Legal aspects for the conservation of rural built heritage: a systematic literature review

Purpose - This study aims to provide a base for the policy-making process of rural built heritage conservation by systematically analysing existing legal aspects and policies in the literature. The primary objective is to help the policy-making process in countries that lack specific guidelines for the conservation of rural built heritage. It is also intended to play a role in the development of existing policies. Design/methodology/approach - The paper undertakes a comprehensive and systematic review of literature through 81 publications pertaining to the legal dimensions of RBH conservation. It processes the data obtained and presents it as bibliometric information utilizing VOS-viewer and Bibliometrix. The literature review results and data are associated with international regulations and documents. As a result, principles that will be helpful to the policy-making process are produced. Findings - The study reveals that interest in the subject has increased since 2018, mainly due to the influence of international charters, documents and developments in the field. The literature review shows that existing laws address the issue broadly rather than focusing directly on RBH. However, current policies, management plans and recommendations referred to in the literature are more closely related to RBH. Nonetheless, notable provisions in laws, international documents and local policies contribute to generating policy principles on the subject. Originality/value - The study fills a gap in the literature by examining RBH conservation from a legal perspective, systematically presenting the relevant literature to researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders in various contexts.