of the sites. In this process, the sites have therefore moved from a situation of managerial indifference or even abandonment, to a collective, highly motivated citizen-led effort to recover the heritage and natural values of the sites. At a certain point, as the complexity of the processes increased, this horizontal and generally altruistic approach, needed to evolve towards a new management environment led by professionals. In the end, these sites have thus progressed from the salt business to the business of salt-related heritage. In this thesis, three paradigmatic cases of successful patrimonialization have been analyzed in Europe: the marais salants of Guérande, in France; the salinas of Sečovlje in Slovenia and the Læsø saltworks in Denmark. In addition, the patrimonialization processes have also been studied in the nine Spanish inland salinas which have been protected by law as a monument at the time of writing: Añana (Álava), Arcos de las Salinas (Teruel), Espartinas (Madrid), Gerri de la Sal (Lleida), Imón and San Juan (Guadalajara), Peralta de la Sal (Huesca), Poza de la Sal (Burgos) and Rambla Salada (Murcia). In these cases, the processes have been found to be in very different stages, from a situation of decline and almost ruin, to a consolidated patrimonialization process. Many cases, however, have been found to be in intermediate situations, with a patrimonialization process still in in progress, with the threats and weaknesses this stage entails. The comparison of these differences has allowed to understand the challenges and difficulties faced by this type of cultural heritage and landscapes, as well as to identify the good practices that have contributed to their progression towards a consolidated stage. To this end, the methodology used in this work combined tools from different disciplinary backgrounds. On the one hand, a set of qualitative and quantitative indicators has allowed to perform a comparative analysis of the sites. On the other hand, the study of the local bibliography and the field visits, in combination with personal interviews and group dynamics, has allowed to elaborate the narratives of the patrimonialization processes of each site. The comparative study between the twelve salinas has also led to the development of a conceptual management model that gathers the good practices and prevents the pitfalls observed in the study sites. Hopefully this model will contribute to the sustainable use of similar cultural landscapes and heritage to those studied here.[cat] Aquesta tesi té com a objecte comprendre els processos de patrimonialització que tenen lloc en salines artesanals d'Europa i analitzar què poden aportar a la conservació del patrimoni i el paisatge, i al desenvolupament local. En el curs de l'últim segle, les salines artesanals europees han patit un declivi progressiu arran de la incidència de diversos factors socioeconòmics. Això ha limitat la seva capacitat per competir en el negoci tradicional de la sal, abocant-les en molts casos a l'abandonament definitiu. En d'altres, però, els agents socials (societat civil, administracions i altres) han sabut iniciar i fins i tot consolidar un procés de patrimonialització basat en l'aprofitament sostenible del patrimoni i el paisatge. En aquest context, s'han proposat productes molt diversos i serveis associats a la sal de qualitat, el turisme ecocultural i la salut, aconseguint mantenir una activitat socioeconòmica rendible alhora que respectuosa amb el medi ambient. Aquestes salines han passat així de viure del negoci de la sal a recolzar la seva activitat en el negoci del patrimoni. En aquesta tesi s'examinen tres casos de patrimonialització paradigmàtics a Europa: les salines de Guérande (França), Sečovlje (Eslovènia) i Læsø (Dinamarca). A més, s'analitza el procés de patrimonialització a les nou salines d'interior espanyoles que han estat declarades com a Bé d'Interès Cultural: Añana (Àlaba), Arcos de las Salinas (Terol), Espartinas (Madrid), Gerri de la Sal (Lleida), Imón i San Juan (Guadalajara), Peralta de la Sal (Osca), Poza de la Sal (Burgos) i Rambla Salada (Múrcia). En aquests casos, l'esmentat procés es troba en fases molt diverses, el que ha permès entendre els reptes i les dificultats a què s'enfronta aquesta mena de patrimoni i els seus paisatges culturals, així com identificar les bones pràctiques que s'hi ha donat. Amb aquesta finalitat, s'ha emprat una metodologia que combina l'ús d'indicadors qualitatius i quantitatius, amb entrevistes i dinàmiques de grup. Tot això s'ha complementat amb un estudi bibliogràfic i visites de camp a cada espai que han possibilitat reconstruir les narratives de la seva patrimonialització. L'anàlisi comparativa d'aquests dotze espais saliners ha permès, alhora, l'elaboració d'un model de gestió que pretén contribuir a l'aprofitament sostenible de paisatges culturals i d'espais patrimonials similars als que aquí s'han considerat.[spa] Esta tesis tiene como objeto comprender los procesos de patrimonialización que tienen lugar en salinas artesanales en Europa y analizar de qué manera éstos pueden aportar a la conservación del patrimonio, del paisaje y al desarrollo local en su entorno. Las salinas artesanales europeas han sufrido en el último siglo un progresivo declive, fruto de diversos factores socioeconómicos. Ello ha limitado su capacidad para competir en el negocio tradicional de la sal, abocando a algunas al abandono definitivo. En algunos casos, sin embargo, los agentes sociales (sociedad civil, administraciones, otros) han sabido iniciar e incluso consolidar un proceso de patrimonialización basado en un aprovechamiento sostenible del patrimonio y del paisaje. Para ello se han propuesto muy diversos productos y servicios asociados a la sal de calidad, el turismo ecocultural y la salud, logrando así mantener una actividad socioeconómica con suficiente rentabilidad al tiempo que se respeta al medio. Así, estas salinas han pasado de vivir del negocio de la sal al negocio del patrimonio. En esta tesis se han estudiado tres casos de patrimonialización paradigmáticos en Europa: las salinas de Guérande, en Francia; Sečovlje, en Eslovenia y Læsø, en Dinamarca. Además, se ha estudiado el proceso de patrimonialización en las nueve salinas de interior españolas que han sido protegidas como Bien de Interés Cultural: Añana (Álava), Arcos de las Salinas (Teruel), Espartinas (Madrid), Gerri de la Sal (Lleida), Imón y San Juan (Guadalajara), Peralta de la Sal (Huesca), Poza de la Sal (Burgos) y Rambla Salada (Murcia). En estos casos, los procesos se encuentran en fases muy diversas, lo que ha permitido entender los retos y las dificultades a los que se enfrentan este tipo de patrimonio y paisajes culturales, así como detectar las buenas prácticas que se han dado en ellos. A tal fin, se ha empleado una metodología que combina el uso de indicadores cualitativos y cuantitativos, con entrevistas y dinámicas de grupo. Todo ello se ha complementado con el estudio bibliográfico y visitas de campo a cada espacio, lo que ha permitido elaborar las narrativas de la patrimonialización de cada uno de ellos. El estudio comparativo entre los doce espacios salineros ha conducido, así mismo, a la elaboración de un modelo de gestión, que esperemos contribuya al aprovechamiento sostenible de paisajes culturales y espacios patrimoniales similares a los estudiados aquí

Landscape Biographies

Landscape Biographies explores the long, complex histories of landscapes from personal and social perspectives. Twenty geographers, archaeologists, historians, and anthropologists investigate the diverse ways in which landscapes and monuments have been constructed, transmitted, and transformed from prehistory to the present, from Manhattan to Shanghai, Iceland to Portugal, England to Estonia

The IPBES regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia

The Regional Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Europe and Central Asia produced by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provides a critical analysis of the state of knowledge regarding the importance, status, and trends of biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. The assessment analyses the direct and underlying causes for the observed changes in biodiversity and in nature’s contributions to people, and the impact that these changes have on the quality of life of people. The assessment, finally, identifies a mix of governance options, policies and management practices that are currently available to reduce the loss of biodiversity and of nature’s contributions to people in that region. The assessment addresses terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal biodiversity and covers current status and trends, going back in time several decades, and future projections, with a focus on the 2020-2050 period

Cartography

The terrestrial space is the place of interaction of natural and social systems. The cartography is an essential tool to understand the complexity of these systems, their interaction and evolution. This brings the cartography to an important place in the modern world. The book presents several contributions at different areas and activities showing the importance of the cartography to the perception and organization of the territory. Learning with the past or understanding the present the use of cartography is presented as a way of looking to almost all themes of the knowledge