Between 2005 and 2011 the Getty Conservation Institute organized a series of rock art management courses and workshops as part of the Southern African Rock Art Project (SARAP) in collaboration with various southern African organizations. From 2012—2014 the project was extended to include an exchange program between rock art specialists, managers, and custodian communities from southern Africa and Australia. In 2014, a Forum was held in Kakadu National Park between African and Australian rock art colleagues as a culmination of the learning from the SARAP and the African-Australian exchange.

This report is the result of the deliberations from this work, including significant input from traditional owners of rock art sites and the participation of the Trust for African Rock Art. While the document in its present form focuses on experience of examples from Africa and Australia, it sets out a vision for the future conservation of rock art, which will be relevant to rock art conservation in many regions of the world. The issues it identifies and the foundation principles and actions it proposes are based on internationally recognized and well-founded conservation management principles.