IFLA EUROPE has Observer’s - participating International Non-governmental Organisation status with the Council of Europe.

In the framework of the Work Programme of the Council of Europe for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention, IFLA Europe was asked by the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) to prepare a report on ‘Professional recognition of Landscape architects’. Report was prepared by Michael Oldham as Expert to the Council of Europe with the contribution and work of IFLA Europe Council of Europe Working Group consisting of:

• Michael Oldham, HM, Past IFLA Europe President, Landscape Institute, UK - Chair Working Group
  
• Niek Hazendonk, NVTL, Netherlands
• Indra Purs, LAAA, Latvia

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Report on Professional Recognition of Landscape Architects

This Report on Professional Recognition of Landscape Architects was presented at the Conference of the European Landscape Convention in May 2019.

The Conference ‘took note of the Report on ‘Professional recognition of Landscape architects’ prepared in the framework of the Work Programme of the Council of Europe for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention by Michael Oldham as Expert to the Council of Europe…which highlights the importance of the contribution of the profession of landscape architects to the well-being and aspirations of society, and considers the need for recognition by the parties to the European Landscape Convention.

Amended the draft recommendations presented and adopted the Statement of the Conference of the member states of the Council of Europe to the European Landscape Convention on the profession recognition of landscape architects.

Statement of the Conference of the member states of the Council of Europe to the European Landscape Convention

Wishing to promote the professional recognition of landscape disciplines including landscape architects, encourages the State Parties to the European Landscape Convention:
a) to formally recognise the profession of landscape architects at national and international level
b) to support a multidisciplinary approach to landscape through cooperation of all relevant professions in all phases of the planning process
c) to increase the diversity of disciplines in the training in landscape professionals, particularly regarding science, management and planning

At the meeting of the Conference, where all 39 States Parties to the Conference were represented, the Statement was passed unilaterally, there were no dissensions, which is significant in demonstrating the strength of support.

Final report, dated 23 July 2019, including the adopted Statement of the Conference of the member States of the Council of Europe to the European Landscape Convention on the professional recognition of landscape architects which was adopted at the 10th Council of Europe Conference on the European Landscape Convention, in Strasbourg on 7 May 2019, was adopted by the Council of Europe Council of Ministers on 16 October 2019.

The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) who commissioned the report received the Report without comment at its meeting on the 12-14^th June. The Council of Ministers… on 16 October 2019, at the 1357th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, the Committee of Ministers took note of the abridged report of the CDCPP, as it appears in document CM(2019)144, as a whole.

Globally, this is excellent news and will help Landscape Architects in many countries. However, there are 40 members States to the Council of Europe who have ratified the Convention, only 10 have regulated status for Landscape Architects as far as the EU (separate body) is concerned.

Though further work is now required, particularly that of questioning the legality of suppressing the title ‘Landscape Architect’, which is still the case in some countries, and will be followed by the IFLA Europe’s Council of Europe Working Group, we wish to inform National Associations of this important step taken at the European Landscape Conference, which can be a tool for the National Associations to use in their country towards the recognition of the profession.

You can find full report in English and French

Report on Professional Recognition of Landscape Architects EN
Rapport Reconnaissance professionnelle des architectes paysagistes FR

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CDCPP - Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP)

The CDCPP is the Committee responsible for activities related to Culture, Heritage and Landscape and to follow‐up on their implementation, monitoring and evaluation. IFLA Europe is regularly attending the CDCPP meeting.

At the June 2020 meeting, the CDCPP discussed a proposed Manifesto on Arts, Culture, Cultural Heritage and Freedom of Expression in the Digital Era, as well as a concept for a new Digital #exhibition – both being contributions to the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. These initiatives highlighted the sector’s specific contribution to upholding Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. Other agenda items covered important issues in the cultural heritage and landscape sectors, including new promotional tools for the Faro Convention and Strategy 21. IFLA Europe was represented in this meeting by Michael Oldham and his report is available https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets/docs/200307_Report_on_CDCPP_Meeting_of_30_June_2020_MO.pdf

Report from CDCPP meeting held on 23-25 November 2022 will be shortly available.

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Landscape architects and their role in heritage conservation

At the end of 2018, IFLA EU has been entrusted to provide the CoE as part of the European Cultural Strategy for the 21st Century (https://rm.coe.int/16806f6a03] a document on “landscape architects and their role in heritage conservation”.

The “European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21st century” approved by the Ministers of the States Parties to the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe is the most farfetched and ambitious programme in Europe as regards the joint action in the field of culture and cultural heritage of all European nations. The fact-sheets generated by the CoE provide the tool to explain in an easy way to citizens what are the main fields of heritage and culture and which are the specialists dealing with it. It is a great success that landscape architects are listed as one of the specialised professions in heritage conservation, and this fact-sheet will be a good tool for practitioners, as the CoE recommends the governments of the member States to “embrace and implement the strategy appended to this recommendation, at the appropriate governance levels, in compliance with their applicable national legal provisions and practice”

Documents (EN and FR versions) available on IFLA Europe website https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets /docs/Landscape_Architects_and_their_role_in_Heritage_Conservation_EN.pdf
https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets/docs/Role_of_Landscape_architects_in_preservation_of_heritage_FR_.pdf

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Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention

Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention are designed to explore specific topics related to the implementation of the European Landscape Convention. A genuine forum for sharing practice and ideas, these meetings enable the presentation of new concepts and achievements in implementing the Convention at the international, national, regional and local levels. The meetings are organised every year, in cooperation with a host State.

Following the calendar of meetings of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention, IFLA EU has been present at:

‐ Workshop on “landscape and education, 3‐4 October 2018, Tropea (Italy)
The Meeting presented experiences of public policies adopted, or being developed, concerning the implementation of Article 6 B. c. of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention on education, according to which “Each Party undertakes to promote: … school and university courses which, in the relevant subject areas, address the values attaching to landscapes and the issues raised by their protection, management and planning”. IFLA EU representative, Ana Luengo, did the closing speech of the meeting. Further information at https://www.coe.int/en/web/landscape/21st

‐ Workshop on “Water, landscape and citizenship in the face of global change”, 14‐15 March 2019, Seville (Spain)
Considering that the ELC includes “inland and maritime waters”, the Meeting focused on public policies concerning them. Attention was paid to policies concerning the management of water resources and the presence of water in the landscape. Proceedings: European spatial planning and landscape, No 116

23rd Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention and Celebration at High Level of the Twentieth Anniversary of the European Landscape Convention “Landscape integration in sectoral policies” - Lausanne, Switzerland, 19-20 October 2020

24th Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention “Council of Europe Landscape Award Forum of National Selections - 6th Session 2018-2019” - Geneva, Switzerland, 21-22 October 2020

25th Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention “Landscape policies! Landscape strategies, action plans and policy documents for landscape quality” Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 6-8 October 2021
Proceedings: Council of Europe Series, European spatial planning and landscape, No 122

26th Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention “Council of Europe Landscape Award Forum of National Selections - 7th Session 2020-2021” Bergamo, Italy, 28-29 April 2022
Proceedings: Council of Europe Series, European spatial planning and landscape, No 124

All previous workshops information and materials are available on https://www.coe.int/en/web/landscape/workshops

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Council of Europe International Landscape Day – 20 October

The International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe is celebrated each year on 20 October, the day of the opening of the European Landscape Convention for signature.

Sixth International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe, 20 October 2022 - “Message from Strasbourg”: Landscape and health

The “Message from Strasbourg”: Landscape and health, invites the competent public authorities and territorial actors to consider: the importance of the landscape at global level as an essential component of human being’s surroundings. Preamble of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention (ETS No. 176).
It intends to respond to the challenges of the international meeting of the United Nations “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, 2-3 June 2022

Fifth International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe, 20 October 2021 -“Message from Palma de Mallorca”: Landscape policies!

The “Message from Palma de Mallorca”, on the theme of the 25th Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention “Landscape policies: strategies, action plans and policy documents for landscape quality”, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 6-8 October 2021, invites the competent public authorities to:

– express general principles, strategies and guidelines that permit the taking of specific measures aimed at the protection, management and planning of landscapes;
– establish and implement landscape policies aimed at the protection, management and planning of landscapes through the adoption of these measures.
(Articles 1 b and 5 b of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention).

Fourth International Landscape Day of the Council of Europe, 20 October 2020 - “Message from Lausanne”: Landscape integration as sectoral policies

The “Message from Lausanne”, on the theme of the 23rd Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the Council of Europe Landscape Convention on “Landscape integration in sectoral policies” (Lausanne, Switzerland, October 19-20, 2020), invites the actors of the territory to “to integrate landscape into its regional and town planning policies and in its cultural, environmental, agricultural, social and economic policies, as well as in any other policies with possible direct or indirect impact on landscape”
(Article 5 d. of the European Landscape Convention – Council of Europe).

Third International Landscape Day, 20 October 2019 “Message from Seville”: Landscape and water

The “Message from Seville”, on the theme of the 22nd Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention on “Water, landscape and citizenship in the face of global change” (Seville, Spain, 14-15 March 2019), invites to promote the value of water in the landscape and to consider that the landscape, which includes inland and maritime waters, is “a key element of individual and social well-being and that its protection, management and planning entail rights and responsibilities for everyone” (Preamble of the European Landscape Convention – Council of Europe).

Second International Landscape Day, 20 October 2018 - Message from Tropea”: Landscape and education

The “Message from Tropea”, on the theme of the 21st Meeting of the Council of Europe Workshops for the Implementation of the European Convention on “Landscape and Education” (Tropea, Calabria, Italy, 3-4 October 2018), invites public authorities and landscape actors to promote “school and university courses which, in the relevant subject areas, address the values attaching to landscapes and the issues raised by their protection, management and planning” (Article 6 of the European Landscape Convention –
Council of Europe).

First International Landscape Day, 20 October 2017 - “Message from Brno”: Landscape at local level

The “Message from Brno”, on the theme of the 19th Council of Europe Meeting of the Workshops for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention “The implementation of the European Landscape Convention at local level: local democracy” (Brno, Czech Republic, 5-6 September 2017), invites local authorities to celebrate the landscape as “an essential component of people’s surroundings, an expression of the diversity of their shared cultural and natural heritage, and a foundation of their identity” (Article 5, a. of the European Landscape Convention – Council of Europe).

For more information about International Landscape Day please visit https://www.coe.int/en/web/landscape/international-landscape-day

List of all National contact points for the implementation of the European Landscape Convention: https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets/docs/National_Contacts_for_implementation_of_ELC.pdf

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CEMAT - Counci of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning

Though IFLA EU has always been more focused on the European Landscape Convention, the CoE has anothertool with singular significance in landscape planning, the CEMAT. Since its inception in 1970, the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial/Regional Planning (CEMAT) has played an invaluable role in promoting efficient and sustainable territorial development policies on the European continent, being the only pan‐European platform for co‐operation, exchange of best practices and definition of common principles on spatial development.

Note on CEMAT prepared by Carlo Bruschi is available here: https://www.iflaeurope.eu/assets/docs/191215_Note_on_CoE_CEMAT_CBr.pdf

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HEREIN in Gardens

Heritage Information Network which brings together European public administrations in charge of national cultural heritage policies and strategies to form a unique co-operation network in the domain of Cultural Heritage. Each participating HEREIN country is represented by a National HEREIN Coordinator, generally a governmental expert in cultural heritage appointed by the competent national Ministry.

HEREIN was fully shaped in 2014 by the development of its two major components:

• A network of national coordinators, appointed by relevant Ministries, which:
• Facilitates sharing, exchanging and analysing information on cultural heritage;
• Explores themes and areas of work addressing current challenges and issues in that field.
• A database, with input from thenational coordinators, which provides:
• an inventoryof European heritage policies in 38 Council of Europe Member States;
• a terminology concerning cultural and natural heritage in 14 European languages.

Following the participative survey to the HEREIN network on garden policy launched in 2015, a first meeting of interested countries agreed on the need to build a network of administrations responsible for garden policies in Europe. A working group was to analyse the situation of parks and gardens throughout Europe, aiming at fulfilling actions regarding their revalorisation.

This has led to create the “HEREIN in garden” network whose objectives are:

1. Contributing to the building of a voluntary countries network;

2. Promoting the exchange of information and know-how;

3. Promoting international and national activities on gardens;

4. Raising awareness of different audiences.

To achieve it, it aims in particular to provide information on: actions; protection measures; existing training.

• At international level: actors; legislation
• At national level: authorities responsible and other actors; national legislation; available documentation; awareness

HEREIN organises annual event on gardens in European countries “Rendez-vous aux jardins”. Planned 2020 event was to take place 5-7 June on topic: “The transmission of knowledge” and however due to COVID is postponed for 2021.

https://www.coe.int/en/web/herein-system/international-tools

All national members are available here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/herein-system/network

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