Delos workshop in Malta

The University of Malta’s Institute of Earth Systems recently hosted the fourth workshop of the Delos Initiative of the World Commission on Protected Areas, (WCPA) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Delos Initiative on sacred natural sites in technologically developed countries was launched in 2004; it is jointly coordinated by Thymio Papayannis, director of the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) and Josep-Maria Mallarach of the Silene Association. The event, held at the Franciscan Porziuncola Retreat House between the 24th and 26th of April, brought together participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece Indonesia, Kyrgystan, Lebanon, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey. A number of third year B.Sc. (Hons) Earth Systems students also participated as observers.

The Delos Initiative has the main aim of contributing to better management of sacred natural sites, to ensure maintenance of their natural, cultural, and spiritual values. Through presentation and critical analysis of case studies from across the world, the Initiative seeks to draw insights and identify best practices for integrating spiritual dimensions into the management of natural sites. Three prior workshops have been organised, in Spain, Greece, and Finland. The focus of these was on protected areas and spirituality, the sacred dimension of protected areas, and the diversity of sacred lands in Europe. This fourth workshop focused on sacred natural sites related to Islam and on sites that are relevant to more than one living religion. The outputs of the workshop will be reflected in updated IUCN Guidelines on Sacred Natural Sites to be published in future as well as in the Statement of the Delos4 Workshop. The proceedings of the workshop will also be made available in print and electronically in due course.

The event was also supported by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Malta.