Conserving Cultural Heritage: A Malaysian Stakeholder's Perspective (original) (raw)

The importance of rural landscape as cultural heritage has to do with how people perceive or value the outdoor aesthetic. Very little is known about the variability between cultures in the perception of such natural and altered landscapes. Due to increasing threats of urbanization, land development and technological advancement, an understanding of the community's perception and the manner by which people associate meanings to ordinary landscapes and built structures will aid in the formulation of strategies for rural landscape conservation. This paper presents the perceived landscape values held by communities of interest in Kedah, a northern state in Peninsular Malaysia. Using Q-sort methodology the research examined how stakeholders characterised landscape values. 'Insider' (villager) and 'outsider' (government, domestic tourist) respondents were shown photographs of rural landscape settings, and asked to sort representations from most valued to least valued natural-built interfaces, and to clarify their ranked selections in a detailed interview. Scenery, ecological systems and sustainable development were shared values held by all stakeholders. Local residents most valued their places associated with earning a living. Both tangible and intangible properties of rural landscapes are highly valued by Malaysians. Thus, it is concluded that policy should recognise the differences and similarities in landscape values held by the stakeholders in conservation planning and management.