Heleen van Londen

Arguments for a joint natural and cultural heritage management practice follow a welltrodden
path by now – we know what has to be done -, but not so much how to do it. The
purpose of this article is to look at practical modes of interaction. What has been suggested
so far? Although much has been gained through awareness-raising, the creation of common
ground through comparing concepts, and integration within the planning processes, new
practice seems to get stuck somewhere down the line. Difficulties relate to traditional
thought-collectives, but also to power structures. In this article, I conclude that suggested
actions are structured top-down and I propose four bottom-up strategies professionals in
the workplace may want to consider to bridge the divide between both domains. As practice
in heritage management systems is formed through the dynamic of processes (procedures,
protocols, methods), organizations (management commitment, staffing, work routines) and
professionals (skills and knowledge), modes of interaction should be focused on these pillars
in the system. Bottom-up tactics may help decide professionals working within heritage
management to engage in cross-overs. These range from full to partial integration, depending
on the context of the task at hand.

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