How do you conserve heritage in your region?

1 Assess your heritage

The first step to conserve heritage in your region is to assess what kind of heritage you have, where it is located, what condition it is in, and what value it has for you and others. Heritage can be tangible or intangible, natural or cultural, movable or immovable, and can include buildings, monuments, landscapes, artifacts, stories, customs, practices, and more. You can use various methods to identify and document your heritage, such as surveys, inventories, maps, interviews, archives, photographs, and videos. You can also use participatory approaches to involve different stakeholders and communities in the assessment process, such as workshops, focus groups, consultations, and exhibitions. By assessing your heritage, you can gain a better understanding of its significance, diversity, and vulnerability, and set priorities and goals for its conservation.

2 Protect your heritage

The second step to conserve heritage in your region is to protect it from threats and risks that could damage, degrade, or destroy it. Some of the common threats and risks to heritage include natural disasters, climate change, pollution, development, vandalism, theft, neglect, and conflict. You can use various measures to protect your heritage, such as legal frameworks, policies, regulations, standards, guidelines, and incentives. You can also use physical interventions, such as restoration, rehabilitation, adaptation, maintenance, and security. You can also use educational and awareness-raising activities, such as campaigns, publications, events, and training. By protecting your heritage, you can ensure its survival, integrity, and authenticity, and prevent its loss or deterioration.

3 Manage your heritage

The third step to conserve heritage in your region is to manage it in a way that balances its conservation with its use and development. Heritage management is the process of planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the actions and decisions that affect the heritage and its stakeholders. You can use various tools and methods to manage your heritage, such as management plans, strategies, frameworks, indicators, and systems. You can also use participatory and collaborative approaches to involve different stakeholders and communities in the management process, such as committees, networks, partnerships, and agreements. By managing your heritage, you can ensure its sustainability, accessibility, and adaptability, and enhance its contribution to social, economic, and environmental well-being.

4 Enhance your heritage

The fourth step to conserve heritage in your region is to enhance it by adding value, meaning, and quality to it. Heritage enhancement is the process of improving, enriching, and diversifying the heritage and its presentation, interpretation, and communication. You can use various techniques and media to enhance your heritage, such as design, art, technology, storytelling, and branding. You can also use innovative and creative approaches to engage different audiences and users with your heritage, such as exhibitions, festivals, tours, workshops, and games. By enhancing your heritage, you can increase its attractiveness, visibility, and relevance, and foster its appreciation, enjoyment, and learning.

5 Share your heritage

The fifth step to conserve heritage in your region is to share it with others, both locally and globally. Heritage sharing is the process of exchanging, connecting, and collaborating with other heritage holders, practitioners, and supporters. You can use various platforms and channels to share your heritage, such as websites, social media, blogs, podcasts, and newsletters. You can also use networks and associations to share your heritage, such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, and IUCN. You can also use events and initiatives to share your heritage, such as World Heritage Day, International Museum Day, and Heritage Week. By sharing your heritage, you can expand your knowledge, skills, and resources, and build relationships, trust, and solidarity.