The Alhambra, location for the 3rd International Conference of the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes

María del Mar Villafranca, Director of the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, together with Fernando Roboredo, Chairman of the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes and Mayor of Sintra, and Jesús Dionisio Ballesteros, Mayor of Aranjuez and promoter of the initiative, presented the 3rd International Conference of the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes. The Conference took place on November 25 and 26 in the Conference Room in the Palace of Charles V, where it was officially opened in the afternoon by Guadalupe Ruiz, Director-General of Cultural Assets of the Autonomous Government of Andalusia, together with other Spanish, European, or UNESCO institutional representatives.
Before the inauguration, the 3rd Assembly of the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes was held, as well as the presentation of the representatives of Cultural Landscapes in the world who have applied for being part of this cooperation network, in which is participating Andorra, Austria, Cuba, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, China, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Bosnia, Poland, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Argentina and Italy. 
The core topics of the discussion rounds, in which have participated hundreds of specialists and managers of the world, have been the use and management of water supported by the most recent strategies on use of this element and its connection with Cultural Heritage. The 3rd International Conference has ended with the Alhambra Declaration signing. This document considers the incorporation of new members to the Alliance of Cultural Landscapes – consisting the Promoter Group at present of Aranjuez Cultural Landscape, Sintra Cultural Landscape, Cultural Biodiversity of Eivissa, the Palmeral of Elche, the Historical Complex of the Alhambra and Generalife, and the Archeological Site of Las Médulas in León – as well as the collaboration agreement between the World Heritage Centre and the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes.
Furthermore, the Alhambra Declaration points out the presence of risks and potential menace to cultural landscapes, as a consequence of the climatic change. Also it demands promotion actions to guarantee the active conservation of their constitution and image, as well as the appreciation and use by the citizens.
With regard to the use and management of water in Cultural Landscapes, the document points out the need of specifying new models of use, consumption and distribution of water, as well as it demands a new “water mindset” together with raising awareness in the people, insisting on children and teenagers. Also the interest in working on the effects of the climatic change and on the preventive mindset as a conservation strategy is expressed herein.
In December 2007 the 1st International Conference of the Alliance of World Heritage Cultural Landscapes was celebrated in Aranjuez, whereas in July 2008, also in Aranjuez, the Constitution Agreement of the Alliance was signed, being part of it the assets included in the World Heritage List, Aranjuez Cultural Landscape, Sintra Cultural Landscape, Cultural Biodiversity of Eivissa, the Palmeral of Elche, the Historical Complex of the Alhambra and Generalife, and the Archeological Site of Las Médulas in León.
In September 2008, the 2nd International Conference was celebrated in Sintra (Portugal), where the criteria were outlined to demand the recognition and preservation of these areas and making it compatible with an adequate sustainable development.