Cultural heritage and sustainable development: guidelines for its valuation in Central American countries

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to assess cultural heritage as a fundamental component for the sustainable development, based on approaches that arise from social-cultural theory, contrasting and relating the functional intentions between these two aspects. To carry out the analysis, in a first moment, the model of sustainable development is characterized, establishing a link of equivalence between the dimensions that integrate the social, cultural, economic, political, and spatial system of the territories. In the Central American context, it characterizes approaches, models and instruments, as part of the framework and opportunities available to promote people-centered development.The model promoted by this study, raises the analysis and changes in how territory and heritageare conceived, planned and lived. The paradigm shift in the relationship between cultural heritage, territory, development and sustainability also questions the traditional idea of seeing the territory as an opposing element that confronts its environment and resources.