ABSTRACT

Sustainable landscape management can be approached from two different perspectives. The first explores the environmental impacts of inputs and activities. The scope for reducing impacts is comparatively limited, as many impacts are already small or changes require trade-offs between different impacts. Significant gains come from functional changes in the landscape that may not be acceptable. To be able to evaluate the acceptability of even small inputs we need a better understanding of outputs and values of landscapes and of the management process.

There are situations where more rather than less management is needed. The common drive to minimize or even avoid management sometimes comes from a perception that this comprises dull and routine tasks with the primary objective of maintaining stasis. In some cases the presence of people, and management inputs, into natural systems is seen as automatically degrading. The role of management as a means of dealing with, rather than denying, environmental change needs to be explored. The concept that people can be a positive force for environmental improvement also needs to be fostered. This will be the best way to meet the requirements of sustainable development, which is based on the principle of positive human action for environmental care rather than inaction.