Values-based management at cultural heritage sites

Cultural heritage is a key resource for the sustainable development of present day communities. All management systems should be based on the aim of conserving all the values of the site. Values-based management can be applied to cultural heritage sites irrespective of the level of heritage significance: whether listed at World Heritage, national, state, regional or local level. Community participation in the identification of values and management issues provides effective and long term protection of cultural heritage. Values-based management for sustainable development includes addressing tourism issues and working with the tourism industry. What is values-based management? It is a system in which planning and management are based on an assessment of all the cultural heritage values of the site, and with policies and strategies in place to demonstrate this. In values-based management the comprehensive management effort is directed specifically towards conserving all the heritage values of the place for the long term.