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Mission Statement
An interdisciplinary forum for exploring and exchanging ideas about historic landscapes and their stewardship.
President's Message
Greetings!
Just back from Montreal and I must commend John Zvonar, Susan Bronson and the 2008 organizing committee for their amazing accomplishments on our 30th anniversary meeting! Read more details under ‘Meetings.’ Get ready for other engaging annual meetings as we have exciting locations in the coming years: 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri and 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
I am particularly pleased with two aspects of the annual meetings that have gained momentum over the past few years: student scholars and the poster session. Since 2004, the Alliance has sponsored a student scholarship to engage new energy and ideas into the field of landscape preservation. Student research topics have ranged from Canadian post WWII housing landscapes, to cultural landscape methodology comparison between the United States and India, rock fences, historic park interpretation guiding intervention and the evolution of an agricultural college campus. It is encouraging to see the continued interest in historic landscapes in our education system. Visit ‘Past Meetings’ to see abstracts for all past student scholarship winners.
Additionally, as a part of the Call for Papers each year, posters on completed works and works in progress are encouraged from professionals and students. These poster topics have also ranged greatly with 5-10 posters submitted annually.
This fall the Alliance will publish the 2007 Annual Meeting proceedings. Eric MacDonald, a professor at the University of Georgia, and I have acted as co-editors of a series of 15 papers reflecting on the theme Exploring the Boundaries of Historic Landscape Preservation. Check the website in the fall for the downloadable PDF document.
At the May 2008 Board of Directors meeting we had some Board retirements including Linda McClelland, Sherda Williams and Jane Cassady. Please know how much we all truly appreciate the efforts each of you expended on behalf of the Alliance. The Board also welcomed two new Directors: Nancy Brown of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and Dan Nadenicek, Dean, the College of Environment and Design, University of Georgia.
The most important initiative occurring this year is our strategic plan. In 1997, under the direction of then president Barbara Wyatt, the Alliance developed a strategic plan that reviewed the mission and goals, and provided direction for the organization. Over 10 years old now, it is time to renew our commitment and energy towards historic landscape preservation. To assist the Board in this strategic planning process, we need to hear from YOU, our members. A survey requesting your input on a variety of topics will be sent via a newsflash, as well as posted on our website. I’d like to ask you to truly participate in this forum – speak up, let us hear what you think about the organization, what we should be doing that we’re not doing. The only way we’re going to know is if you tell us! We encourage you to take the time to give us your feedback, and submit your survey response to me by October 1, 2008.
In the meantime – take care and have an enjoyable summer and fall!
Cari Goetcheus
864-656-6787
cgoetch@clemson.edu
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Page Index
What is the Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation?
The Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation is an interdisciplinary professional organization which provides a forum for communication and exchange of information among its members. It is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of historic landscapes in all their variety, from formal gardens and public parks to rural and natural expanses.
The
Alliance was founded in 1978, when a small group of people
from diverse backgrounds met at New Harmony, Indiana, to share
their mutual interests and concerns about the growing field
of landscape preservation. From this initial symposium came
recognition of the need for increased commitment to the interdisciplinary
nature of the field.
Today
the Alliance is an international organization with members
from more than 30 U.S. states, several Canadian provinces
and Europe. Members include educators, private practitioners
and representatives from non-profit organizations and government
agencies. Geography, history, horticulture, landscape architecture,
planning, public administration and architecture are just
some of the professional specialties represented. This multi-faceted
character is one of the great strengths of the Alliance.
The
Alliance is incorporated in Wisconsin as a non-profit organization.
PROMOTIONAL ONE PAGER (pdf)
What
does the Alliance do?
The Alliance is a landscape preservation advocacy group. Alliance
members are engaged in a multitude of activities related to
the protection and presentation of historic landscapes. Its
mission is to educate the public about historic landscapes,
their values, threats and ways to preserve their important
characteristics. The main thrust of the Alliance is to offer
a forum for communication for its diverse membership.
Alliance
members are involved in a wide range of projects in restoration,
rehabilitation and conservation including:
- preparation
of heritage landscape inventories and assessments
- master
planning for historic sites
- historic
cemetery and battlefield conservation
- study
of industrial, agricultural, heritage conservation districts
- development
of rural protection strategies
- development
of vegetation management strategies and study of native
plant communities
- accessing
sources of material for historic structures
- writing
of histories of landscapes and creators/designers of these
landscapes
- oral
history collections
Members
also teach, write, develop policies, and advocate for the
preservation of historic landscapes. Many are involved in
management,
from standards to on-site activities including implementation.
What
are historic landscapes?
Landscape
implies far more than high-style aesthetics; it is a document
of the shared aspirations, ingenuity, memories, and culture
of its builders. J.B. Jackson, Cultural Geographer
To
define what is meant by historic landscapes is to risk burdening
the reader with an overwhelming array of thoughts and perspectives.
Needless to say, there are many definitions which have been
developed over the years. The more recent acceptance of the
term 'cultural landscapes' provides the basis for the following
definitions.
Cultural
Landscapes represent the combined works of nature
and of man and are illustrative of the evolution of human
society and settlement over time, under the influence of the
physical constraints and/or opportunities presented by their
natural environment and of successive social, economic and
cultural forces, both external and internal. (UNESCO/ICOMOS
Expert Group, World Heritage Convention Operation Guidelines,
February 1995)
The
following cultural landscape types have been defined by UNESCO.
(The US National Park Service, Parks Canada and other groups
all have definitions on this topic. Please refer to their
websites for further information. See links.)
Clearly
defined landscape designed and created intentionally by man
This embraces garden and parkland landscapes constructed for
aesthetic reasons which are often (but not always) associated
with religious or other monumental buildings and ensembles.
Organically
evolved landscape
This results from an initial social, economic, administrative,
and/or religious imperative and has developed its present
form by association with and in response to its natural environment.
Such landscapes reflect that process of evolution in their
form and component features. They fall into two sub-categories:
The relict (or fossil) landscape: one in which an evolutionary process came to an end at some
time in the past, either abruptly or over a period. Its
significant distinguishing features are, however, still
visible in material form.
-
The
continuing landscape:
one which retains an active social role in contemporary
society closely associated with the traditional way of life,
and in which the evolutionary process is still in progress.
At the same time it exhibits significant material evidence
of its evolution over time.
Associative
cultural landscape
The inclusion of such landscapes on the World Heritage List
is justifiable by virtue of the powerful religious, artistic
or cultural associations of the natural element rather than
material cultural evidence, which may be insignificant or
even absent.
(UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Operational Guidelines,
February 1995)
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