It is my pleasure to share this recently published open access co-authored book entitled “Cultural and spiritual significance of nature: Guidance for protected and conserved area governance and management” published by The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

It was humbling to collaborate with this amazing group of international scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and activists, embodying global experiences in linking culture and spirituality to conservation in protected and conserved areas. We spent two retreats together on Vilm Island in Germany in 2016 and 2017 to conceptualize the guidelines. This was an opportunity to connect our experiences in the Western US and Nepal with other locations around the globe in order to create applicable guidelines to a variety of contexts. This was not easy!

The guidelines include six overarching principles which offer a foundation for the implementation of 41 guidelines divided over 12 main headings. Each guideline has been illustrated with an example of its implementation. Nine case studies demonstrate in depth, how these guidelines can be implemented in protected and conserved areas worldwide.

Please share the book within your networks.

Here is the press release: https://www.iucn.org/news/protected-areas/202101/we-nourish-what-we-love-managing-and-governing-cultural-and-spiritual-significance-protected-and-conserved-areas

Here is the link to download the full book: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/49268