Recognition and Conservation of Rural Landscape Values

Statement of Problem:

 Rural landscapes, as continuing cultural landscapes, represent the natural personality of their community over time, landscapes that change under the influence of cultural and natural currents in their context. Human interaction with nature and the continuity of these landscapes have created several outstanding values in rural landscapes that express tangible and intangible values or in other words, its semantic importance. International documents emphasize the need to develop a conceptual framework and identify these values as a key component in the process of conservation of these landscapes, so that any effort to protect and regenerate rural landscapes, in principle, helps to preserve culture and sustainability of a land.

To identify and categorize the values of rural landscapes in order to regenerate and sustainably protect such environments and transfer their collective knowledge and cultural meanings to future generations.

This research first defines the concept of cultural landscape and formulates the conceptual framework and position of rural landscape by reviewing international documents and conventions and examining the views of experts. Then, according to the studies, the values in rural landscapes are classified and explained and finally, a model for regenerating and preserving rural landscapes is presented.

In this study, the values of rural landscapes divided into two groups: natural and tangible values ​​and cultural and intangible values. Natural and tangible values ​​including environmental, physical, economic and educational values, ​​and cultural and intangibles values include cultural, spiritual, social, and recreational ones. Although in some cases, values ​​are a combination of both, so they are very difficult to refine.

Considering the existing values, a model for recreating and protecting rural landscapes has been presented, which in order to coordinate with the change in the prioritization of these values, it is necessary to pay more attention to their dynamic and multifunctional aspects.