As Ireland’s living natural and cultural heritage, it’s landscapes are a reflection of its identity and diversity, encompassing its stunning countryside, dramatic coastlines, towns, cities and villages. The National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2015-2025 sets out a framework for the management, planning and protection of these landscapes in a sustainable manner, in line with the European Landscape Convention. This first step in confronting the challenge of attaining a balance between our social, cultural and economic needs and our environment and landscape includes submissions from public consultation processes and contributions from a steering committee comprised of government departments, agencies, institutions and non-governmental organizations.
The National Landscape Strategy acknowledges that our landscape is more than just our beautiful scenery but also encompasses the ordinary and everyday, and highlights the increasing appreciation of its value and sensitivity to change. While accommodating multiple uses and being appreciated in many ways, managing our landscape in a considered, integrated and planned way is crucial to achieving a sustainable society, environment and economy.
The European Landscape Convention recognises that our landscape has evolved through time and will continue to do so, promoting the protection, management, and planning of European landscapes, and organising European co-operation on landscape issues. European governments which have ratified the Florence Convention, as Ireland did in 2002, demonstrate a commitment to developing and implementing policies in accordance with the Convention’s principles and guidelines.
Professionals and enthusiasts in the field of European Heritage can utilize the National Landscape Strategy for Ireland to support sustainable development, and as a reference for management and protection plans of European landscapes, as stipulated in the Florence Convention. As we recognize the value of these landscapes, their sensitivity to change, and their impact on sustainable development, we move closer to attaining a healthy balance between environmental preservation and social and economic development.
