12-24-2025, 03:52 PM
I'm an archaeologist working with a local community in a region facing rapid development, and we're trying to document and protect a significant but non-monumental cultural heritage site—a traditional agricultural landscape with ancient irrigation systems and ancestral shrines. The challenge is that it doesn't fit the typical "ruins" model for preservation, making it hard to argue for its protection under current laws. For other heritage professionals, what strategies or international frameworks have you used successfully to advocate for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage and living landscapes, especially when dealing with private landowners and government agencies primarily interested in economic development? We're exploring community mapping and oral history projects, but need stronger legal or policy levers.