Traditional patterns of land use have contributed to the maintenance of biodiversity and other natural values. The resultant landscapes are living examples of cultural heritage, rich in natural and cultural values because of the presence of people.

Protection of these landscapes requires an approach that recognises and integrates natural and cultural values, maintains traditional connections to the environment and engages people in the management of the landscape. In recent years there has been wider recognition of the important role that Indigenous knowledge can play in developing and implementing natural resource management