Expanding Horizons: environmental and cultural values within natural boundaries

Abstract

Indigenous communities have much to teach heritage professionals about the identification and management of cultural heritage values. A holistic approach to cultural heritage has long been promoted by indigenous communities; recent discussions in the professional heritage world about social and aesthetic value and debates about cultural landscapes all have precursors in indigenous concepts of cultural heritage. Since 1992 some states in Australia have been engaged in regional assessments of the environmental, heritage, social and economic values of forests. These assessments aim at providing expert advice upon which decisions about the future use of these forests will be made. The inclusion of cultural heritage assessments as part of the overall resource assessment is notable. Regional resource studies such as the Regional Forest Agreement process (incorporating assessments of natural, cultural, social and economic values) provide an opportunity to adopt a more holistic approach to cultural heritage management. In this as in other matters, indigenous communities appear to be leading the way, with the development of catchment resource management models and co-management strategies. As part of the Regional Forest Agreement process in Southeast Queensland (SEQ), two projects have identified principles and protocols concerning the management of cultural heritage values in the forests.