Transportation Corridors as Vehicles for Cultural and Ecological Regeneration - Restorative Redevelopment of Devastated Ecocultural Landscapes - page 356

CONCLUSIONS
The redesign of U.S. Highway 93 is an award-winning example of how required
infrastructure improvements developed in partnership with a place and its inhabit-
ants can restore vital landscape systems that support cultural, spiritual, and subsis-
tence values. The adaptability of this approach, sensitive to the ecocultural landscape
of indigenous peoples, is an obvious model to use for transportation planning in the
marshlands region of Iraq. Key lessons to be learned from this project include:

• Design and planning projects on tribal lands provide an opportunity to

restore damaged land and cultural resources. Hundreds of generations of
a people living in one place has by necessity aligned CSKT cultural val-
ues with ecological values. Their long-term perspective is embodied in the
CSKT concept of considering impacts for seven generations. Advocacy of
CSKT cultural values promoted ecological values.

• Following the example set by the CSKT, look to Nature as Teacher and pay

attention to the land, listen to the plants and animals, and hear what they
are telling you. Then embrace Nature as Partner and incorporate cultural
practices into the ongoing care of the land.

• Cultural values can drive ecological restoration. “Wildlife as sacred” became

the impetus for whole landscape restoration. This strategy avoided the limi-
tations of the usual approach that typically focuses only on threatened or
endangered species. Instead, the full range of species were considered.

• Honoring the “Spirit of Place” structured the design process, requiring a

holistic approach for the redesign of U.S. Highway 93.

• Emphasize partnership and collaboration by finding solutions that bene-

fit multiple stakeholders. Only solutions that were acceptable to all were
included in the Memorandum of Agreement.

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