How to study and manage a multihistoric landscape

Abstract

Cultural landscapes contain many 'histories', expressed through the impact on nature left by different human actions. The Røros area in the inland of Central Norway is most famous for the 350-year long mining history which has put Røros on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The landscape, however, is characterized by physical evidence of varied human activities for a much longer period. This complex cultural landscape is a challenge for the future environmental management of the area. Some of these challenges will be adressed in this paper, which deals with questions concerning the balance between conservation and use: interests and responsibility, limits to use and limits to conservation, information and public access versus 'academic' protection of heritage values.