ABSTRACT
Descendant and native communities embody knowledge and belief systems that are often critical to heritage preservation of places and monuments. Not only are traditional methods and native techniques relevant to conservation practices, but also the social and spiritual meaning of a place is unique to the native culture, and perhaps known only to its practitioners. When heritage monuments are then inscribed in national and global registries such as the US National Park System and the UNESCO World Heritage (WH) list, there is often conflict between the local and the foreign experts’ vision of the site as well as the raison d’etre for methods of conservation. Western models favor preserving structures and landscapes for perpetuity. Conservation practices often perpetuate rational and materialistic methodologies and strategies. However, descendant communities may not be motivated by these values and these techniques. The case of Nan Madol on Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean is a case in point. The site is an extraordinary landscape of islets built up over 1,000 years ago with prismatic basaltic boulders forming temple and housing complexes at the edge of the sea. Inscribed in 2015 by the WH Committee, Nan Madol was simultaneously placed on the Endangered Monuments List of UNESCO. There were three perceived problems cited by UNESCO with preservation of the site: waterways at the site were silting in, vegetation was engulfing the site and breaking up stone construction, and storm surge threatens the site, especially with impending sea level rise from climate change. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) commissioned a technical mission to investigate the problems and recommend remedies. While ICOMOS has been sensitive to local cultural values, cultural translation has been and will continue to be critical to developing a sustainable and resilient preservation plan for Nan Madol. Collaboration among local, indigenous, and international stakeholders is a forum for inclusive co-production of knowledge.
