The necessity of taking a community approach in a historical cultural landscape conservation: a case of the Jianan Irrigation System in Taiwan

摘要

Cultural landscape has become a new category of cultural heritage since the late twentieth century. However, the conservation interventions usually used in regard to a conventional cultural heritage need to be changed and adapted to preserve the cultural landscape because the nature of landscapes differs to those of conventional cultural heritage, in which monumental buildings and other structures are essential. It is argued that the conservation approach should be broadened; in particular, "people" and "function" are critical factors. The community approach highlights the importance of people and their environment; thereby, the local identity of their life and environment, which comprises the whole nature of a cultural landscape, may be confirmed, and the threats from tourists or external cultural impact may be eased. The Wushantou Reservoir and Jianan Irrigation System were designed by Hatta Yoichi, and built in the 1920s. The reservoir was built under the conditions of the natural environment, and the conservation of an irrigation cultural landscape should not be limited to the structure, i.e., objects or channels. The agricultural production opportunities provided to the local people through the community approach should have a beneficial effect on local identity and the conservation of the cultural landscape.