A landscape approach to conservation : integrating ecological sciences & participatory methods

Abstract

This publication, which was made possible through UNESCO financial aid and the support of the Maltese National Commission for UNESCO, advances such an approach, combining ecological and social sciences in producing a methodology for evaluating Mediterranean landscapes, with a view to enhancing their management through conservation and restoration. This work echoes a growing call for a less restricted approach to the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage, through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches which focus on holistic and integrative management. It is indeed apparent that if we are to sustain our landscapes, and all the functions therein, for the benefit of both present and future generations, that such a planning approach is a necessity, rather than merely an option. [ extract taken from the Foreword section by Professor Charles J. Farrugia ].