Sacred Natural Sites in technologically developed countries. Reflexions from the Delos Initiative

This chapter discusses the conservation of sacred natural sites in technologically developed countries, from the viewpoint of the Delos Initiative, an international initiative launched in 2004 by the Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of the IUCN World Commission of Protected Areas. Case studies of the Delos Initiative include over 30
protected areas from all six IUCN management categories, found in Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania. They relate to mainstream religions and several traditional spiritual traditions, folk or ethnic religions. These case-study combine outstanding natural, cultural and spiritual values. The chapter presents the approach adopted by the Delos Initiative, distils the five years’ experience of the Initiative, explaining the systematic approach adopted for the case studies and presenting some
results at regional, national and site level, summarizing the lessons learned.