Los valores inmateriales en las estrategias de espacios naturales protegidos. ¿Inclusión o exclusión?

Intangible values were sufficiently well recognised during the designation of the first protected sites. Nevertheless, in recent decades the technical and methodological approaches used to define and manage natural protected areas no longer recognise these values to the same extent. The intangibles values linked to nature and thus to natural protected sites are a reality that is generally included within the broad but rather vague category of ‘cultural values’. However, cultural values are seldom fully recognised in management plans and, when present, often only their material or physical importance or their usefulness as tools for promoting ‘sustainable development’ is considered important. The reasons why society is inclined to protect some natural areas are frequently unrelated to economic or scientific criteria. The conservation of natural and cultural diversity is less a question of scientific knowledge and applied techniques than one of appreciating the attitudes and behaviour that are deep-seated in the intangible dimension of humankind.