Landscape Imaginaries and the Protection of Dynamic Nature at the Wadden Sea

Conservation efforts at the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, despite advancing beyond traditional nature-culture dichotomies in academic discourse, still grapple with maintaining rigid distinctions between natural and cultural landscapes. This study reveals that a conservation philosophy aimed at protecting dynamic natural processes is hindered by the persistence of these categorical boundaries. By employing the concept of 'landscape imaginaries,' the research analyzes situated understandings of landscape and nature-culture relations, highlighting how essentialist views of nature can limit effective protected area management in rapidly changing environments. The findings advocate for a more place-based, situated approach to conservation that embraces the fluidity of nature and culture.

Walsh, C. (2020). Landscape Imaginaries and the Protection of Dynamic Nature at the Wadden Sea. Rural Landscapes: Society, Environment, History, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.16993/rl.55