Sustainable and participative management strategies for the historical center of Leon-Nicaragua

With the aim of heritage protection, it is necessary to integrate strategies of conservation, management and appreciation of the material and immaterial heritage of historic cities in the local development processes. Conservation policies with the broader scope of sustainable development are promoted; furthermore, active participation strategies of local stakeholders that generate citizenship approval are being implemented. The overall objective of the project implemented in Leon (Nicaragua) is to improve the local governance by defining an integral and sustainable system of local development policies that facilitate multi-stakeholder cooperation and foster the inclusion of the civil society’s interests in the urban management processes and heritage protection. The partnership is including the Italian municipalities of Florence and Pontedera, International NGOs (Medina), Universities (School of Architecture of Firenze and National Autonomous University of Nicaragua), and Government Institutions (Instituto Nacional de Cultura Nicaraguense). The partnership is engaged with the aim of enhancement of the capabilities of the municipality of Leon. The project includes the definition of participatory urban planning and management tools (Local Cultural Heritage Areas Plan and Recovery of Nodal Areas Plan) that allow the physical and functional revitalization of the historic urban centre, and promote greater equity and transparency in the decision-making and the redistribution of public finances. The objective is achieved through technical, scientific and institutional activities and it is implemented by relevant citizen participation. At the current stage of the project, the Plan of Cultural Heritage Area has been produced. The Plan is the result of a participatory diagnostic of the historical city centre that validated the initial proposals. Furthermore, it is completed with technical implementation rules, participatory survey, courses on the contents of the plan proposal, international seminars on others UNESCO heritage sites, training courses for citizens, administrators, technicians, and public employees.