The Challenges of Integrated Conservation and Development in Historic Rural Landscapes; Case Study: The Historic Villages of East Azerbaijan, Iran

Abstract

The notion of Historical Rural Landscape was introduced in 1990 by National Park Service. This approach studies the relationship between man as a cultural agent, nature as a physical intervener, and the built environment due to the coordination of these two in historic places. In recent years, the conservation of historic rural landscapes has evolved and strains to reestablish the balance between protecting the local values in historic villages and development in these settlements. Contemporary demands of rural communities in Iran for development and the increasing speed of change have encountered rural heritage and protection of equilibrium among them with many challenges. Therefore, with the aim of quantitative approach and field surveys, this study tries to identify and classify the existing challenges in the historical rural landscapes of East Azerbaijan villages. Based on the findings, these challenges are categorised into global and local challenges and sub-sections related to nature and human beings. Additionally, the results indicate that many of the challenges are rooted in humanistic issues, for example, inadequate technical and professional knowledge, inadequate legal structures, and residents’ tendency to adopt living urban cultures. All of which result in a failure to establish a balance between integrated conversation and development.