Abstract
AbstractIn rapidly transforming Asian environments, traditional agricultural heritage systems struggle with increasing development pressure and out-migration. Drawing on the Chinese cultural landscape of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces as a case study, the paper investigates how the concepts of scale and “politics of scale” can be fruitfully mobilised for critical heritage theory and provide practical solutions to overcome conservation–development tensions. In processes of ethnic tourism development and cultural commodification, government authorities pursue different scalar strategies to harness natural and cultural resources for heritage-led regeneration schemes. Such strongly tourism-oriented agendas, as prevailed in the initial stages of development, privilege natural and selected cultural values over social values, thereby contrasting with local inhabitants’ aspirations to improve their living conditions. To encourage participation and sustainable cultural landscape management, the study suggests “upscaling” traditional knowledge and local interests.
Funder
Federal Foreign Office, Germany
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
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