Heritage conservation is an inter-disciplinary field of study and practice that embraces such subjects as history, archaeology, ethnology, geography, architecture and engineering, community planning and development, economics, materials pathology, and property law (real, personal and intellectual).

Effective heritage conservation not only requires the application of many fields of knowledge for the determination of heritage value and for specific physical interventions (preservation, rehabilitation or restoration) on heritage resources, but also informed management of the broader community context of the resource and decisions that facilitate community stewardship.

Long-term stewardship of heritage resources requires supportive public and political attitudes reflected in an environment of complementary regulation, policy and planning, collaborative private and public investment, and a commitment to education, skills development and celebration of community heritage.

Heritage conservation is related to and complements the following:

• building rehabilitation/renovation
• community sustainability
• heritage and cultural tourism
• "Smart growth"
• Green buildings
• building codes and policies
• housing policy
• education
• environmental stewardship