Interpretive planning for environmental management : a case for the management of Mdina

Abstract

This dissertation aims to evaluate and discuss the concept of interpretation with respect to achieving a better management of the environment, focusing on the city of Mdina as a resource that is being pressured by visitor activity and which urgently needs to be managed. Environmental management needs innovative approaches to achieve the objective of the conservation of the environment and its resources. Policies, plans, regulations, controls and enforcement have not always produced the desired results. However, if people are given the opportunity to know more about their environment and value such a resource much more as a result of this knowledge and understanding, then there is a likely chance of moving a long way in the process of encouraging conservation of the environment. Interpretation aims to communicate the meaning of a resource and in the process encourage visitors to understand the resource, appreciate its importance and value and stimulate in them a greater responsibility in conserving the resource. This responsibility would lead to improving visitor behaviour on site and to a better coordination of the various uses that are made of the site. Interpretive planning is the whole process that needs to be followed in providing for interpretation. The interpretive planning process (IPP) identifies the objectives for interpretation, what is to be interpreted, how and for whom. The result of the interpretive planning process is the production of the interpretation plan. This plan details the whole interpretive planning process together with the actions that need to be taken in providing for interpretation. The first two chapters examine the concept of interpretation and the interpretive planning process through a discussion of the origins and definition of interpretation, the objectives of interpretation and the various stages involved in the IPP. The second chapter critically evaluates the concept of interpretation, identifying the benefits and pitfalls in providing for interpretation, and discussing the various techniques and media available to the interpreter. Chapter III will focus on an aspect of interpretation, and specifically that of urban interpretation. This chapter proposes an interpretive planning process for the city of Mdina. Mdina is a tourist-historic city and as such is a specific urban form. The characteristics of a tourist-historic city are discussed and these provide a better understanding of the resource that is being studied. Interpretive planning is being proposed as a means to reconcile the various uses of the city, improve host-visitor relations, conserve better the city and provide the visitor with a better experience of the city and a better appreciation of the resource to encourage a positive behaviour. Chapter IV examines the provision of interpretation in the context of the Maltese Islands identifying opportunities for interpretation (interpreting the coast, countryside interpretation, interpreting archaeology) to foster not only a better awareness of the various environmental resources but to stimulate positive action towards the conservation of these resources. The concept of interpretation is still new to the Maltese Islands and there are various issues which may hinder this approach ( e.g. hunting), but, nonetheless, a better knowledge of such a concept would offer an innovative and creative way to achieve environmental management objectives.