A Study and Review of the Evolution of Policies and Plans Adopted for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, From 1999 Up To 2012

There are different factors effective in making policies and plans for conservation of cultural heritage in Iran. This paper aims to study and review structural changes of Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran which were made by important cultural، social، political، and economic changes and events of Iran and have a significant role in the process of making policies and plans for conservation of cultural heritage. The main object of this paper is to study and explain the evolution of policies and plans adopted for the conservation of cultural heritage، especially from the prospective of the Cultural Heritage Organization. For this purpose، a qualitative research method with interpretivist strategy has been employed to explain and interpret the subject of research. To collect the data required for this research; library and documentary methods، structured and in depth interviews with experts، mainly the directors of the Cultural Heritage Organization، have been used. The content of the issues، provided in this paper، are based on the interpretations and explanations of the interviews. The findings of this research show that the regulations of the five year socio economic development plan and structural changes have taken place at the national level، including the Islamic Revolution in Iran، Iraq – Iran war، accompanied with the changes in the top management of the Cultural Heritage Organization; have had different effects on the process of making polices and planning for conservation of cultural heritage in Iran. The studies show that most successes in conservation of heritage have been achieved when there had been higher convergence between the macro development plans and the objectives of the Cultural Heritage Organization. In addition، the reviewing and analysis of the regulations of the 1st up to the 5th Five Year Development Plans، especially the 3rd and 4th Development Plans، indicate the provision of strategies and adoption of effective policies and measures for conservation of cultural heritage by the Cultural Heritage Organization and other related organizations.