ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only global non-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the application of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and archaeological heritage. ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its members, among which are architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists, engineers and town planners. The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, the standards and the techniques for each type of cultural heritage property: buildings, historic cities, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites.

1. International Council on Monuments and Sites(ICOMOS)
ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only global
non-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the application of
theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and
archaeological heritage.
ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its members,
among which are architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers,
anthropologists, engineers and town planners.
The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, the standards and
the techniques for each type of cultural heritage property: buildings, historic cities, cultural
landscapes and archaeological sites.
Conservation Conception and Legal Regulations in the World
1931 Carta Del Restauro Declaration
In the conference held in Athens in 1931, the main subject was determined as the protection of
historical monuments. This conference is important as it is the first international conference and
leads the conferences to be held later. It is a document that explains the criteria to be addressed
in the case of protection at the universal level.
1964 Venice Charter
The II., Which met in Venice between 25-31 May 1964. International Congress of Historical
Monuments Architects and Technicians, in the charter called "Venice Statute", focused on the
protection and restoration of old buildings and an international decision was made. In the statute;
explanations were given about the need to ensure the continuity of protection, to use monuments
for social purposes and to be evaluated in modern life, to benefit from modern technology in
restoration works, to landscaping, to repair in archaeological sites (Palali, 1992).
1975 European Architectural Heritage Charter (Amsterdam Declaration)
As a result of the declaration of 1975 as the European Architectural Heritage Year by the
European Council, various studies have been carried out. The European Architectural Heritage
Regulation was prepared and was accepted by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on
September 26, 1975 and entered into force.
In this congress, which was held with the participation of representatives of all countries in Europe,
new approaches were included and it was emphasized that the architecture of Europe is the
common heritage of all nations and that this heritage should be protected by working together.
This charter is also known as the Amsterdam Declaration.
1976 Nairobi Declaration (Recommendation Concerning the Preservation of Historical or
Traditional Areas and Their Role in Contemporary Life)
As a result of the decision taken by the General Assembly of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization held in Nairobi in 1976, issues such as that historical buildings
are concrete examples bearing the traces of the past, that they should be preserved on a large
scale in the urban sense, and that they should participate in contemporary life as a socio-cultural

2. structure. has been brought. Many titles were mentioned about how historical buildings should be,
and that individual and public institutions have responsibilities towards historical environments as
common values and that relevant institutions should be able to impose sanctions when necessary.
1985 Granada Convention
The agreement, which was accepted in Granada by the member states of the Council of Europe
on October 3, 1985, is a contract in which the legal dimension and policies of the issue are
determined in order to protect the necessary architectural heritage in Europe and to reach the
conservation concept to wider masses.
1987 Washington Charter (Conservation of Historic Cities and Urban Areas)
This charter, adopted at the ICOMOS General Assembly held in Washington in October 1987, is
linked to small or large historical urban areas and includes natural areas and man-made
environment. These historical sites also bear traces of traditional urban culture. In this charter,
principles, objectives and methods related to how historical cities and regions should be protected
are determined.
The first point in the principles and objectives section is that "In order to be effective, the protection
of historical cities and other historical urban areas must be an integral part of consistent economic
and social development policies and urban and regional planning at all levels." Again in the same
section, Article 2 gives us information about new structuring. This article states that the qualities to
be protected are the historical character of the city or urban area and the material and spiritual
components that make up this character.
Especially;
Urban textures defined by parcels and streets,
nnections between buildings and green and open spaces,
color and decorations, interior and exterior appearance,
a and its natural and man-made environment,
It was emphasized how sensitive one should be in preserving the historical environment by stating
that “the factors that threaten these characteristics may damage the authenticity of the historical
city or urban area” (ICOMOS, 1987).
1994 Nara Certificate of Authenticity
The Nara Originality Conference was held in Nara, Japan on November 1-6, 1994 with the
participation of 45 participants. At the invitation of the Japanese Government Foreign Affairs Office
and the Governorate of Nara, the conference was organized in collaboration with UNESCO,
ICCROM and ICOMOS. In this document, cultural and heritage diversity is evaluated together with
universal and uniqueness conservation approaches (ICOMOS, 1994).
1999 ICOMOS Traditional Architectural Heritage Charter

3. The Traditional Architectural Heritage Charter, which was adopted in the 12th General Assembly
of ICOMOS held in Mexico in October 1999, is a charter that defines traditional architecture in a
comprehensive way and includes the principles of protection and application.
In the globalizing world, traditional structures that have serious problems in issues such as socio-
economic change, internal balance and integration are in a difficult situation. As a result, in this
charter, principles are set out in addition to the Venice charter for the maintenance and protection
of the traditional architectural heritage. General principles are examined in detail under main
headings as protection principles and 22 implementation principles (ICOMOS, 1999).
2011 Valetta Principles for the Protection and Management of Historical Cities and Urban
Areas
In these principles adopted by the ICOMOS General Assembly at the symposium held in Valletta
on 28 November 2011, missions, trends and necessary tools were redefined, taking into account
the evident evolution in definitions and methods for the protection of historical cities and urban
areas.
The main purpose of this document is to determine various principles and strategies applicable to
any intervention to be made in historical and urban areas. These principles and strategies are
aimed at protecting both historical cities and their surroundings, and their integration with today's
socio-cultural and economic life. The interventions to be made are
it must respect the cultural heritage of the area as well as the quality of life of the people living.
This document for the protection of historical cities, urban areas and their surroundings consists of
four parts:
1. Definitions,
2. Directions (challenges) of change
3. Intervention criteria,
4. Recommendations and strategies, (ICOMOS, 2011).
2014 Florence Declaration on Heritage and Landscape as Human Value
It is the declaration published after the meeting held in Florence on 9-15 November 2014 with the
participation of over 1,650 delegates from 94 countries in the 18th ICOMOS general assembly.
This declaration includes the aims of ICOMOS and cooperation with UNESCO to explore tangible
and intangible values related to World Heritage Sites.
The 2014 Florence declaration focused on the cultural heritage conservation approaches and
ethical rules that ICOMOS and UNESCO made together. In this declaration, where cultural
diversity is expressed through heritage and landscape values, sharing the identity of communities
through tourism and 23 interpretations landscape consists of five main parts: sustainability through
traditional knowledge, community-oriented conservation and local empowerment, and evolving
tools for conservation practices (ICOMOS, 2014).