NEW CHALLENGES OF WORLD HERITAGE CONSERVATION: CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
ZHOU Nian-xing1, YU Kong-jian2, HUANG Zhen-fang1
1. College of Geographic Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China;
2. Graduate School of Landscape Architecture, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Abstract：Cultural landscapes have been widely used in the fields of Landscape Ecology, Cultural Geography and Human Ecology. But only recently have been included in the list of world Heritage since 1990s. Cultural landscapes became one of the hot topics in the field of preservation and utilization of World Heritage. They represent the combined works of man and nature.
Cultural landscape is meaningfwl. Firstly, Cultural Landscapeis not only outcome, but be process and act; Secondly, it is the place of peoples' livelihoods, identities and belief systems; Thirdly, it expands the thinking of cultural diversity and biological diversity and its relationships.
The concept of cultural landscapeis helpfwl to understand the principle of authenticity and integrity. The preservation of cultural landscapes should be based on the carefully investigation and inventory of all elements. Preservation, rehabilitation, maintance and replacement are the integral process under the principle of authenticity and integrity. The process and outcomes of the combined works of man and nature is the center of preservation. It includes such aspects as spatial organization and land patterns, topography, waters features, vegetation, circulation, structures and furnishings, health and environment considerations.
The organic relationships between people and land have been evolved deeply and widely for China's long history of agriculture. But it also faces serious crisis of the relationship under the pressure of quick urbanization. The concept of cultural landscapes used in China will be helpful in the fields such as heritage conservation, ecology preservation, cultural maintance, tourism development, and economy development.
