<![CDATA[Cultural heritage village conservation has generally been considered a means for cultural identity sustainability and promoting sustainable development in highly valued historical areas. Thus, this paper assesses how critical reflection, and empowerment evaluation can support the sustainable development of the Seribu Rumah Gadang, a West Sumatra, Indonesia, and cultural heritage village. Using a mixed-method strategy, the study looks at how community engagement works for heritage conservation through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, empowerment evaluation workshops, and reflective critical sessions. Results show an apparent conflict between cultural preservation and economic growth, with community-based initiatives able to resolve this interesting conflict more successfully. The research highlights the role of empowerment evaluation in increasing the relevance and sustainability of projects and points out the critical role of continuous reflection in adjusting the strategy in response to changing community needs and requirements. The study discusses implications for empowerment evaluation by suggesting ways to strengthen community engagement, improve access to resources, and promote more inclusive tourism practices that do not contradict cultural values. Therefore, this research contributes to continuing the debate on environmental sustainability in cultural heritage sites and bringing new insights to policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers.]]>
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