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Abstract In 2011, the ICOMOS-IFLA International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes (ISCCL) began the World Rural Landscapes Initiative (WRLI) project to develop a complete and systematic approach to cultural heritage for rural areas. Rural landscapes need further study in terms of methodology, operation and internationally recognised documents: protection and promotion, knowledge, methodology and management at international, national and local levels. The goals of the WRLI were: a principles text containing theoretical, methodological and operational criteria; a website; a glossary; an atlas of rural landscapes; and a general bibliography. The first goal has been achieved: Principles Concerning Rural Landscapes as Heritage was adopted as a doctrinal text by ICOMOS (2017). This paper presents the main cultural premises and contents of the Principles text: (I) the theoretical concepts of the ‘Rural Landscape’ and ‘Rural Landscape as Heritage’; and (II) ‘Action criteria’ which guide the development of policies for rural landscapes as heritage and resources: knowledge, protection, sustainable management, communication and transmission of physical places and associated heritage values. This paper covers: the importance of time in policy strategy; the (false) contradiction of conservation and innovation and the concept of ‘appropriate’ transformation; the role of stakeholders; value recognition; knowledge; information; communication and public reception.

In peri-urban areas, the level of integration with the urban areas, the spatial organisation of the city and surroundings and the functions of agricultural system determine specific features of agricultural landscapes. The management of these areas is becoming increasingly important in order to guide the evolution orienteering the development in a perspective of spatial and functional - integration. In Europe, some experiences of territorial planning as agricultural parks, agriurbain projects, agricultural districts, agriurbain pacts, pacts between city and countryside, are been developing. The success of these experiences, which often are expression of a new meaning of "rurality" are based on a strong participation and cohesion between the stakeholders thanks to practices of co-construction of space. The purpose of this paper is to present two experiments of co-construction of agriurbain territories : the agricultural and cultural district of Milan (Lombardia) and the agriurbain pact of Umbrian Valley (Umbria), analysing the construction of the model, the intervention scales, the socio-economic actors involved and considering the role of policies implemented to manage these areas.