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UNIT-1 – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION

Definitions
Heritage –

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today and what we pass on to the future
generations. Our heritage, both cultural and natural is irreplaceable source of life and inspiration.

Heritage is a full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects and culture. It is
something that gives us a sense of place and informs us about who we are and how our societies
have developed over time.
HERITAGE

CULTURAL NATURAL
HERITAGE HERITAGE

TANGIBLE INTANGIBLE Environment,

Rivers and
Forests,
Sacred
Immovable Movable Folklore,
Grooves etc.,
Legend,
building
techniques
Monuments Artifacts, and
Gardens and Paintings, knowledge
Landscape antiquities, and rituals
Archaeological Books
Sites

Cultural Heritage –

Cultural Heritage is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed
on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic
expressions and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either Intangible or Tangible
Cultural Heritage (ICOMOS, 2002)

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As part of human activity Cultural Heritage produces tangible representations of the value
systems, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles. As an essential part of culture as a whole, Cultural
Heritage, contains these visible and tangible traces form antiquity to the recent past.

Tangible and Intangible Heritage –

Having at one time referred exclusively to the monumental remains of cultures, cultural heritage
as a concept has gradually come to include new categories. Today, we find that heritage is not
only manifested through tangible forms such as artefacts, buildings or landscapes but also
through intangible forms. Intangible heritage includes voices, values, traditions, oral history.
Popularly this is perceived through cuisine, clothing, forms of shelter, traditional skills and
technologies, religious ceremonies, performing arts, storytelling. Today, it is considered that the
tangible heritage is inextricably bound up with the intangible heritage. In conservation projects
the aim is always to preserve both the tangible as well as the intangible heritage.

The intangible heritage includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and
passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals,
festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature in the universe or the knowledge and
skills to produce traditional crafts.

Examples of Intangible World heritage include Vedic Chants, Ramlila, Tagores Poetry etc.,

Natural Heritage –

"Natural heritage" is also an important part of a society's heritage, encompassing

the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known
as biodiversity, as well as geological elements (including mineralogical, geomorphological,
paleontological, etc.), scientifically known as geo-diversity. These kinds of heritage sites often
serve as an important component in a country's tourist industry, attracting many visitors from
abroad as well as locally. Heritage can also include cultural landscapes (natural features that may
have cultural attributes).

Culture –

It is a total way of life. It encompasses a system of belief (ideology). Culture may vary from
place to place which could have been formed because of its historic evolution, geographic
location and so on.

Heritage Building –

A historic building is one that gives us a sense of WONDER and makes us want to know more
about the people and culture that produced it. It has different values but the first one is always
emotional, for it is a symbol of our cultural identity and continuity – a part of our heritage.

Conservation –

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It can be shortly described as an action taken to prevent decay.

Architectural Conservation –

It is process in which MATERIAL, HISTORICAL AND DESIGN integrity of mankind’s built

heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions.
Architectural conservation deals with issues of prolonging the life and integrity of architectural
character such as form and style, and/or its constituent materials, such as stone, brick, glass,
metal, and wood. In this sense, the term refers to the "professional use of a combination of
science, art, craft, and technology as a preservation tool"
In addition to the design and art/science definition described above, architectural conservation
also refers to issues of identification, policy, regulation, and advocacy associated with the
entirety of the cultural and built environment. This broader scope recognizes that society has
mechanisms to identify and value historic cultural resources, create laws to protect these
resources, and develop policies and management plans for interpretation, protection, and
education. Typically this process operates as a specialized aspect of a society's planning system,
and its practitioners are termed built or historic environment conservation professionals.
Urban Conservation –
This deals with conservation of different kinds of heritage within a city or town. The approach
here is not for individual buildings but an overall approach to taking policy level decisions
keeping in mind the issues relating to heritage. This may include creating of heritage zones,
precincts etc., to do special planning so as to conserve the overall heritage value of the urban
fabric. The first step in this will include listing the heritage available with the help of inventory
forms and understanding the heritage so as to solve the issues.
Urban Design –
Urban design is a process which addresses the larger scale of group of buildings, of streets and
public spaces, whole neighborhoods and districts and entire cities, to make urban areas
functional attractive and sustainable.Urban Design falls between the professions of planning and
Architecture.It involves a spectrum of social, cultural, and physical design issues.Urban design is
concerned with the physical form of cities, buildings and the space between them.
Urban Renewal –
It is program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use,
sometimes also called as reconstruction. It may involve relocation of businesses, the demolition
of structures, the relocation of people and converting private property into public property. In
some cases it may lead to urban sprawl.
Urban renewal attempts to sustain or improve some particular commercial functions of the city,
most commonly retailing.Furtherance of urban design goals –attempts to beautify –or de-uglify-
a downtown street might be tied to attempts to increase downtown retailing activity that might be
part of a larger effort aimed at employment expansion.

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Provision of a variety of services as social services: day care, job training, or drug rehabilitation.
Service provision is likely to be directed primarily to less affluent segments of the community’s
population.

Degrees of Intervention in Conservation

The minimum degree of intervention necessary and the techniques used depend upon the
conditions of climate and exposure to which the cultural property is likely to be
subjected.Interventions practically always invoke some loss of value in cultural property, but are
justified in order to preserve the object for the future.In some cases, a decision not to intervene
may be the best appropriate choice. It is good for people dealing with heritage buildings o
remember that the “minimum effective intervention is always the best”.
a. PREVENTION OF DETERIORATION: (indirect conservation)
• Prevention entails protecting cultural property by controlling its
environment, thus preventing agents of decay and damage from becoming
active
• Sound maintenance procedure is very important, mainly external control
without touching the building as such
• Regular inspection of the heritage building is the basis of prevention of
deterioration.
b. PRESERVATION:
• It deals directly with the cultural property. Its object is to keep it in
existing state. Repairs must be carried out when necessary to prevent
further decay
• Damage and destruction caused by water in all its forms, by chemical
agents and by all types of pests and micro-organisms must be stopped in
order to preserve the structure.
c. CONSOLIDATION:
• Consolidation is the physical addition or application of adhesives or
supportive material in order to ensure its continued durability or structural
integrity
• Sometimes, it may entail the injection of adhesives to secure a detached
mural painting to the wall.
• If the structural supports or elements have become weak consolidation in
the form of new supports may be required.
• However, to the maximum the integrity of the historic structure’s
structural system must be respected and its form preserved.
• Only by understanding how an historic building acts as a “spatial
environmental system” is it possible to introduce new techniques
satisfactorily
• Use of traditional skills very important; however in certain cases
reversible modern techniques can be used.
• In many cases it will be better to buy time when dealing with historic
building in order to conserve it properly.
d. RESTORATION:

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The object of restoration is to review the original concept or legibility of

•
the object
• Respect for original material, archaeological evidence, original design and
authentic documents.
• The replaced part should integrate harmoniously with the whole, but must
be distinguishable on close inspection from the original.
• Contribution from all periods must be respected
• The revealing of underlying layer can be justified only in exceptional
circumstances; the material brought to light is of great historical or
archeological values
• Restoration by anastylosis, recreation by or with original material and
elements. Care to be taken that the finished product does not look like a
film set
e. REHABLITATION: (ADAPTIVE REUSE)
• The best way of preserving buildings as opposed to objects is to keep them
in use.
• Sometimes structural rehabilitation is only done (when structural members
are only are added)
• Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for
the purpose other than it was built or designed for.
• Mainly when old buildings becomes unsuitable for their programmatic
requirements
• However the original use is the best use for any heritage building, as it
means fewer changes.
• Rehabilitation emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials,
but more latitude is provided for replacement because it is assumed that
the property is more deteriorated prior to work.
f. REPRODUCTION:
• Reproduction entails copying an extant artifact, often in order to replace
some missing or decayed part, generally decorative, to maintain its
aesthetic harmony.
• If valuable cultural property is being damaged irretrievably or it is
threatened by its environment and a reproduction substituted in order to
maintain the unity of the site or a building
• Rescue archaeology or preventive archeology or salvage archeology is the
collection of data and materials from the site in danger of imminent
destruction, as from new construction or flooding. In this case new
construction can be dams, roads etc.,
g. RECONSTRUCTION:
• Reconstruction of historic buildings using new materials may be
necessitated by disasters such as fire, earthquake or war.
• However it will never have the patina of age (showing the oldness of the
structure)
• The reconstruction should always be based on accurate documentary
evidence andnot on conjuncture (assumptions)

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• The moving of entire buildings to the new sites is another form of

reconstruction justified by overriding national interests.

ROLE OF CONSERVATION ARCHITECT

• In addition to his/her practice as general architect, he must have the knowledge and
understanding of the early building technology.
• He must be able to identify the original fabric and later additions, and interpret the
findings to the client.
• To execute any scheme the conservation architect must coordinate the work of
archeologists, engineers, planners, landscape architects, contractors, suppliers, craftsmen,
anthropologists, historians and others who might be involved in the project.
• The conservation architect should have knowledge of all periods of architecture
combined with the understanding of the modern building techniques.
• He must be able to preserve the historic and artistic values of the structure yet giving
respect to the modern requirements.
• Relevant requirements laid down by the codes of practice and building regulations, or
obtaining waivers to any if applicable building regulations and codes wherever
applicable.

ETHICS OF CONSERVATION
• The condition of the building before any intervention and all the methods and materials
used during intervention must be fully and carefully documented
• In any case historic evidence must not be destroyed, falsified or removed
• Any intervention must be the minimum necessary intervention
• Any intervention must be governed by the unswerving respect for the aesthetic, historic
and physical integrity of cultural property
• Any intervention should be reversible
• It should not prejudice a future intervention whenever this may become necessary
• It should not hinder the possibility of later access to all evidence incorporated in the
object
• It should allow the maximum amount of existing material to be retained
• It should be harmonious in color, tone, texture, form and scale, if additions are necessary,
but should be less noticeable than the original material, while at the same time being
identifiable
• It should not be undertaken by conservators/restorers who are undertrained.

LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT OF CONSERVATION ARCHITECTS

LEVEL I – Study & Research through the following steps
a. Documentation of the structure, analysis and its interpretation
b. Historic documentation through primary and secondary sources

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The above given study and research can be for individual building or precinct or even larger
setup of the city depending upon the scope of the project
LEVEL II – Technical aspectsCovering (this is for building level only)
a. Traditional building materials
b. Structural repairs
c. Maintenance and up gradation of historic structures.
LEVEL III – Design, reuse, infill, modification and new buildings in historic areas
LEVEL IV – City Level policies, regulations, guide lines etc.,
PROBLEMS IN CONSERVATION WITH RESPECT TO INDIA:-
(i) DIVERSITY - Almost 3000 different cities and towns in India
displaying diversity in their characteristics, now the problem lies in
how to understand it in a better way so as to save it-can it be looked
into one frame work.
(ii) POLITICS - The second problem is identifying the role and activities
of the people, along with the objects, and hence has a political meaning
in the contemporary phase of our development.
(iii) PEOPLE - Demographically, economically and socially transforming
our society. Hence there should be in protection of cultural heritage.
This leads to the question development versus conservation. Some also
say conservation is being anti-progress.
(iv) LACK OF RESOURCES - Scarcity of both material and professional resources.

VALUES IN CONSERVATION:-
-Conservation must preserve and, if possible, enhance the messages and values of
proposed cultural interventions, as well as to establish the extent and nature of property.
-These values help systematically to overall priorities in deciding proposed
interventions, as well as to establish the extent and nature of individual treatment.
VALUES ASSIGNED TO CULTURAL PROPERTY:-
i. EMOTIONAL VALUES.
(a) WONDER (b)IDENTITY (c)CONTINUITY (d)SPIRITUAL AND SYMBOLIC.
(e) AETHETIC AND ARTISTIC.

ii. CULTURAL VALUES.

(a)DOCUMENTARY (b)HISTORIC (c)ARCHEOLOGICAL-ANTIQUE
(d)AESTHETIC AND SYMBOLIC (e)ARCHITECTURAL (f)TOWNSCAPE,
LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL (g)SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL

iii. USE VALUES.

(a)FUNCTIONAL (b)ECONOMIC (c)SOCIAL (d)POLITICAL.

(i) EMOTIONAL VALUES.

(i-a) WONDER:-

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Anyone who sees this heritage gets this question in the mind.
Who made it? How was it made?
Why was it made? What made him make it?
In short one simply wonders at the creation at first glance.

(i-b) IDENTITY:-
The monument or property is an identity of our own, we identity
ourselves with that with pride.

(i-c)CONTINUITY:-
Confers legitimacy and reassures us when we face the future. The fact
that the monuments have stood the test of time gives us the sense of continuity.

(i-d)SPIRITUAL AND SYMBOLIC:-

- Veneration, an emotion related to the respect for, or belief in, the
history or myths that are attached to an objects or site thousands of
pilgrims travel etc.
- Many times monuments have been used to symbolize the
achievements of great people.eg:-QutubMinar. Commerative
- Certain monuments have spiritual messages – different forms for
different religions and cultural eg:-Hagia Sophia in Istanbul turkey-
a church, a mosque, a museum a universal message of equality.
- Some attached values like reading the heaven – beliefs as like that.

(i-e)AESTHETIC AND ARTISTIC VALUE:-

- It is related to the pleasure, to the emotions experienced by a person
on seeing a heritage object.
- This may change from one individual to other.
- The artistic worth of a monument or an object is determined by its
contribution to the general artistic movement.
- The perfection of its workmanship in terms of a particular style or
the progress that it represents.

(ii) CULTURAL VALUES :-

(ii-a) DOCUMENTARY VALUES :-
- Objects and buildings convey the most complete record of the past
civilizations.
- The historic evidence provided by the buildings must be recorded
properly.

(ii-b)HISTORIC VALUES :-

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- Must be related to a historic event or a person very famous in

history.
- Helps in understanding about the person who built it.
- If artifact belonged to a person helps to gauge a character of the
person.
- They teach history with that.

(ii-c)ARCHEOLOGICAL VALUES:-
- It involves the unexplored potential of a building or site to give
information.
- Generally done using scientific studies.
- The fact, that these studies will someday lead to discovery of
certain knowledge of the past which can be used for future is very
important.
- Hence the retention of the cultural fabric is very
important.(building fabric).

(ii-d)AESTHETIC AND SYMBOLIC:-

- Sometimes the buildings aesthetic presence acts as a symbol in
itself.
- Eg:- The TajMahal (symbol of love)
- It becomes symbolic either because of its aesthetic appeal (mostly)
or because of human perception.

(ii-e)ARCHITECTURAL VALUES:-
- Are related to the individual’s movement through spaces and the
feelings generated from the same.
- The vitruvian virtues of Architecture. UTILITAS, FIRMITAS,
VENUSTAS.
- UTILITAS (function-commodity-utility)
It relates to the usefulness of the building. If it cannot be used then
it becomes a economic threat to its own existence.
- FIRMITAS (solidity-materiality)
It relates to the strength of the building with respect to the resisting
of the loads and a standing tall with only very minor
damages.9some of the buildings only).
- VENUSTAS (Beauty-delight-desire)
It covers the artistic element in architecture such as the relationship
of the building to the site, the massing and silhouette, the
proportions of the element to the whole.

(ii-f)TOWNSCAPE, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL VALUE:-

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- The Urban setting of a monument with regards to the townscape. It

is related to what kind of a skyline that monument brings to the
urban skyline.
- The views of significant reference points and vistas.
- Analysis of the quality of a town including the compression and
opening of space, formal spaces, surprises, and drama.
- The fact that how the landscape setting has been used by the
previous generation and how that has been passed on to the future.
- Natural sites like Mountains, forests, rivers and seas which man
made buildings and town contrasts
- In certain cases the values generated by climate and underlying
geology.

(ii-g)TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC:-

- These values in an object, building or site can enhance its
significance.
- Appreciating the technological achievements of casting bronze or
iron in a fine building or sculpture, tells us a real deal about the
civilizations that created them. Usually found in pioneering
structures.

(iii) USE VALUES:-

(iii-a) FUNCTIONAL VALUE:-
- One of the important positives of historic building is the continuity
of its function.
- The continuation of the same function for years increases the use
value of the building.

(iii-b)ECONOMIC VALUE:-
- If the building is going to be functional is going to be functional it
is going to be economical.
- Secondly the building may also be economical due to various
values given above due to the generation of tourists traffic to the
site.(Emotional value).
- Related to the revenue generation from cultural property.

(iii-c)SOCIAL VALUE:-
- Identity and continuity of the society.
- The word “OURS” –OUR HERITAGE play an important part.

(iii-d)POLITICAL VALUE:-
- Establish N ational pride.

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- Past history of politics directly linked to the buildings.

- Eg:-RashtrapathiBhavan.

UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples,
based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can
achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights,
mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission
and activities.
The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community – as set out in the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO’s strategies and activities. Thus UNESCO’s unique
competencies in education, the sciences, culture and communication and information contribute
towards the realization of those goals.
UNESCO under its aegis has five main themes or programs namely Education, Natural
Sciences, Social & Human Sciences, Culture, Communication & Information

Under the theme Culture, there are different themes of which some are listed as follows, a.
Culture and Development, b. World Heritage, c. Intangible heritage, d. Armed conflict and
heritage etc.,

The UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural
and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention (World Heritage Convention)
concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in
1972.

UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:

• Encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the
protection of their natural and cultural heritage; once the countries sign the convention
they become the State Parties

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• Encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national
territory for inclusion on the World Heritage List;
• Encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems
on the state of conservation of their World Heritage sites;
• Help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical
assistance and professional training;
• Provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;
• Support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage
conservation;
• Encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and
natural heritage;
• Encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and
natural heritage.

The world Heritage convention:

• The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is that it links
together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of
cultural properties. The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with
nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
• The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for
inscription on the World Heritage List.
• The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and
their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country
pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to
protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection
of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and
services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt
measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community.
• It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and under what
conditions international financial assistance may be provided.
• The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World
Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties.
These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the
conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent
problems.
• It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World
Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information
programmes.

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The world Heritage Committee:

The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the
States Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly. At its first session, the
Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee

The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines
the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States
Parties. It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. The
Committee can also defer its decision and request further information on properties from the
States Parties. It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks
States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on
the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Advisory bodies:

Three international non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations are named in the
Convention to advise the Committee in its deliberations.

IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature

ICOMOS – The International Council on Monuments and Sites
ICCORM – The International Centre for the study and preservation of cultural property

Selection criteria for World Heritage Sites:

(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural
area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-
planning or landscape design;

(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization

which is living or which has disappeared;

(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble

or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;

(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is

representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially
when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with
beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee
considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

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(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and
aesthetic importance;

(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the
record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or
significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological

processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine
ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of
biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value
from the point of view of science or conservation.

The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important
considerations.

Since 1992 significant interactions between people and the natural environment have been
recognized as cultural landscapes.

ICOMOS
International Council on monuments and sites
ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only
global non-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the application
of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and
archaeological heritage. Its work is based on the principles enshrined in the 1964 International
Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the Venice Charter).

ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its
members, among which are architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers,
anthropologists, engineers and town planners.

The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, the standards
and the techniques for each type of cultural heritage property : buildings, historic cities, cultural
landscapes and archaeological sites

Its role: to preserve and enhance

ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a global non-governmental
organization associated with UNESCO. Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection,

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use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites. He participates in the
development of doctrine, evolution and distribution of ideas, conducts advocacy. ICOMOS is the
Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for the Implementation of the World Heritage
Convention of UNESCO. As such, it reviews the nominations of cultural world heritage of
humanity and ensures the conservation status of properties.
Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of the first interviews as architects, historians and
international experts have begun early in the twentieth century and that had materialized in the
adoption of the Charter of Venice in 1964. In light of numerous studies, conferences, symposia
and discussions led by its National Committees and International Scientific Committees,
ICOMOS has gradually built through philosophical and doctrinal heritage internationally.

Its values: to unite around Heritage

Cultural and social diversity, collegiality

From around the world, with diverse and complementary professional backgrounds, researchers,
scientists, lawyers Heritage, economists, engineers, artisans, professionals, academics, private
consultants, elected officials, state representatives, etc.., Put their ideas and expertise together in
a spirit of collegiality and respect for their cultural and religious differences.

Impartiality
As the NGOs, ICOMOS is one of the three Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention.
Institution to prepare its opinion, it uses a network of experts, chosen for their expertise and
experience, who advise technology independently and in accordance with the ethical rules.

Exchanges between countries, North-South dialogue, solidarity

ICOMOS, like any organization related to UNESCO's mission is the reconciliation of peoples
and cultures. That's why it created the Fund in 2003 Victoria Falls which facilitates the mobility
of members from poor countries. In addition, during the great natural disasters, ICOMOS
provides experts and specialists in the development of emergency measures for the preservation,
conservation and restoration of heritage (Haiti, China, Iran, etc.). It is a founding member of the
Blue Shield.

Transmission and youth involvement

ICOMOS' mission is to raison heritage awareness. It participated in training activities, welcomes

and involves young researchers and professionals around his issues and his actions. Raymond
Lemaire International Fund awards scholarships to young hopefuls to complete their education or
improve their experience.

Free Access to Information

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Finally, ICOMOS supports open access, free and unrestricted, scientific publications, through the
project "ICOMOS Open Archive: EPrints on Cultural Heritage".

ICCROM

International Centre for the study of the preservation and restoration of the
cultural property
ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage.
Its members are individual states which have declared their adhesion to it. It exists to serve the
international community as represented by its Member States, which currently number 132.

It is the only institution of its kind with a worldwide mandate to promote the conservation of all
types of cultural heritage, both movable and immovable.

The decision to found the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration
of Cultural Property was made at the 9th UNESCO General Conference in New Delhi in 1956, at
a time of mounting interest in the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. It was
subsequently established in Rome in 1959 at the invitation of the Government of Italy.

ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation practice as well as raising awareness
about the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

ICCROM contributes to preserving cultural heritage in the world today and for the future
through five main areas of activity:

Training, Information, Research, Cooperation and Advocacy

Training

ICCROM contributes to conservation training by developing new educational tools and

materials, and organizing professional training activities around the world. Since 1966,
ICCROM's courses have involved over 4,000 professionals.

Information

ICCROM has one of the world's leading conservation libraries. The catalogue contains over
89,000 entries relating to books, reports and specialized journals in more than 40 languages.
ICCROM also has a collection of over 17,000 images. In addition, this website offers
comprehensive information on international events and training opportunities in the field of
conservation-restoration.

Research

ICCROM organizes and coordinates meetings to devise common approaches and methodologies
and to promote the definition of internationally agreed ethics, criteria and technical standards for

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conservation practice. The ICCROM Laboratory is both a resource and reference point for
conservation experts.

Cooperation

All ICCROM activities involve institutional and professional partners. Cooperation is provided
in the form of technical advice, collaborative visits, and education and training.

Advocacy

ICCROM disseminates teaching materials and organizes workshops and other activities to raise
public awareness and support for conservation.

UNDP

United Nations Development programme

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand
crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.
On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to
help empower lives and build resilient nations.

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millenium Development Goals, including the
overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates
global and national efforts to reach these Goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share
solutions to the challenges of:
• Poverty Reduction and Achievement of the MDGs
• Democratic Governance
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery
• Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development
UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we
encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of
women.
The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global
debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis
and often controversial policy proposals. The global Report's analytical framework and
inclusive approach carry over into regional, national and local Human Development
Reports, also supported by UNDP.
In each country office, the UNDP Resident Representative normally also serves as the
Resident Coordinator of development activities for the United Nations system as a whole.

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Through such coordination, UNDP seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and
international aid resources.

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Ar. MUZAKKIR G. M. BIJLI – ASST. PROF