Document Type : Full Paper
Author
Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape,, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Keywords
Main Subjects
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Human activities have significant impacts on the rapid and deep transformation of the territory - perceived in its general sense; which is manifested by climate changes and a decrease in biodiversity. In order to face this obstacle, environmental policies have focused for a long time on the protection of natural areas, being the habitats of various animal and plant species. Improved knowledge about the dynamics of ecosystems, along with the recognition of the impossibility of merely protecting natural areas, led to a major transfiguration of the paradigm in the late 1990s: a static perspective in conservation evolved to a dynamic one in networking biological flows and species diversity in a common territory with human life. By examining the world's experiences in protection strategies for the territorial landscape, this article seeks to analyze the territorial landscape management strategies in Qeshm Free Zone, which owns unique landscape components. The registration of Qeshm Geopark in the UNESCO world list, along with the possibility of creating an infrastructure for the island development, has also caused restrictions in the management interventions of the island's territorial landscape; which is mostly due to a merely touristic approach regarding this rich land.
Materials and method
Reading the territorial landscape means refining the bond between the components of nature and the performance of human societies and its evolution in natural constraints and responses, as well as identifying its capacities and weaknesses.
Since territorial management with a landscape approach enhances the coherence of partial policies in natural resources, prospects, and life environment, the definition of managerial and developmental strategy in preserving and exploiting a territorial landscape aiming to promote the natural environment and land identity quality, has always been a focal point among theorists. In order to reinforce the actors of territorial landscape components to create a greater link with human life, two main approaches are introduced. (1) The approach that was prioritized with the development of the concepts of landscape, territory and sustainable development in the mid-80s is to preserve the biodiversity of the land. (2) The approach that emerged in recent years, with the experience of disconnecting the landscape concept and trying to reconnect it in the last two decades, and it is the ecological networking approach that strengthened the interaction between the landscape structures and the flow of biodiversity despite the many debates about its effects.
Results and discussion
For about two decades, Qeshm's territorial landscape has been a focal point among the Free Zone managers and is focused on the idea of global geoparks. The territorial landscape components, which include an extra-large variety of biological, animal, plant, geology, marine, ethnic, heritage, ecological, rural and climatic symbols can be apprehended in three general categories of ground landscape, natural landscape and people landscape.
People Landscape: Qeshm Island has been a port for trade with Arab countries, Africa and India from the past, and has been recognized as a point for commercial exchanges since the Achaemenid period, along with the Old Hormuz and Siraf. Likewise, sea and maritime culture, local music of the Island and traditional spectacles are the main manifestations of Qeshm people landscape.
Ground landscape: Qeshm is a part of a wide range of Zagros mountains, which as a result of the last stage of alpine orogeny, has changed, folded and formed numerous erosion forms across the island. Rare geological phenomena such as Chahkooh Strait or Salt Mountain are some elements of Qeshm Geopark that can draw the importance of the territory.
Natural Landscape: Qeshm is located in the coastal area with warm and humid climates. The diversity of coastal habitats is one of the unique features of the island. For example, different kind of costal beds such as rocky, coral and sandy beds along with mangrove forests which are seen throughout the Persian Gulf, all exist together in one place, in Qeshm Island. However, mangrove forests, whose environmental and natural characteristics are obvious, their role has been reduced to physical and visual green spots.
It seems that the application of a partial approach in providing strategies for the management of the territorial landscape in the discussed area, and also the lack of an exhaustive perspective offering a single and general perception of the island is noticeable.
Conclusion
In order to promote culture and art, protect the nature and emphasize the geological values of Qeshm, the geopark management has launched a tourism development policy to introduce the island's landscape assets. Thus, each of the symbols and manifestations stated in the three categorization (people, ground and natural landscape) is subject of a punctual intervention and to indexing its nature. This approach, although initially seeming relevant, has made each of these monotonous and monopolies, as an independent museum, only influencing its own and self-territory, instead of introducing a comprehensive perception of a whole, meaning the concept of "Qeshm territorial landscape". Not to be, Chahkuh is one of the most prominent examples that works well within its self-cells in accordance with UNESCO's rules and regulations, but has a minimal impact on its territory, which also comprises the village of Chaho.
Although it has led to the development of tourism and accompanied the local community to some extent, it should be noted that with the strategic view of Qeshm's territorial landscape from a historical civilization, it has been reduced to a prerequisite tourism, which must be part of a landscape strategy. Perhaps one of the main causes of this circumstance is the view of the free zone management of Qeshm territory; A look that separates the economic, cultural, recreational and civilizational spheres. While, successful global experiences in the ecological network strategy introduces the territory as a constitution that must be effective in different parts. Exhaustive and conceptual programs such as Landscape Atlases, currents in Europe for years and also propagated in the United States, although partially criticized, are part of the approaches which help the perception of territories as a whole and in this regard, in even time, have an impact on the minds of natives and tourists, and in this, are considered priorities for actors and managers.
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