Paper short abstract:

The possibilities and opportunities for the preservation of cultural phenomena diversity, as well as cultural and natural heritage, and sustainable development based on these are presented with particular attention to the local and global preservation doctrine and the necessity for mutual cooperation of experts and all other stakeholders.

Paper long abstract:

Changed social conditions, particularly the new constitutional role of property, the development of ethnology, new protection tasks - also in the sense of integral conservation - and new meanings of cultural heritage dictate the need for additional professional obligations of ethnologists/conservators and their future strategy.

These new elements and changes demand a critical approach, careful consideration and definition of the role of ethnology in the integral conservation of cultural heritage diversity and its expansion in the planning of sustainable development that integrates all aspects of the life and phenomena of culture, as well as physical planning. The lack of complex ethnological research and syntheses, complete with evaluation and efficient incorporation at all levels of protection procedures as well as spatial and developmental planning, results in threatened regional and local identities that are subject of protection endeavours.

Ethnologists must take advantage of the increased interest in cultural identity and find suitable answers to where, why (with justification) and how a certain cultural element, and not only selected examples of cultural heritage, should be protected.

Preservation as a sustainable, cyclical process should be a mutual decision and obligation of the proprietors and experts, as well as all other stakeholders (the state, local authorities, ministries, non-government organisations, enthusiasts, etc.). The selected cultural phenomena should be presented with the help of diverse, tried and tested, recognised or innovative solutions as possible development potentials to planners at all levels, both vertical and horizontal.