ICOMOS and National Parks

Smith, Ann

ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, believes that there are many mutual concerns and would suggest that there are mutual benefits to be gained from a close and continuing association and exchange of views among experts on parks and their conservation and presentation, and experts on the conservation and presentation of monuments and sites. First of all, what is ICOMOS? Most Europeans understand the "monument" concept but others, Americans for example, are frequently confused as to what ICOMOS is and what it does because of the word "monuments" in the organization's title. In much of the world and in ICOMOS statutes as well, a "monument" is defined as any building or construction having archeological, architectural, historical or ethnographical interest. The ICOMOS statutes continue by explaining that monuments include the setting and all fixtures, fittings 'and furnishings which belong to the building or the construction. There seems to be general agreement as to what "sites" are. ICOMOS uses the word "sites" to refer,to a group or groups of buildings, whether urban or rural, or a landscape fashioned by nature, by man or by the combined action of nature and man, to include historic parks and gardens. Obviously many national parks contain monuments and sites and some parks are, in fact, either monuments or sites.

ICOMOS and National Parks

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