Final Report of the Working Group on Cultural Heritage

Comparative Study : Similarities And Differences

Edgar Tavares López, Arq. [archeologist]
Dirección de Patrimonio Mundial [World Heritage Directorate]
Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
[National Institute of Anthropology and History]
Mexico

With the limited participation of just five member countries of the International Network on Cultural Policy--South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, the Philippines and Mexico--the Virtual Meeting called by Mexico was held from December 2001 to April 2002. Its main objective was to examine the various opportunities that cultural heritage, tangible and intangible (traditional, contemporary and industrial), can offer for the economic and social development of nations.

In summary, it could be said that this Virtual Meeting, held over the Network's Agora site, helped foster a general understanding of the various institutions dealing with cultural heritage in the above countries, the legislation established for its protection, use of the most modern technology for registration and identification of cultural heritage, the importance attributed to intangible heritage; as well as the participation of civil society, the development of cultural tourism, strategies and resources for preserving the cultural resources of these peoples, and the function of major international organizations in supporting the conservation of world heritage.

The information gathered via the Internet familiarized us with the working methods used in the area of cultural heritage that have been developed by five countries from four continents--Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe--a summary of which is presented below.

Intangible Heritage:

The members of the International Network on Cultural Policy were hoping that the focus at this meeting of the Working Group on Cultural Heritage would be mainly on intangible heritage, given that this is the area that has received the least attention from international organizations. The question was therefore asked: What role does intangible heritage play in the social and economic development of your country? The answers to this question were diverse.

The governments of South Africa and the Philippines fully recognize the significance of intangible heritage, considering it a priority topic within their cultural activities. They are also aware of the importance of sharing that heritage with visitors and documenting and preserving certain forms of that heritage that need to be developed together with the social and cultural aspects of their countries. In comparison, the Swiss government acknowledged that the significance of intangible heritage is still not clearly defined, and that it does not have indicators that allow it to measure the impact of such heritage on the socioeconomic development of the country. However, it is carrying out certain activities together with civil society to preserve the original characteristics of its folk culture, such as those related to language, folkloric traditions, dances and traditional art.

Canada has a clearly defined concept of intangible heritage and is currently scouting all corners of the nation to identify collections of that heritage. For its part, Mexico pointed out the lack of recognition of intangible heritage by its government authorities, which is an obstacle to progress in its preservation and development. The same is true of the cultural protagonists themselves, whose vision is narrowed by their limitations, marginalization and lack of incentives. It is therefore essential to promote policies that encourage community participation in the cultural, social, civic and environmental life of the nation. It is also important to influence the drafting of public policy aimed at training specialized educators who can help restore values linked to the sustainable process of national and international heritage development that can be strengthened in daily practice.

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Institutions:

On this topic, all the countries that participated in this Virtual Meeting have institutions or organizations devoted to the preservation and promotion of their cultural heritage. In South Africa, the South African Agency for Heritage Resources has been established, which is responsible for managing national heritage, including living heritage. The Federal Office of Culture in Switzerland has a special section devoted to the preservation and promotion of historic monuments that has developed a distinctive and internationally recognized inventory model (ISOS).

The Department of Canadian Heritage and its agencies are entrusted with overseeing the country's cultural and natural heritage, for which they are responsible. The participation of eight main agencies -some of which date back to the 19th century- including Parks Canadais worth mentioning. The regular and close contact the professionals of those agencies have with their counterparts in the provinces and territories is significant. Canada shares its experience with professionals and experts from around the world through seminars, conferences, publications, etc. It also shares resources with other countries, as it is a signatory to various international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage.

The Philippines has six main institutions devoted to preserving its heritage, and the assistance it has granted to other countries has been substantial, as has the experience its has obtained in this field. Noteworthy among its daily activities are those coordinated with UNESCO, ASEAN, ASPC, Asia-Pacific, and Asia-Europe, among others. In Mexico, the most solid institution is the National Institute of Anthropology and History, which has become the defender of cultural heritage; throughout the past decade, it has played a leading role in the exchange of experience on protection and conservation of cultural heritage. The Institute also participates actively and officially in the meetings of the Bureau and of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Technological Advances:

Most of the countries involved emphasized the importance of taking advantage of technological innovations in administering and managing their cultural heritage. For example, Switzerland provided information on two projects supported by current technology. CHOICE creates a common platform of tools available to the public, in which regional documents are inserted, financial aspects, the ISOS project. There is also a project consisting of enumerating and identifying the photographic collection of the Federal Archives of Historic Monuments to make it accessible to the public.

The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) prides itself on having made good use of technology to ensure proper management of its collections over the past 30 years. This has resulted in various products and virtual museums, as well as the training of national and foreign museographers. The main objective of CHIN is to ensure that heritage professionals are kept up-to-date on the latest information and communication technologies, which has an influence on the performance of their agencies.

The Philippines recognizes that the Internet has facilitated the exchange of information and that cyberspace links are of enormous benefit. This country has benefited from technological advances in various ways, one of which has been the incorporation of data and information relating to cultural heritage into a National Cultural Database maintained and updated by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Mexico has also gotten involved in this activity by digitalizing and cataloguing about 70,000 historic monuments to date of an estimated total of 110,000 throughout the nation; this allows easy consultation of the most important data on that cultural wealth.

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Legislative Measures:

One of the fundamental topics in the protection of cultural heritage is, without a doubt, the legislative measures established for that purpose. In this regard, most of the participating countries have a series of recent laws, acts and declarations, with the exception of Mexico. In the Philippines, the government established a series of laws in the late 90s (1998-99) that were fundamentally aimed at developing government structures and systems for the protection and management of local heritage. These laws are also aimed at obtaining resources, as well as managing and promoting living heritage.

The Swiss government was quite frank in recognizing that it had legislative shortcomings or loopholes directly related to the preservation and promotion of its archeological heritage. For its part, Canada mentioned various acts, most of which were enacted in the 90s. Noteworthy among them are those related to the protection of railway stations, national historic sites and monuments, and prevention of the uncontrolled exportation of Canadian heritage. Special mention goes to the Museums Act, which protects four of the country's most interesting museums considered to be basic agencies of Canadian Heritage.

The Philippines also pointed out various acts, proclamations and presidential decrees established for the protection of its cultural heritage. This legislation recognizes National Living Treasures; the cultural rights of the indigenous communities that gave rise to the creation of the National Commission on Indigenous Populations; the declaration of important national landscapes, monuments and sanctuaries; and the tax exemption applicable to all donations made to the National Museum and Library, as well as to the archives of the National Historical Institute.

In Mexico the protection of cultural heritage is based on Article 27 of its Political Constitution. In addition, Article 73(XXV) establishes that the issuance of laws relating to the conservation of cultural heritage is an authority of the Congress of the Union, which can issue laws on archeological, artistic and historic monuments whose conservation is of national interest. Based on these premises, Congress issued the Federal Law on Archeological, Artistic and Historic Monuments and Zones published on 6 May 1972.

In accordance with that law, the following property is subject to protection: archeological monuments, property resulting from the pre-Hispanic cultures; historic monuments, property linked to the history of the nation as of the establishment of Spanish culture and through to the 19th century, artistic monuments, property with significant esthetic value from the 20th century and thereafter, archeological monument zones, territorial areas where immovable archeological monuments are found or thought to exist; historic monument zones, areas that include various historic monuments related to a national event, artistic monument zones, and areas that include various artistic monuments associated with one another that have significant esthetic value.

The federal law and its regulations (issued in December 1975) establish a series of provisions aimed mainly at preventing plundering, illegal traffic in cultural property and deterioration of the heritage of Mexican rural and urban environments. Other national laws deal with heritage and its relationship to urban development, natural heritage, religious historic property and tourism. From the copyright point of view, a Federal Copyright Act has been established that contains provisions aimed at ensuring respect for the authors of expressions of folk culture.

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Social Players:

As one of the parties responsible for cultural heritage, civil society plays a fundamental role in its preservation and promotion. In this regard, all the countries stated that they had non-governmental and civil organizations that work together with the State. In South Africa, various non-governmental organizations and civil society groups have been established at the national level to promote cultural heritage expressed in artistic and craft form, as well as the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage. Those organizations are grouped according to their particular interest, as in the case of the Military History Society of South Africa, the South African Museums Association, etc.

Switzerland does not restrict itself to national, regional and local experts in defining areas of responsibility. An example of this is the Law on Protection of Landscapes and Nature, which calls for significant participation by civil society as a monitoring body in this area. This law grants national NGOs, particularly Swiss Heritage/Heimatschutz, the right to veto government decisions. Religious communities are also important players in the preservation of cultural heritage, as are private groups, though to a lesser extent. The private sector offers little support, and when it does so, it is through foundations.

Efforts to preserve and promote cultural heritage in Canada are carried out effectively through close cooperation and willingness on the part of the various levels of government as well as NGOs, cultural and academic communities, and the private sector. One example is the assistance provided by university experts in museums with respect to the control of imports and exports of cultural property, and invitations to donate property to institutions that can preserve that heritage and make it accessible to the public. The promotion of cultural heritage by the government and the heritage sector is also supported by various patrons and a high number of volunteers and volunteer organizations such as the Canadian Federation of Friends of Museums.

For its part, the Philippines identified nine organizations, including foundations (Carlos Palanca, Phinma and Villanueva Foundation), banking companies and institutions (Metropolitan Bank of Manila, The Citibank Card Network), as well as other social players that help promote and preserve its cultural heritage. Likewise in Mexico, various groups or associations have been established that have gradually achieved recognition by government authorities as guardians, promoters, patrons and disseminators of tangible and intangible national heritage. Worth mentioning are the cultural foundations of Banamex, Bancomer, Televisa, Herdez, the Federación de Patronatos [Federation of Patrons], the civil societies Amigos de la Catedral [Friends of the Cathedral] and Amigos del Museo de Antropología [Friends of the Museum of Anthropology], etc. We should note here the establishment of certain associations within rural communities or provinces for the rehabilitation of their temples, or in certain neighbourhoods in the country's capital for protection of their architectural heritage, as in the case of the Movimiento Pro-Dignification de la Colonia Roma A. C. [Movement for Dignification of the Colonia Roma, A.C.], which is currently celebrating its 100th year of existence.

Cultural Tourism:

Searching for a balance between the positive social and economic aspects of so-called cultural tourism and the need for heritage protection, the countries participating in this Virtual Meeting saw eye to eye in viewing tourism as a source of resources for economic and social development in communities with a cultural heritage. Such is the case of South Africa, where the government, to help alleviate the poverty of some sites, launched a sustainable employment initiative based on the development of craft products that focused on those produced by the Khoi-San communities. Protection of the heritage of that region, as well as of the rock painting sites and cemeteries that form part of a cultural village established as the basis for selling the products, is so important that it is covered by the Act relating to National Heritage Resources enacted in 1999.

For the Swiss government, the relationship between heritage and tourism is still a subject of disagreement. If monitoring and development in this area is left to the regions, there may be nothing to prevent the commercial exploitation of heritage. The legal restraints must therefore be respected, i.e., the historical substance of heritage must be preserved.

In Canada, tourism serves to bring people heavily separated by geography and tradition together. Cultural and natural tourism can help the economies of large and small centres, creating opportunities for establishing businesses and generating employment. The economic benefits could be a strong incentive for the public and private sectors to support cultural institutions and sites, thus promoting the preservation of heritage and the development and dissemination of heritage awareness.

The various levels of the Canadian government recognize the benefits and risks of tourism for the development and evolution of cultural heritage, and seek to promote the former and lessen the latter by encouraging the heritage sector to develop its commercial potential through tourism. At the same time, they supply public funds and other support necessary to help cultural heritage attractions fulfil their mission, as well as to make Canada's cultural heritage accessible to the Canadian people and visitors from around the world.

In the Philippines, cultural policy is established by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, under which the topic of tourism is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism. Most of the cultural programs of this Commission are highly linked to the development of cultural tourism with both the social and economic aspects taken into account. The cultural diversity of Mexico has great potential impact on the economic and social development of the country through cultural tourism and, in addition, offers solutions to the problems of poverty through creativity and productivity. It also helps strengthen the community values of solidarity and participation. In Mexico, the objectives of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Coordination Office created by the Consejo Nacional para la Cultura and las Artes [National Council for Culture and the Arts] include linking tourist activities, within an interinstitutional framework, to the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage, and to production based on cultural creativity to promote development of the country.

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Strategies and Resources for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage:

The five countries clearly stated their positions on actions taken for the effective management and planning of cultural tourism and adequate access to development, as well as long-term strategies for preservation of their cultural heritage. In South Africa, the DACST established an area devoted to cultural tourism that is responsible for facilitating training opportunities for cultural groups and ensuring that they become more knowledgeable about financial matters, as well as more competitive within the tourist industry.

Switzerland acknowledged that it does not currently have long-term government measures for the preservation of cultural heritage. Nonetheless, the structure of non-governmental organizations at the local level helps maintain fairly effective monitoring. The country also reported that it conducts annual long-term national research programs under the auspices of the Swiss National Fund for Research. These include the program Landscape and Ecosystem of the Alps which, in the context of sustainable development policy, covers the link between tourism and heritage.

The Philippines Department of Tourism has government funds available to control the cultural tourism industry. The medium-term strategies carried out by the government focus on the medium-term Cultural Development Plan. The Philippine authorities promote cultural tourism as a means of obtaining constructive cultural exchanges in various forms, according to the region and cultures concerned. An example of this is the exchange of ethnic performances and rituals between regions.

Despite having one of the smallest budgets of all federal institutions in Mexico, the Secretaría de Turismo [Ministry of Tourism] develops and enforces tourist policy throughout the country, analyzes statistical data relating to the number of visitors, amounts spent, placed visited, hotel residency rates, as well as other data. It also decides on the advertising and public relations campaigns carried out annually. Tourism is the third largest source of revenues for the country, which presupposes a greater investment of resources in this area. In Mexico, beach tourism is the area to which the most resources are allocated in terms of promotion and dissemination, although it does not necessarily generate the most revenues. Apart from its numerous beaches, Mexico has a vast cultural wealth expressed in its pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage, handicrafts and cuisine, which have been promoted for the past ten years, though not as heavily as the beaches.

Two programs created in 1990-91, Ciudades Coloniales [Colonial Cities] and Mundo Maya [Mayan World], are responsible for organizing and disseminating cultural tourism. The administrative structure and budget allocated to the two programs has increased but not enough, and to date development of the required activities has been limited.

Intangible Heritage and Cultural Tourism:

This was one of the most interesting topics covered by the Virtual Meeting as it has been one of the least explored to date and one that should be developed as much as possible to bring progress to the many communities suffering from social and economic poverty. The Swiss government emphasized greater support for folk traditions to prevent the loss of wisdom and knowledge, but also to preserve the quality of the product, thereby ensuring its possible integration into a tourism framework. Within a perspective of sustainable development, the creation of eventual intangible heritage industries must not succumb to pressure from the tourist economy. The Philippines has recently made some efforts with respect to integrating intangible heritage into cultural tourism. An example is the recent proclamation by UNESCO of the Ifuago heroic ballads (the Hudhud) as intangible heritage of humanity. Efforts are being made within the very province in which the ballads originated to organize and train new singers for scheduled performances at schools of living traditions that tourists can attend. There are other related programs such as development of the original site of the Hudhud-Pumbakhayon's Rock--as a tourist destination.

Early in the discussion on this topic, Mexico described its wealth of symbols and customs as intangible heritage, as values and representations that offer cultural and social unity to a specific community. These include poetic expressions, ceremonies, carnivals, the oral tradition, culinary skills, and music. The main value of this heritage lies in the fact that it transmits symbols and significance while reflecting the skills of those who created them. Intangible heritage represents a cultural resource that, complemented with the necessary infrastructure and services, can become a tourist product that generates economic benefits and social well-being for the community. Therefore, after having been identified as a resource, this heritage is integrated with cultural tourism. Good use could be made of this cultural resource through the promotion of cultural routes, circuits or itineraries.

To ensure the total incorporation of intangible heritage into cultural tourism, policies are required for its promotion, as are government actions through the institutions involved in its conservation and promotion. Clear policies are needed to develop intangible heritage as a cultural resource for tourist consumption, something that should be included as a development factor in the broader structures of the economy.

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Legislation and Intangible Heritage:

Taking into account that legislative measures to preserve intangible heritage are not as developed as those for tangible heritage, it was hoped that a catalogue of laws would be created at this Virtual Meeting for the protection and conservation of intangible heritage. However, it turned out that such laws do not cover intangible heritage directly but rather always in relation to heritage in general. The government of South Africa finds itself in these circumstances, mentioning specific acts or laws that date back to the late 90s. Among other aspects, they define systems for classifying tangible and intangible heritage, managing and promoting living heritage, as well as establishing parameters for integrated management of the environment and advising the national secretariat on relevant heritage management policies.

The Swiss authorities are in a similar situation, and reported that measures for the protection of intangible heritage are implicit in their general heritage laws. Examples of this are the Languages Act, the Linguistic Minorities Act, and financial support measures for cultural and/or folkloric organizations through credits that encourage cultural activities. Apart from the protection and promotion of languages, the laws relating to the national library and the federal archives, Switzerland acknowledged that there are no legislative measures as such in favour of cultural intangible heritage.

For its part, the Canadian government did not identify any laws or regulations on intangible heritage, but rather referred to the challenge it faces in working with the provincial governments on that topic. Those governments agreed that intangible heritage plays a very important role in their policies; however, when compared to heritage buildings, much of the effort made is focussed on this area of tangible heritage.

A coordination office or national centre could appraise the intangible heritage collections that exist in federal, provincial and municipal institutions and design a system-using the most modern information technology - that would give the public access to that heritage. However, the national policies in general require incentives if this work is to be carried out in the area of intangible heritage. The Canadian government could introduce a federal program for the recognition of intangible heritage, beginning at the local level. This is an effort that must be made to ensure that those programs truly educate the public, since there is a lack of understanding of the term intangible heritage and its importance.

Canadian experts could help create or configure the general parameters of the programs, but local cooperative work is essential given that intangible heritage is a living phenomenon, and that a fundamental goal of the policies is their sustainability. Work in the area of intangible heritage is currently ongoing in a good number of federal institutions, but that work is spread out. Parks Canada has dealt with aboriginal intangible heritage and that related to specific sites under its care. The Canadian Museum of Civilization has archives that contain significant material on intangible heritage, but its work in this area ended around 1980. What is needed is a program that identifies an administrative body that will take responsibility for intangible heritage at the federal level, and one to which provincial and regional organizations can go to obtain guidance or direction.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the Philippines approved the creation of an Intangible Heritage Commission together with a Legislative Committee on Living Treasures to handle matters relating to the identification, registration, protection, conservation, dissemination and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. A number of bills summarized in the Cultural Heritage Act of the Philippines that would cover the identification, registration, protection, conservation, dissemination and promotion of intangible cultural heritage are awaiting approval in the Senate and in the Lower House.

The only legal provision that deals with intangible heritage in Mexico is found in Article 2 of its Political Constitution which states that the Mexican nation has a multicultural composition originally based on its indigenous peoples, who are descendents of the populations that inhabited the current territory of the country at the time of its colonization, and who retain their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, or part thereof. This regulation is aimed at preserving the cultures of the indigenous ethnic groups of Mexico and there is, unfortunately, no specific law that deals more broadly with the area of protection.

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International Organizations:

In this globalized world, the protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage has become a topic of concern to all nations. To deal with these activities bodies such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, IUCN and the World Bank, among others, have promoted themselves as the main agencies for the promotion and support of that heritage. The countries that responded to this Virtual Meeting participate in one way or another in the programs, forums and conventions of the above-mentioned bodies. In the case of South Africa, its museums and monuments have been integrated into the policies and structures developed by these organizations in the daily management of cultural resources, thus ensuring better operations in international practices.

The Swiss authorities pointed out on this subject that the national ICOMOS had helped create an inventory of historic gardens in Switzerland. With respect to the work with UNESCO, they stressed that greater attention should be paid to information emanating from that body on the topic of intangible cultural heritage so as to foster knowledge, preservation and dissemination of the latter. At the international level, the Philippines has been participating in numerous cultural programs carried out by UNESCO and ICOMOS. To date, the actions of both bodies have been insufficient for management of the country's cultural inheritance due to a lack of resources. A more rapid response is therefore requested in terms of funding, which would be greatly useful to the Swiss government.

Over the past ten years, Mexico's participation, through the National Institute of Anthropology and History, in the various mechanisms of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of World, Cultural and Natural Heritage has increased considerably, to the point that Mexico has been a member of the World Heritage Committee since 1994 and has managed to register 22 sites to date on the World Heritage List. The Institute also regularly participates in various congresses, workshops and conferences organized by government authorities from various countries (Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Cuba), as well as by counterpart institutions (ICOMOS, Instituto do Heritage Histórico e Artistico Nacional [National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage], Parks Canada, Colcultura, Patrimoine sans frontieres [Heritage Without Borders], Instituto Centrale per il Catalogo e la Documentazione [Central Institute for Cataloguing and Documentation]. For such events, Mexico sends or hosts representatives whose general mission is to exchange experience in the field of conservation of cultural heritage.

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Tools and Methods for Promoting Cultural Heritage:

On this last topic, the objective was to exchange information on catalogues, laws, management plans and urban planning, etc., as methods used by the countries of the Network to promote cultural heritage. In the case of South Africa, promotion of its heritage is carried out through legislative structures, whose results are reflected in the establishment of the Resource Agency for South African Heritage responsible for the protection and management of cultural heritage at the State level.

The tools used by Switzerland are those described in the topic referring to its legislation, as well as the preparation of federal inventories. We should note that Switzerland finances a centre for heritage conservation experts with links to federal polytechnical schools. The Swiss stressed once again that the measures taken in relation to archaeology are insufficient, but that a solution will soon be found in that matter. The same is true for control of 20th century heritage, an area in which specialists are lacking.

Canadian Heritage has clearer tools and methodologies at its disposal, such as the set of programs designed to preserve and promote Canada's cultural heritage. These programs are wide-ranging, with museum visits being fundamental to ensuring that the hosts themselves-current and future generations of Canadians - are keenly aware of their cultural, natural, artistic and scientific heritage. Canada identified two new initiatives aimed at achieving greater financial stability that would allow the country to better promote its heritage: a wide range of historic sites including archeological sites and historic buildings as well as national historic sites and development of a heritage policy structure under the responsibility of Canadian Heritage, a process that involves consultations with provinces, territories, aboriginal communities, interested patrons and the general public.

With respect to developing methods or strategies for promoting intangible heritage, the Philippines stated that this represents its most difficult struggle. The Mexican response in this area is based on its current legislation, which establishes the following methodological framework based on three essential goals, to wit: identification of property to be protected by means of monument declaration, if included in the property that the law recognizes as monuments; control measures for specific activities in the form of various legal documents such as the Cultural Property Register; and the issuance of licences and permits and, if applicable, the application of fines. Other measures are being developed, such as tax incentives and promotion of the creation of civil associations, neighbourhood councils or campesino [rural inhabitant] unions for the protection of monuments or monument zones.

As regards the identification of property, the Law automatically protects all archeological monuments and buildings from the 16th to 19th century used as temples, archbishoprics, bishoprics and convents, for public service and ornamentation, or by civilian and military authorities. It also protects documents and files related to the history of Mexico, etc. In the case of property not included in the foregoing list, a declaration by the president or the Minster of Public Education is required.

Control measures for individuals include the Register of Monuments and Monument Zones in which archeological, historic and artistic monuments are to be registered. The authorities will issue permits and licences in cases of conservation and restoration projects, archaeological recovery, exhibition, etc. They will then carry out verification and inspection activities to ensure compliance by individuals with heritage laws. Administrative or criminal penalties will be imposed where a violation of the Law is discovered.

Two major measures for promoting heritage preservation are: tax incentives that exempt owners of property declared to be artistic or historic monuments from the payment of property taxes, provided they keep such property in good condition, and those applicable to individuals who seek to restore and live in such property, ensuring that its use is in keeping with its value and history. The other measure refers to the training of social agents such as civil associations, campesino unions who organize themselves into cooperative bodies in the struggle for heritage conservation. The aforementioned tools have been successful since the Cultural Heritage Act was enacted almost 30 years ago. An in-depth review and amendment of this Mexican legislation is therefore urged.

There are many difficult aspects of cultural heritage in Mexico associated with the development of methodologies. One such problem is the property register, due to the country's enormous wealth of heritage resources and the lack of sufficient personnel to carry out this task on a daily basis. An example of this are the estimated 200,000 archeological zones in the Republic of which just 15% have been identified. Furthermore, just one institution, the INAH, has carried out most conservation activities for national cultural heritage since its creation. There is also a lack of effectiveness in the registration of associations through the creation of a more solid network of local academic bodies that assist the federal authorities in registering cultural property, with its identification constituting a first step in its protection.

Another basic aspect that should be implemented is the issuance of specific technical standards on the zone to be protected, such as management plans, zoning regulations, etc., that have an impact on comprehensive protection of the zone. It would thus become an obligation of the authorities to carry out these tasks upon declaring or recognizing the historical, archeological or artistic value of cultural property. Lastly, creation of a Cultural Heritage Management System that would ensure success in the process of preserving our sites and monuments is strongly recommended. This will require the following: creation of forums for discussion and analysis between the sectors involved, followed by the creation of advisory boards and technical support bodies to support government decisions in matters of heritage, especially in regard to the scientific aspect of conservation.

In addition, an adequate decentralization and intergovernmental coordination policy should be established in which various offices at all levels of government (involved in heritage) can design integral programs for the protection of monuments and sites. A policy should also be drafted to promote the creation of civil associations and participation by the community in projects for conserving cultural heritage that favour social value. The drafting of economic policies designed to support heritage conservation should include tax aspects and the creation of financing options that are real and beneficial to owners of cultural property in light of the high costs that investment in their conservation could represent.

The strongest and most powerful tool in comprehensive conservation policy will be the dissemination programs that demonstrate the importance of preserving our monuments and sites, in both the social and school environments. Creation of these tools reflects the need to review, re-evaluate and redesign the national policy and legislation in matters of cultural heritage.

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