Long-Term Monitoring of Protected Cultural Heritage Environments in Norway: Development of Methods and First-Time Application

Abstract

Norway has a political goal to minimize the loss of cultural heritage due to removal, destruction or decay. On behalf of the national Directorate for Cultural Heritage, we have developed methods to monitor Cultural Heritage Environments. The complementary set of methods includes (1) landscape mapping through interpretation of aerial photographs, including field control of the map data, (2) qualitative and quantitative initial and repeat landscape photography, (3) field recording of cultural heritage objects including preparatory analysis of public statistical data, and (4) recording of stakeholder attitudes, perceptions and opinions. We applied these methods for the first time to the historical clustered farm settlement of Havrå in Hordaland County, West Norway. The methods are documented in a handbook and can be applied as a toolbox, where different monitoring methods or frequency of repeat recording may be selected, dependent on local situations, e.g., on the landscape character of the area in focus.

Integrating Heritage and Environment: Characterization of Cultural Landscape in Beijing Great Wall Heritage Area

“…The Nairobi Recommendation, adopted by the UNESCO in November 1976, states that "each historic area and its surroundings should be viewed as a whole as an Land 2024, 13, 536 3 of 32 interrelated unity, whose coherence and identity depend on the association of its components, including human activities, buildings, spatial structures and the surrounding environment" [14]. Heritage and the environment share a complex interrelationship, and the environment is an indispensable component of cultural heritage areas, adding value to heritage and existing as a co-creator of heritage [15,16]. However, after the successful nomination of World Heritage sites, the landscape conservation and sustainable development of heritage sites have always been neglected.…”