Cultural heritage is a way of life that represents a shared identity and experience within a society. It can consist of tangible heritage (artefacts, monuments and sites) as well as intangible heritage such as traditions, beliefs, values, and lifestyles that are passed on from generation to generation. It is this collective expression that constitutes the human identity and culture and what defines the different societies and their cultural differences.
Cultural Heritage is also a unique non-renewable resource that can be used to develop new and innovative products and services. Cultural Heritage can also act as a catalyst for economic development and contribute to the creation of quality jobs. It is therefore important that governments and other stakeholders work together to promote, protect, preserve, and manage cultural heritage and heritage related activities in order to ensure that it is available for the benefit of future generations.
In a globalised world, preserving cultural heritage is increasingly complicated. It is a process that involves the interaction of several actors: governments, NGOs, the private sector and local communities. It is also a complex matter because heritage is not just a collection of objects or monuments that can be easily identified and classified but it is an interconnected set of values, traditions and experiences that make up a society’s identity. It is this identity that consists of tangible and intangible heritage and can be transmitted from generation to generation, which makes it one of the most valuable resources that a society has.
The problem with protecting cultural heritage is that it is a constantly evolving and changing concept. Value systems change over time and these changes are reflected in the cultural heritage that people produce and that they choose to keep for future generations. As a result, the meaning and values associated with cultural heritage are subject to constant debate and discussion and it is not always easy to determine what is or is not included in a country’s cultural heritage.
Another aspect of the protection of cultural heritage is the conflict between the interests of individual owners and the needs of the community. This is especially challenging when the heritage in question is located within a zone of conflict or in territory controlled by a nonstate armed group. It is important that international organisations such as UNESCO are committed in advance to working with such groups and to ensuring that they observe international humanitarian law.
Finally, it is worth pointing out that the contribution that cultural heritage can make to soft location factors such as quality of life and sense of belonging is often underestimated. This is especially true when the contributions are not directly visible and when the heritage is located in museums or other institutions that have to be accessed by visitors. It is essential that such heritage should be more widely accessible in order to maximise its benefits for citizens. This is a challenge that can only be addressed through education, training and awareness-raising.