This paper explores the possibilities and limitations of 3D and geospatial technologies in the management of a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. Recognising the need for accurate documentation to monitor landscape change and its potentially damaging effects on authenticity and integrity, the case study reflects in depth on the impact of landscape protection measures on urban development. It draws lessons from the Bamiyan Valley, where the world’s greatest Buddhist figures were deliberately destroyed in an act of iconoclastic fundamentalism. It examines the challenges of cultural heritage management in conflict zones and the politicisation of outstanding cultural sites, which have been the subject of applied research since the establishment of the Research Centre Indian Ocean. The case of Bamiyan demonstrates the importance of reconciling the management of development activities in conflict areas with the preservation of cultural heritage, both in the early planning phase and in the subsequent stages of implementation. The pursuit of inclusive social and economic development for local communities is consistent with the recognition of landscape values as overriding human values. Such an approach proves to be suitable for achieving broader objectives such as the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The study highlights the need for greater community engagement and capacity building while promoting peace, reconciliation and sustainable development, and contributes to the global discourse on aligning heritage conservation efforts with current societal needs in conflict regions and beyond.