European Landscape Convention (ELC)
The European Landscape Convention is the first international convention to focus specifically on landscape. It is dedicated exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe. The Convention was signed by the UK government on 24th February 2006, ratified on the 21st November 2006, and became binding in this country on 1st March 2007.
The ELC provides a people-centred and forward-looking way to reconcile environmental management with the socio-economic challenges of the 21st century and to help people and communities to re-connect with place.
ELC aims
The European Landscape Convention seeks to promote landscape protection, management and planning across Europe, and to organise European-wide co-operation on landscape issues.
- Landscape should be a mainstream political concern at European government level. Greater unity between Member States is needed to safeguard the quality and diversity of landscapes and develop better policies and activities however.
- The active participation of citizens in decision-making processes is vital. 'Landscape’ should not be the exclusive preserve of specialist scientific and technical bodies. When members of the public are able to take responsibility for what happens in the landscape and influence on their surroundings, they can reinforce local/ regional identity and distinctiveness, leading to greater individual, social and cultural fulfilment.
- The Convention embodies a concern for sustainable development as expressed at the Rio de Janeiro conference. Landscape is essential in balancing the preservation of natural and cultural heritage as a reflection of European identity and diversity, and use as an economic resource.
- The Convention aims to promote landscape protection, management and planning within the context of landscape as a common European resource, cherished and valued beyond national borders. Likewise it recognises the negative and positive impact (direct/ indirect) of transborder activities.
Scope of the ELC
The Convention covers land and water (inland and seas), and natural, rural, urban and peri-urban areas. Significantly, it covers everyday or degraded landscapes, as well as those that might be considered outstanding.
Every landscape forms the setting for the lives of a local population, and the quality of those landscapes affects everyone’s lives. The Convention does not confine itself to cultural or man-made landscape elements alone, but to all elements and their interconnections.
Importantly, the ELC does not advocate that the same measures and policies should be applied to all landscapes. Policies should be adaptable to particular types of landscape and respond to their specific characteristics, allowing for a range of forms of treatment at local level, from strict protection, management and planning to the creation of new landscapes.
Implementation of the ELC
The Convention must be implemented at the most appropriate level of government for landscape action, and entrusted to those with the necessary competence, as close to the communities concerned as is possible.
Contracting Parties undertake to:
- recognise landscapes in law
- establish and implement landscape protection, management and planning policies
- establish procedures for public participation
Specific actions are also set out within the ELC:
- campaigns to raise awareness amongst the public, elected representatives and associations of the value of present and future landscapes
- provision of high-quality specialist training in landscape appraisal and landscape operations, and multidisciplinary training in landscape matters
- identification and evaluation of landscapes, based on characteristics, evolutionary processes, and perceptions of the population concerned
- setting of landscape quality objectives, in consultation with the public and all relevant interests
- introduction of specific legal, administrative, fiscal or financial instruments to protect, manage and plan landscapes within the agreed policy context.
The LI and the ELC
A Council of Europe Landscape Award has been set up to recognise quality stewardship of landscapes. Member States are running national competitions to find national winners to go forward for the European level award.
The LI promoted the first UK awards in 2010. To see award submissions, and to find out more about Durham Heritage Coast's winning entry, visit the UK Landscape Awards website.
An ELC Action Plan is being developed by the LI's Policy Committee.
Photo: Charlie Hedley
Definitions
The terms used in the Convention are defined in Article 1, to ensure uniform interpretation across Europe:
Landscape
An area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. The term “landscape” is thus defined as a zone or area as perceived by local people or visitors, whose visual features and character are the result of the action of natural and/or cultural factors. Recognition is given to the fact that landscapes evolve through time and are the result natural and human activities. Landscape should be considered as a whole - natural and cultural components are taken together, not separately.
Landscape policy
General principles, strategies and guidelines that permit the taking of specific measures aimed at the protection, management and planning of landscapes.
Landscape quality objective
Formulation by the competent public authorities of the aspirations of the public towards landscape features of their surroundings within a specific landscape area or across more than one area.
Landscape protection
Action to conserve and maintain the significant or characteristic features of a landscape, which is greatly valued on account of its distinctive natural or cultural configuration. Such protection must be active and involve management measures for preservation of significance.
Landscape management
Action, from a perspective of sustainable development, to ensure the regular upkeep of a landscape, so as to guide and harmonise changes, which are brought about by social, economic and environmental processes. Such measures may be concerned with the organisation of the landscape or its components and the management approach must be a dynamic one and seek to improve landscape quality on the basis of the population’s expectations.
Landscape planning
Forward-looking action to enhance, restore or create landscapes. The formal process of study, design and construction by which new landscapes are created to meet the aspirations of the people concerned. It involves framing proper planning projects, more particularly in those most affected by change and badly damaged areas (for example suburbs, peri-urban and industrial areas, coastal areas).
