The Landscape Award Alliance of the Council of Europe

The European Landscape Convention was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe with the aim of promoting the protection, management and planning of European landscape and organising European co-operation in this area. It is the first international treaty covering all aspects of landscape. It applies to the entire territory of the contracting parties and covers natural, rural, urban and peri-urban areas. It concerns landscapes that might be considered outstanding, commonplace or deteriorated.

The convention represents an important contribution to achieving the Council of Europe’s objectives, namely to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as to seek common solutions to the main problems facing European society. By taking into account landscape, culture and nature, the Council of Europe seeks to protect the quality of life and well-being of Europeans in a sustainable development perspective.

The Landscape Award, set up by the convention, recognises exceptional accomplishments in this area and make people aware of the importance of the landscapes.

• Primary Source

Council of Europe: Cultural Cooperation: Environment: The European Landscape Convention http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/heritage/landscape/default_en.asp

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