Sustainability of Historic Urban Landscapes: Factors Affecting Integrated Conservation and Development of Urban Cultural Heritage

Kapila D. Silva (University of Kansas)

This paper presents a discussion on the connections between the concept of sustainability and the future of conservation and socio-economic development of historic urban environments, based on a literature review and observations at several case studies of World Heritage sites in the Asia- Pacific region. The United Nations Organization has recently introduced a set of Sustainable Development Goals as its new 2030 agenda for sustainable development for all countries. The goals outlined set clear definitions on various aspects of sustainable development that could be achieved through multiple activities, including the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. In heritage studies, four possible ways to link the concept of sustainability to historic urban environments are described: heritage vs. sustainable development as incompatible entities, sustaining heritage for future, sustainable development for heritage, and heritage for sustainable development, each approach having specific definition of the notions of heritage and sustainability, and increasingly integrating the two concepts together as we move from the first approach to the last. In this presentation, the merits, scope and limitation of these approaches are discussed, specifically reflecting upon the issues of ecological sustainability, social equity, economic development, heritage commodification, technological applications, conflict resolution, and disaster resiliency as they relate to the conservation and development of historic urban environments. This analysis is illustrated with case studies of the World Heritage sites of Galle, Sri Lanka and Bhaktapur, Nepal. In conclusion, the paper argues for the need of a broader understanding of the management of urban heritage for developing effective policies and practices for sustainable and integrated conservation and development of historic urban places. It then reflects on the use of UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape Approach in this connection.