The Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos [1] (MedINA) has been working at the interface of nature and culture since 2003. Its mission is to contribute to a harmonious relationship between nature and people particularly in the Mediterranean Region.
MedINA has gathered and synthesized already existing best practices in site management and created a new tool to help nature conservation managers and other people working on nature-culture issues and natural resource management. The focus of this work is to help users design more integrated and efficient conservation projects by working on issues related to culture while also addressing stakeholders’ participation and human wellbeing.
The web based kit allows users to be selective and flexible, while providing basic guidance. A new tool within this tool box enables users to assess and report on identified linkages between elements of nature and elements of culture. The «INCREAte Matrix for Nature-Culture links» (IMNC) can help managers to rapidly, as well as inclusively, display all the necessary data on possible linkages between Nature and Culture, in order to better design and ultimately to better exercise conservation management.
This method was tested in Greece and approved by experts around the Mediterranean basin including the Tour du Valat.
For a complete overview of the approach [2], you can download the INCREAte Application Manual & Toolkit using the link below.
More information: Lisa Ernoul, Integrated and Adaptative Management Project leader (e-mail [3])