Welcome to the Cultural Landscape Manager’s Handbook web site. This is a joint project of the Conservation Study Institute and QLF/Atlantic Center for the Environment, with a grant from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. As part of the Institute’s work to bridge the traditional gap between natural resources and cultural heritage conservation, this handbook was developed for managers of cultural landscapes with important natural resource values.

In the past ten years, there has been an increasing interest in and recognition of cultural landscapes in the United States and worldwide. Progress has also been made in developing tools and approaches for management, yet challenges remain. Increasingly, park and landscape managers are turning to inclusive resource conservation models that incorporate both natural and cultural resources, and also address the interests of local communities. Much of the information compiled here came from a series of interviews with professionals from a variety of disciplines who manage cultural landscape. The project team compiled several case studies of innovative multidisciplinary work being done by resource management professionals across the country and identified successful approaches and tools. The project also included a literature review, and a bibliography.

In the "Preservation" section of this document, the reader will find information on the history of the evolution of the cultural landscape idea, both in the United States and worldwide. The "Preservation" section also contains a series of definitions for the term "cultural landscape." The "Methodology" section describes the methodology used to gather the information that appears in the "Findings" section and in the case studies. The "Findings" section includes tools and approaches to cultural landscape management, as well as advice for improving management, that researchers obtained through a series of interviews. The "Bibliography" section includes literature suggested by a number of individuals working professionally with cultural landscapes. Suggestions for additional entries can be sent through the address reached at the "contact us" botton at the bottom of this page. The "Appendices" section includes: a list of interview questions (A); the National Park Service definitions of cultural landscape types (B); the World Heritage Convention definitions of cultural landscapes (C); a list of National Register Bulletins that relate to cultural landscapes (D); a list of interviewees for this project (E); source materials used for case studies (F); and a list of web links to sites relevant to cultural landscapes (G).

The handbook is being published as a web site because it is meant to be a living document that will continue to evolve and expand as readers respond with additional case studies or advice gleaned from their own professional experience. Information and ideas can be sent to the Conservation Study Institute through the address listed at the "contact us" button at the bottom of this page.

This report is the fifth in the Conservation and Stewardship Publication Series produced by the Conservation Study Institute. This series includes a variety of publications designed to provide information on conservation history and current practice for professionals and the public. The series editor is Nora J. Mitchell, director of the Conservation Study Institute. Co-author of this publication is Barbara Slaiby, with contributions from Susan Buggey, Brent Mitchell and Stephen Engler, and editorial assistance from Leslie Hudson.

Recommended citation: Slaiby, Barbara E., and Nora J. Mitchell. A Handbook for Managers of Cultural Landscapes with Natural Resource Values. Woodstock, Vermont: Conservation Study Institute, 2003.

The authors would like to thank Charles Birnbaum, Mary Beth Carlin, Ethan Carr, Jill Cowley, Shaun Eyring, Cathy Gilbert, Tonia Horton, Lucy Lawliss, Christina Marts, Robert Page, Charlie Pepper, and Sherda Williams for all of their help.