Management and monitoring
On this page, we will explain how the World Heritage site of the Tanum rock carvings is managed, who is responsible for what, and how the values of the World Heritage site are monitored.
Management Council
The management of the Tanum rock carvings World Heritage site is carried out through the Management Council, which consists of representatives from three parties:
- The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland
- The Västra Götaland Region
- Tanum Municipality
The three parties have different responsibilities within the World Heritage site. The County Administrative Board has the authority over the ancient remains and is responsible for planning and monitoring their preservation. The Västra Götaland Region operates the Vitlycke Museum visitor centre and works on regional development. Tanum Municipality manages the World Heritage Preschool at the Vitlycke Museum and is responsible for the practical maintenance of the rock carving sites. Additionally, the municipality has the authority to decide how designated land can be used and developed, which is an important role in a World Heritage site closely tied to the landscape.
Read more about the Management Council.
Management Plan
The management work is based on a five-year management plan, with the current plan covering the period 2019-2023. The management plan sets the goals and priority areas for the World Heritage work, as well as the activities to be carried out during the period.
Read more about the management plan.
Other documents governing the World Heritage work:
Managing cultural World Heritage
Monitoring of the World Heritage Values
The monitoring work aims to check and track the development and changes in the attributes of the World Heritage site over time. This can include the condition of the rock carvings, changes in buildings and landscapes, or the number of visitors to the area each year. The parties in the Management Council collectively take responsibility for the monitoring work in the World Heritage site. The monitoring provides a basis for shaping future management efforts.
Read more about the monitoring work.
Conservation and land management
The first criterion for the designation of Tanum as a World Heritage site states: “The rock carvings of the Tanum region constitute an outstanding example of Bronze Age art of the highest quality.” Therefore, protecting, preserving, and making the rock carvings accessible is one of the most important aspects of the management work.