Conservation of the built environment refers to the conservation of any monument, building or site that has historical significance.

Today 57% (23 million) of all South Africans live in towns and cities. By the year 2010, 73% of the population will be urban - 43,7 million people! The urban environment is characterised by people living close together, traffic, buildings, tar, and often noise. Poor people in urban areas have responded by working together to improve their environment, and this should be the attitude of all urban dwellers!!

Urban conservation means the sensitive use and adaptation of an urban area or part thereof, so as to maximise its desirable historic, aesthetic or social attributes and to enhance the value of the area, both for its present users, and for the future (NMC, 1994). In South Africa a historical site is defined in the National Monuments Act of 1969, as "any identifiable building or part thereof, marker, milestone, gravestone, landmark or tell older than 50 years" (NMC, 1997c). The historical heritage of Greater Johannesburg consists of those buildings, works, places and objects, which are associated with events that have occurred throughout the history of the city. This heritage is a valuable, finite, non-renewable and irreplaceable resource, which must be carefully managed to ensure its survival.

REFERENCES

Enviro Facts 1999c: Urban Conservation. http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/EnvFacts/facts/urban_conserve.htm

National Monuments Council 1994: General Guidelines for Urban Conservation Areas. NMC: Cape Town.