Historic and natural landscapes impact upon contemporary society in many contrasting ways. In the Balkans long histories live side by side in relative isolation within ethnically distinct enclaves. This situates people in a particular way relative to events, actions, and social relationships. A number of questions emerges as to how some universal categories of thinking of the past such as authenticity and community identification are viewed, experienced, and communicated. A question further is posed how these features can be intertwined into modern knowledge, attitudes, skills and economic activities of small ethnically mixed communities that would spur sustainable growth and demands for higher education standards. To try to find an answer first we should look for some theoretical insights that reveal alternative views about human-landscape interactions. Contemporary thought is characterized by breaking down the disciplinary boundaries. Philosophy and social theory merge that makes increasing the significance of philosophical issues in applied sciences. The new understanding of the 'place' breaks down national boundaries. Though culturally specific new standards have to work for landscape preservation in a pan-European and a global sense. A critique is provided for economic theories that argue for full commodification of cultural heritage objects, animal/plant species, etc. The basic argument against it is that a free market for locally authentic and valuable for local communities objects, species, etc. do not lead to establishing positive social practices. Without such a criterion - positive social practice - any profit making enterprise stands on the limits of criminality or maintains ideological purposes. Further it is considered the administrative and budgetary frame of the preservation of historic/natural landscapes in Bulgaria. One of the main disadvantages of the state financial politics, which replicates the newly launched World Bank's policy ('Safeguard Policy Workshop of Physical Cultural Resources', June, Washington') is seen in the lack of funding for quality scientific research of landscapes. Their authenticity and social values are taken for granted. I argue that modern interdisciplinary research invested in landscape studies is rapidly developing into a new industry. Considered are the advantages of this modern industry and its potential for opening up new business opportunities and providing new stimuli for demanding higher education standards. Landscape investigations become a focal point of the actual human-landscape interactions that add value to the communities themselves. The unique features of the surrounding landscapes where distant past meets the nature in a creative way motivates people for higher education standards and opens up new business opportunities. Through their greater awareness about preservation, conservation and use of historic/natural landscapes the people from rural poor regions can overcome the existing ideological, religious, ethnic, etc. lines of division that carve up their communities.