Launching of landscape management activity

The immense diversity of Mediterranean landscapes contributes to local and regional identity, reflecting the past and present relationships between the man and his natural and built environment. However, development pressures have resulted in significant changes of natural and cultural (man-made) landscapes in several coastal areas. In spite of the obligations expressed in the Barcelona Convention, where countries commit themselves "to promote nature, and protect and enhance sites and landscapes of ecological or cultural values", very little has been done up to date on this topic. A plethora of existing landscape-specific methodologies and concepts (such as landscape planning, vulnerability studies) have not been introduced or taken into account. Also, knowledge of the landscape typology of the Mediterranean is not adequate, nor are the main processes and forces influencing landscape transformation.

In order to bridge this gap, the Contracting Parties adopted (Catania, 2003) the recommendation 'to undertake thematic studies with a view to developing relevant guidelines and action plans on the issue of coastal land and sea environment and the utilisation of its resources'. i.e. landscape. As a first step to meet the above request, an expert meeting will be organised by PAP/RAC on January 9 -10, 2006 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Prior to this meeting two position papers were prepared as background documents. The objectives of the meeting are to present and discuss the position papers with a view of their relevance for launching the landscape management activity; to get an overview of landscape planning methodologies and case studies; and to discuss and propose concrete activities for landscape management activity in the Mediterranean coastal areas.