Protect Heritage with Effective Conservation Management Plans

Posted by Heritage 21 on March 25th, 2020

Conservation is defined as a broad approach to preserve what is already present and the due care and attention to conserving it for the future. It is likewise dedicated to restoring something to a natural state and maintaining equilibrium. It is a practice and a philosophy, using scientific tools and methods with applied ethics, and, where required, regulation and environmental law to limit the use of certain materials.

Conservation management of cultural heritage has traditionally been associated with the identification, interpretation, maintenance, and preservation of important cultural sites and physical heritage assets, although intangible aspects of heritage, such as traditional skills, cultures and languages are also considered. The subject generally receives most attention, and resources, in the face of threat, where the focus is often upon rescue or salvage archaeology. Possible threats incorporate urban development, large-scale agriculture, mining activity, erosion or unsustainable visitor numbers.

Conservation of cultural heritage and the built environment of archaeological monuments, buildings of historic significance, and landscapes is important. This promotes cultural awareness and preserves existing heritage for future generations to enjoy.

A Conservation Management plan might be useful to accompany an application for approval under the Heritage Act. The conservation management plan should provide information to help assess the application, including a clear statement of the significance of the item, clear identification of the constraints and opportunities that affect the item (including the owner's needs), and clear policies as to which fabric, or elements, of the item need to be conserved. It should also include what can be changed, if and where any new development occurs, and the parameters for such development or the degree of change that is permissible.

A CMP might be valuable as a framework for an agreed-upon management approach to a heritage item, particularly where the item is managed by several different managers or there are complicated relationships between elements of various degrees of significance. The reason for which a conservation planning exercise is being undertaken must be clear from the beginning, and then the appropriate kind of planning document can be created.

The primary thing which should be done by the conservation professionals is to check the age of the historic site. When we know the exact age of the historic site, we become familiar with the actual worth of the site - this doesn't means that if a site is not extremely ancient - it's not worth managing. Also, know the strength of the materials which have been used on the historic site. This will need a proper list of the considerable number of materials utilised on every one of the buildings found on the site.

CMPs don't really need to be lengthy documents. Rather they should be compiled and organised so that they can be simply referenced by those dealing with the site. If the historical site is conserved with the help of a proper arrangement, it will show exceptional results

So, ensure comprehensive Conservation Management to protect heritage.