INDOC. Documentation centre about Art and Nature

European Landscape Convention enters into force in Spain

The Convention defines landscape as ‘any area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.’

Two basic points established in this instrument are the recognition of landscapes in law as an essential component of people’s surroundings, and the integration of landscape into regional and town planning policies and in cultural, environmental, agricultural, social and economic policies, as well as in any other policies with possible direct or indirect impact on landscape.

Parties to the Convention undertake to:

·        Increase awareness among civil society, private organisations, and public authorities of the value of landscapes;

·        Promote training for specialists in landscape appraisal and operations; and multidisciplinary training programmes in landscape policy, protection, management and planning, for professionals in the private and public sectors;

·         Identify landscapes in their respective territories and analyse their characteristics;

·         Define landscape quality objectives for the landscapes identified; and

·         Introduce instruments aimed at protecting, managing and/or planning the landscape.

One important aspect of the Convention is the creation of the Landscape Award of the Council of Europe. This distinction may be conferred on local and regional authorities and their groupings that have instituted a policy or measures to protect, manage and/or plan their landscape, if the steps taken have proved lastingly effective and can serve as an example to other territorial authorities in Europe.

More information

• Link to ratification of the European Landscape Convention (B.O.E. 05/02/2008)

• Ministry of the Environment – Landscape Section

• Council of Europe web site

Source: texts – CDAN based on information published in the Spanish Official State Gazette and Ministry of the Environment press releases; photo by Esteban Ania of Árboles como arqueología (2003), an artistic intervention in the landscape by Fernando Casás. The work is one of those that make up the CDAN’s Art and Nature Collection-Route.

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