ABSTRACT
In 2003, the Network of Indonesia Heritage Organizations (Jaringan Kota Pusaka Indonesia) published the Indonesia Charter for Heritage Conservation. The charter recognizes the fact that local practices are as important as the authenticity of the urban fabric and are a form of built heritage, and therefore, the involvement of local communities in heritage conservation is encouraged. In 2006, the community of heritage professionals and enthusiasts in Indonesia introduced an idea of ‘heritage city’ (kota pusaka) management, where government and community could work together on the conservation of urban heritage. This idea was developed during the post-disaster rehabilitation project in Kotagede in Yogyakarta. During the post-earthquake reconstruction process, the engagement of the community in Kotagede was actively sought out to provide a basis for the rehabilitation programme, to prepare people for future earthquakes, and to offer guidelines for continuous use in recovery. This chapter describes how an understanding of the local community’s association with their heritage became crucial in conservation, development and recovery of this settlement, and the value of community participation in heritage conservation in the Indonesian context.
