Community Involvement for Sustainable World Heritage Sites: The Melaka Case

Local communities in UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) are largely excluded from heritage protection and conservation planning, undermining sustainable management. A study on Melaka, a WHS recognized for its outstanding universal value (OUV), found minimal community participation despite international guidelines emphasizing local involvement. The research involved consultations and focus group discussions with various communities between 2013-2014, revealing that the local community is treated as an object rather than a subject of development. This exclusion contrasts with UNESCO's emphasis on community-driven heritage safeguarding, which advocates for active participation in decision-making to ensure sustainable continuity as a WHS.

Puay Liu, O. (2017). Community Involvement for Sustainable World Heritage Sites: The Melaka Case. Kajian Malaysia, 35(Supp.1), 59–76. https://doi.org/10.21315/km2017.35.supp.1.4