A Socially Sensitive Approach to Heritage Conserva...
The involvement of local community in heritage selection,management and conservation has received an increasing interest in the past twenty years as it is highlighted in key academic work and international documents on heritage.Distinguished scholars argue about“living conservation”(Rodwell,2007)which spans beyond the sterile protection of the physical forms and promotes the idea of“adaptive reuse”,when appropriate,according to which heritage may be functional accommodating different uses and responding to people's current needs(Pendlebury,2009).This dynamic and flexible approach focuses on the way in which the past can be transformed to heritage in order to satisfy present needs.Especially in the urban context wherein cities are seen as places of social action and interaction which are evolving due to the changing needs and values,heritage conservation must have a“mutually supportive and harmonious coexistence”in order to keep these cities alive,rather than turning them to open air museums(Rodwell,2007).Therefore,tailor-made strategies to suit particular socioeconomic and environmental needs are in demand(Rodwell,2007).
“It is now widely accepted that the success of any conservation policy requires the support of the public who are directly affected.Without such support,it would not be possible to preserve the historic environment.‘The greater the public support is the more likely it is that policies for the area will be implemented voluntarily and without the need of additional statutory controls.’”(Larkham,2000)
The need for a socially sensitive approach to heritage conservation was also reflected on institutional level,as expressed by international charters.Social aspects are considered as integral in the conservation process,while local community engagement and participation have been gaining momentum(Pendlebury,2009;Larkham,1996;Bailly,1975;Orbasli,2000).
Indicatively,the 1976 Recommendation concerning the Safeguarding and Contemporary Role of Historic Areas at its General Conference in Nairobi,adopted by UNESCO,emphasised the importance of social factor in historic cities and areas and the need to take into account the contemporary life of local communities when dealing with conservation.The term social factor is used for communities which are acknow ledged to be an integral part of urban heritage,being at the same time key players in safeguarding or threatening heritage.It is also clearly stated that conservation should take into account the inhabitants'values regarding their heritage and their social,cultural and economic needs.
Only two years later the Washington Charter(1987),which complemented the Venice Charter(1964),defined conservation as“those steps necessary for the protection,conservation and restoration of historic towns and areas as well as their development and harmonious adaptation to contemporary life”stressing the significance of socioeconomic factors and highlighting the importance of residents'participation,as they are seen as the main stakeholders.Community participation and involvement in this regard is considered as essential for the success of the conservation programme.(https://www.daowen.com)
Local Agenda 21 policies enacted in the years following the Rio Earth Summit(1992)focus on citizenship and communities acting at the local level in socially and environmentally sustainable ways.
ICOMOS Stockholm Declaration(1998)stresses the right of everyone to partake freely in the cultural life of the community while the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Heritage for Society(2005)places people at the heart of heritage.
The Burra Charter(2013)highlights that heritage conservation can only be sustainable with the participation of the community.Community have also been placed at the centre of the objectives in World Heritage Convention(2007).Indeed,Community added as the“fifth C”in the World Strategic Objectives,complementing the Objectives of Credibility,Conservation,Capacity-building and Communication.In this way the Convention recognises the important role of indigenous people and local communities in conservation of World Heritage sites in order to ensure community involvement during the nomination and management stage and to minimise potential conflicts between different stakeholders,while supporting socio-economic development(Albert et al.,2012).
It is therefore clear that community driven conservation and local empowerment have become major themes for the international community placing people at the centre of the cultural debate(ICOMOS,2014).