The dynamic effects of international designations

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The dynamic effects of international designations

• Dr Juliet Fall
• Department of Geography, University of British
  Columbia, Canada and
• Faculty of Social Sciences, The Open University,
  UK

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Outline of the talk

• 1. Tides and tools international designations
• For who?
• For what?
• 2. Puzzles and pastries thinking complex spaces
• Multiple scales
• Multiple actors
• 3. Carrots and sticks incentives or rewards
• 4. Conclusions and further debates

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1. Tides and tools in Venices lagoon

• Much existing research, legislation, funding
• so there is a recognised need for more
  cooperation among actors
• so why isnt this happening?
• Why another international designation?
• For who?
• For what?

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The strategies and geopolitics of international
designations

• Using international designations strategically ?
• World Heritage Sites
• Globally the less, the better ?
• Biosphere Reserves
• Globally the more, the better ?
• Ramsar sites?

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Lessons from research in Europe

• Shifting boundaries research on five
  transboundary protected areas in Europe
• Highlighted extraordinary difficulties for
  individuals struggling to make sense of
  territorial change and uncertainty
• Pointed at need for stronger political and
  negotiation skills
• Focussed on risk of biophysical determinism

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2. Puzzles and pastries thinking complex spaces

• Solving flat puzzles
• or building patchwork horizontal empires?
• Or what?

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Contemporary scenarios complexity

• Overlapping and conflicting authorities and
  administrations on the same territories.
• Territories subjected to multi-leveled,
  multifaceted processes that span not only states,
  but also global regulatory regimes, global
  regions, world cities, substate regions, and
  localities.

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3. Carrots and sticks

• Suggestion Could the best thing for the future
  of Venices lagoon paradoxically be not to get
  the Ramsar extension approved?
• What role do international instruments play
  during moments of crisis?

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Stimulating critique

• A conversation in France one day with a park
  director about the contradictions of
  international designations
• Rewards or
• Reprimands ?

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Designations as rewards ?

• Intrinsic value of biodiversity recognised
• Intrinsic value of tangible and intangible
  culture recognised
• Work and management designated and recognised
• BUT potential tool is reduced to being only a
  label

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Designations as incentives ?

• Identify real sources of issues and problems
• Need to identify, involve and put pressure on all
  actors
• But especially the various sources of the
  problems, including within the private sector
• Gentle coercion requires clear communication

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Politicising nature and heritage

• Heritage is a political instrument and an
  economic resource
• What inclusion and exclusion
• Who inheritance and marginalisation
• Dissonance a discordance or lack of agreement
  and consistency in the definition of heritage.

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Thank you