Cultural and spiritual significance of nature in the management and governance of protected and conserved areas

In 2013, the Silene Association proposed to the Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values ​​of Protected Areas, part of the World Commission on Protected Areas of IUCN, to develop a global guide, inspired by the approach of the manual that had been promoted and published in Spain in 2012. The proposal was accepted and from 2014 onwards, the international work group began to prepare and seek funding and partners. For their preparation, they organized four international workshops: in Sydney (Australia) in 2014, on the island of Vilm (Germany) in 2016, in Hawaii (USA) in 2016, and the last, again in Vilm in 2017.

The best practice guidelines on the cultural and spiritual importance of nature in the management and governance of protected and conserved areas is expected to be launched in the next World Conservation Congres in Marseille, France, 2020.