The Role of Local Population in Safeguarding Heritage Case of Chefchaouen

Abstract. Local community engagement in heritage safeguarding has been a growing trend during the last two decades. With international models and charts that introduced the participatory paradigm into public restoration and interventions, community-based conservation approaches have started to emerge. The involvement of local inhabitants into restoration processes has proven effective contribution into sustaining public interventions and developing behaviors that mitigate the risks of deterioration of architectural heritage. The case of Chefchaouen has demonstrated multiples initiatives taken by inhabitants and local council towards chaouni medina aged from de 15th century. Made of stone, earth, wood and lime, the participatory dynamic around safeguarding the fabric has contributed to improve public efforts of restoration and rehabilitation. The contribution has gone beyond raising awareness to tangible actions and engagement. The article purpose is to analyse the modialities and role of inhabitants involvement into sustaining heritage. It presents the results of an empiric research based on qualitative data and analysis, and develops the dynamics around the medina of Chefchaouen, exploring the local initiatives and their effects on safeguarding heritage, with acknoledging the local configurations behind such dynamics.