Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: The Role of Local NGOS in rehabilitation of Historic Cities in Palestine

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Date
2006-03-14
Authors
Eman Assi
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<p>The increased recognition now being given to culture heritage is part of the broader changes that have taken place in development thinking in the 1990s. The cultural sector is believed to be one of the main components contributing to effective economic growth rather than a drain on budgetary resources. This paper addresses the issue of how heritage is being conserved and how we as current users of space see this traditional environment. And our capabilities as restorers of this heritage depend mainly on how far can we allow for and maintain a maximum degree of authenticity and also if we can pursue the idea of mobilizing hidden resources in our interventions. Authenticity as a quality refers to the entire society and its behavior patterns and will be reflected in the continuation of tradition and traditional types of function and use. This continuity cannot be achieved by simply reproducing frozen architectural forms but must be fostered by reviving internal shaping processes. This paper will discuss the role of local organizations in Palestine in the field of conservation of historic cities as case study. It critically evaluates NGO’s contributions, their limits, accountability and performance in achieving a sustainable approach. It stress on the importance of emphasizing the values embedded in historic cities. This does not automatically imply rejecting evolutionary forms of change, nor does it mean that all historic structures should be conserved at any cost. But it does suggest that certain essential structuring principles can be revived, adopted and perpetuated to the advantage of contemporary societies. Authenticity and generating from within are two major aspects that should be considered in order to allow for a sustainable solutions.</p>
<p>The increased recognition now being given to culture heritage is part of the broader changes that have taken place in development thinking in the 1990s. The cultural sector is believed to be one of the main components contributing to effective economic growth rather than a drain on budgetary resources. This paper addresses the issue of how heritage is being conserved and how we as current users of space see this traditional environment. And our capabilities as restorers of this heritage depend mainly on how far can we allow for and maintain a maximum degree of authenticity and also if we can pursue the idea of mobilizing hidden resources in our interventions. Authenticity as a quality refers to the entire society and its behavior patterns and will be reflected in the continuation of tradition and traditional types of function and use. This continuity cannot be achieved by simply reproducing frozen architectural forms but must be fostered by reviving internal shaping processes. This paper will discuss the role of local organizations in Palestine in the field of conservation of historic cities as case study. It critically evaluates NGO’s contributions, their limits, accountability and performance in achieving a sustainable approach. It stress on the importance of emphasizing the values embedded in historic cities. This does not automatically imply rejecting evolutionary forms of change, nor does it mean that all historic structures should be conserved at any cost. But it does suggest that certain essential structuring principles can be revived, adopted and perpetuated to the advantage of contemporary societies. Authenticity and generating from within are two major aspects that should be considered in order to allow for a sustainable solutions.</p>
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