Continuity: a fundamental yet overlooked concept in World Heritage policy and practice

Abstract

If a World Heritage property does not continue to have Outstanding Universal Value, it ceases to be World Heritage. ‘Continuity’ is a fundamental concept, yet the Operational Guidelines (OG) do not recognize its great practical utility. This article argues that this concept should be operationalized to help resolve significant issues and challenges facing the World Heritage system. In particular, replacing authenticity with continuity in the OG can: 1. bridge the culture/nature divide to maintain interlinkages, indissoluble bonds, and interactions between people and properties; 2. facilitate the application of the people-centred living heritage approach and historic urban landscape approach to exceed the limits of the materials-based approach imposed by the Venice Charter; and 3. enhance the role of communities in World Heritage management to better recognize and respect their needs and rights. In conclusion, the author outlines a way forward, which is to operationalize continuity, not only as a qualifying condition for future nominations of cultural and/or natural properties, but also as a strategic objective (6th C) to help achieve the goals identified in the 2012–2022 Strategic Action Plan. The original ideas expressed in this article contribute to advancing intellectual discussions about contemporary World Heritage issues and to overcoming these issues.

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