HERITAGE AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: POLICY GUIDANCE FOR HERITAGE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTORS - ICOMOS
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HERITAGE AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: POLICY GUIDANCE FOR HERITAGE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTORS
HERITAGE AND
THE SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOALS:
POLICY GUIDANCE FOR HERITAGE
AND DEVELOPMENT ACTORS
Prepared by the Sustainable Development Goals Working Group –
Priority Action 1 Task Team:
Sophia Labadi (Task Team Coordinator)
Francesca Giliberto
Ilaria Rosetti
Linda Shetabi
Ege Yildirim
Prepared by the Sustainable Development Goals Working Group – Priority Action 1 Task Team:
Sophia Labadi (Task Team Coordinator), Francesca Giliberto, Ilaria Rosetti, Linda Shetabi, Ege Yildirim
Published by:
International Council on Monuments and Sites - ICOMOS
Copy Editing by:
Michelle Duong and Laurie Smith, in partnership with the NSERC CREATE (Natural Science and Engineering Research
Council of Canada - Collaborative Research and Training Experience) Heritage Engineering Program and the Carleton
University Immersive Media Studio (CIMS), Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Graphic Design by:
Vanessa Paris
Cover page photo:
Ageleh Jmeidi and Wajd Nawafleh, two local USAID SCHEP participants at the Temple of the Winged Lions, Petra
(Credit: American Center of Research [ACOR] 2018, photo taken by Saleem Fakhoury).
March, 2021
Recommended citation:
Labadi, S., Giliberto, F., Rosetti, I., Shetabi, L., Yildirim, E. (2021). Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals:
Policy Guidance for Heritage and Development Actors. Paris: ICOMOS.
-- ISC on Historic towns and villages (CIVVIH): Claus-Peter
Contributors (those who consented to be cited):
Echter Authors’ biographies
Participants of the Knowledge Cafe within
the ICOMOS Symposium on Rural Heritage in -- ISC on Legal, administrative and financial issues (ICLAFI):
Marrakesh, Morocco (October 17, 2019) and the Yasemin Sarıkaya Levent; Marion Werkheiser
Experts Meeting in Marrakesh (October 19, 2019): -- ISC on Risk preparedness (ICORP): Giovanni Boccardi; Dinu
Nils Ahlberg; Luisa Ambrosio; Steve Brown; Peter Cox; Kerime Bumbaru; Cornelius Holtorf; Fiona Macalister; Chris Marrion; Sophia Labadi
Bijan Rouhani; Xavier Romao for public and private institutions, both in the academic and
Danis; Bartomeu Deya; Khalid El Harrouni; Nicole Franceschini; ICOMOS National Committee: United Kingdom professional sphere, within fields of cultural policy, sustainable
Albino Jopela; Tokie Laotan-Brown; Fergus Maclaren; Kerstin -- ISC on Shared built heritage (ISCSBH): Maria José de Freitas;
Romeu Carabelli Sophia Labadi is Professor of Heritage at the University of Kent tourism, community engagement, and strategies for the UN
Manz; Deirdre McDermott; Paolo Motta; Sergiu Musteata;
Patricia O’Donnell; Peter Phillips; Julianne Polanco; Andrew -- ISC on Training (CIF): Cristina Gonzalez-Longo; Antoine in the UK. She also holds a Leadership Fellowship (2019-2021) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As an academic and
Potts; Gurmeet Rai Bruguerolle from the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the UK. heritage professional, she is dedicated to supporting planning,
-- ISC on Wood (IWC): Tina Wik Much of Professor Labadi’s research focuses on how heritage monitoring and assessment of participatory heritage practices,
Respondents to the online survey
National Committees: sites and museums can address some of the most pressing with a focus on capacity building and resources generation, for
(November 2019-January 2020):
ICOMOS Albania: Edlira Caushi global challenges, including social justice, gender equality or achieving the UN 2030 Agenda.
Luana Alessandrini; Steve Brown; Akifumi Iwabuchi; Yoshinori
ICOMOS Argentina: Esp. Arq. Mauro G. García Santa Cruz sustainable development. Her research is nourished by her
Iwasaki; Agnieshka Kiera; Fergus Maclaren; Hossam Mahdy;
ICOMOS Bosnia Herzegovina: Elsa Turkusic experiences as consultant for international organisations and Linda Shetabi
Eric Martin; Paolo Motta; Miles Oglethorpe; Samia Rab
Kirchner; Cecilie Smith-Christensen; Jeffrey Soule; Helen ICOMOS Czechia: Josef Štulc; Martin Horáček governments. Professor Labadi is the author of Heritage and ICOMOS National Committee: United Kingdom
Wilson; Shengyin Xu; Ayşegül Yılmaz ICOMOS Germany: Claus-Peter Echter Globalisation (co-edited with Colin Long, Routledge, 2010), Linda Shetabi is a heritage consultant and PhD Candidate in
ICOMOS Honduras: Gloria Lara Hasemann UNESCO, Cultural Heritage and Outstanding Universal Value
Respondents to the 1st consultation ICOMOS Indonesia: Tamalia Alisjahbana; Asanti Astari
Urban Studies (University of Glasgow, School of Social and
(July-September 2020): (AltaMira Press, 2012); Urban Heritage, Development and Political Sciences), examining Scottish heritage conservation
ICOMOS Ireland: Deirdre McDermott Sustainability (co-edited with Bill Logan, Routledge 2015) and
Mohamed Badry Amer; Dinu Bumbaru; Sheridan Burke; ICOMOS Korea (Republic of): Shin Heekweon policy within the context of the UN 2030 Agenda and environ-
Gabriel Caballero; Elena Dimitrova; Claus-Peter Echter; The Cultural Turn in International Aid (Routledge, 2019). mental sustainability. Alongside teaching, she serves on the
ICOMOS Lithuania: Jurate Markeviciene
Khalid El Harrouni; Maya Ishizawa; Tokie Laotan-Brown; ICOMOS Moldova: Sergiu Musteata ICOMOS SDGs Working Group Task Team for Priority Action 1.
Susan MacDonald; Richard MacKay; Fergus Maclaren; Jurate ICOMOS Myanmar: Su Su Francesca Giliberto Previously, Linda was the Academic and Research Coordinator
Markeviciene; Bente Mathisen; Deirdre McDermott; Sue ICOMOS Nigeria: Bekeh Ukelina; Ṣeun Ajagunna ICOMOS National Committee: Italy for Architectural Conservation Programmes at the University
Millar; Paolo Motta; Patricia O’Donnell; Ishanlosen Odiaua; ICOMOS Norway: Cecilie Smith-Christensen of Hong Kong where she led the implementation of Heritage
Dr. Francesca Giliberto is a heritage researcher and consultant.
Navin Piplani; Smriti Pant; Donovan Rypkema; Cecilie Smith- ICOMOS Panama: Silvia Arroyo Duarte Currently she is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at PRAXIS/ Inventory and Management System for Hong Kong and Yangon.
Christensen; Urvashi Srivastava; Michael Turner; Stacy Vallis; ICOMOS Peru: Diana Santander
Charlotte Van Emstede; Kai Weise; ISC on Underwater Heritage University of Leeds, where she authored a report on Heritage Throughout the years, Linda has served on a variety of boards
ICOMOS Philippines: Gabriel Caballero; Kenneth Tua for Global Challenges (2021) and co-organised the conference as an advocate for heritage and community rights, negotiating
(Chris Underwood, Hans Van Tilburg & Arturo Rey da Silva); ISC ICOMOS Saudi Arabia: H.H. Princess Nouf Mohammed Alsaud
on Water and Heritage (Ian Travers); ICOMOS Venezuela (Maria Heritage and Our Sustainable Future: Research, Practice, Policy mutually agreeable solutions between developers, government
ICOMOS Slovenia: Marija Režek Kambič
Carlota Ibáñez & Francisco Pérez Gallego) ICOMOS Turkey: Özgün Özçakır and Impacts in collaboration with the UK National Commission institutions and homeowners.
Respondents to the 2nd consultation for UNESCO. In parallel, she works at the University of Kent on
(December 2020-January 2021): Case studies’ contributors: a research project exploring the impacts of COVID-19 on her- Ege Yıldırım
Individual Expert Members of the Sustainable Fouad Serrhini (SDG1); Luisa de Marco, Nupur Prothi Khanna, itage-based tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa and how to rethink ICOMOS National Committee: Turkey
Development Goals WG: Maya Ishizawa Gwenaelle Bourdin, and Maureen Thibault (SDG 2); Ege Yildirim more sustainable tourism strategies. In the past ten years, she Dr. Ege Yildirim is an urban planner and heritage conservation
International Scientific Committees (ISCs) and their (SDG 3); Brian Leone (SDG 4); Nizar Al Adarbeh (SDG 5); has carried out comparative and interdisciplinary research and specialist with over 20 years’ experience working in Turkey
contributing members: Ameneh Karimian (SDG 6); James Ritson, Franziska Haas Koch, professional projects for public and private actors on cultural and internationally. Her work focuses on heritage policy and
-- ISC on Analysis and restoration of structures of architectural and Peter Cox (SDG 7); Pankaj Manchanda (SDG 8); Frank heritage and sustainable development as well as on urban governance; UNESCO World Heritage; and sustainable devel-
heritage (ISCARSAH) van Steenbergen (SDG 9); Amund Sinding-Larsen and Bente heritage conservation and management in the framework of
-- ISC on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM): Mathisen (SDG 10); Claudia Isabelle, Violeta Montero, and Tina opment. She has a PhD on social environmental sciences
the UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape Recommendation, the from Ankara University, and was a Fulbright Scholar at Pratt
Nicole Franceschini, Andrew Mason, Magda Minguzzi, John Paterno (SDG 11); Randy Durband (SDG 12); Will Megarry (SDG
Peterson United Nations Agenda 2030 and the 2015 UNESCO Policy on Institute, New York. Based in Istanbul since 2013, her previ-
13); Akifumi Iwabuchi (SDG 14); Nicole Franceschini and Susan
-- ISC on Earthen Architectural Heritage (ISCEAH): Maddalena McIntyre-Tamwoy (SDG 15); Zeynep Ece Atabay (SDG 16); World Heritage and Sustainable Development. ous work includes positions of conservation planner at KA-BA
Achenza; Mohammad Yosof Alaidaroos; Erica Avrami; Julianne Polanco, Andrew Potts, and Ewan Hyslop (SDG 17). Architecture Ltd, Ankara; conservation coordinator at Abu
Jonathan Bell; Lassana Cissé; Mariana Correia; Anthony Ilaria Rosetti Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage; consultant and Site
Crosby; C. Michael Donoghue; Maria Fernandes; Isabel Special thanks: ICOMOS National Committee: The Netherlands
Francesco Bandarin, Khalid El-Harrouni, Gaia Jungeblodt, Manager of the Historic Guild Town of Mudurnu; and Key
Kanan; Tom Leiermann; Marco Antonio Penido de Rezende; Ilaria Rosetti is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Antwerp, Expert in the EU-Turkey Anatolian Archaeology and Cultural
Bakonirina Rakotomamonjy; Jeanne Marie Teutonico; Jorge Toshiyuki Kono, Marie-Laure Lavenir, Patricia O’Donnell, Teresa
Patricio, Peter Phillips and Mario Santana. in the Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES) research Heritage Institute project. Most recently, she has served as the
Tomasi; Debbie Whelan ICOMOS Focal Point for the UN SDGs (2016-2020), and cur-
group, and visiting researcher at TUDelft, in the Heritage and
-- ISC on Fortifications and military heritage (ICOFORT): Shikha
Values chair (HEVA). Her research focuses on the role(s) that rently coordinates the Sustainability Thematic Debate of the
Jain
participation in heritage practices can play in achieving sus- OurWorldHeritage Initiative.
tainable urban development. Her experience includes projects
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6 7
List of Acronyms Table of Contents
ADCOM – Advisory Committee ICICH – ISC on Intangible Cultural Heritage
GA – General Assembly ICIP – ISC on Interpretation and Presentation of List of Acronyms 6 SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and
GIAHS – Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Cultural Heritage Sites Executive Summary 8 Infrastructure66
System ICLAFI – ISC on Legal, Administrative and Foreword10 Case Study: Documenting Spate Irrigation 68
HLPF – High-Level Political Forum Financial Issues SDG 10 – Reduce Inequality 70
Introduction12
ICCROM – International Centre for the Study of IcoFort – ISC on Fortifications and Military Case Study: Our Common Dignity Initiative –
the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property Heritage SDG 1 – No Poverty 20
Rights–Based Approaches to Heritage 72
ICOMOS – International Council on Monuments ICORP – ISC on Risk Preparedness Case Study: Rehabilitation
of the Medina of Fez 21 SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and
and Sites ICTC – ISC on Cultural Tourism Communities76
IFLA (1) – International Federation of Landscape ICUCH – ISC on Underwater Cultural Heritage SDG 2 – No Hunger 26
Case Study: Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning
Architects (in context of the ICOMOS-IFLA Principles IIWC – ISC on Wood Case Study: Connecting Practice – Phase III:
Workshop for Historic Districts 79
Concerning Rural Landscapes as Heritage) IPHC – International Polar Heritage Committee The Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption
IFLA (2) – International Federation of Library ISC20C – ISC on 20th Century Heritage Terraces28
and Production 82
Associations and Institutions ISCARSAH – ISC on Analysis and Restoration of SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being 32
Case Study: Global Sustainable Tourism
ISC – International Scientific Committee Structures of Architectural Heritage Case Study: The Culture 2030 Goal
Council (GSTC) Criteria 84
IUCN – International Union for Conservation of ISCCL – ISC on Cultural Landscapes Campaign - COVID-19 Response 34
Nature ICOMOS-IFLA SDG 13 – Climate Action 88
SDG 4 – Quality Education 38
OECD – Organization for Economic Cooperation ISCEAH – ISC on Earthen Architectural Heritage Case Study: Heritage on the Edge -
Case Study: US/ICOMOS International
and Development ISCEC – ISC on Economics of Conservation Communicating Climate Urgency through
Exchange Program (IEP) 40
OUV – Outstanding Universal Value ISCES – ISC on Energy and sustainability Cultural Heritage 90
SDG 5 – Gender Equality 44
SDG(s) – Sustainable Development Goal(s) ISCIH – ISC on Industrial Heritage SDG 14 – Life Below Water 94
Case Study: ACOR’s USAID Sustainable
UCLG – United Cities and Local Governments ISCMP – ISC on Mural Painting Case Study: Research on the Underwater
Cultural Heritage through Engagement
UN – United Nations ISCS – ISC on Stone Cultural Heritage of Stone Tidal Weirs on the
of Local Communities Project (SCHEP) 46
UN-HABITAT – UN Human Settlements ISCSBH – ISC on Shared Built Heritage Earth96
ISCV – ISC on Stained Glass SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation 50
Programme SDG 15 – Life on Land 100
UNESCO – United Nations Education, Science PRERICO – ISC on Places of Religion and Ritual Case Study: World Heritage Volunteer Camp
Case Study: CultureNature Journey 102
and Culture Organization Theophilos – ISC on Theory and Philosophy of at the Pahlavan-Pour World Heritage Site 52
SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong
UNFCCC – UN Framework Convention on Conservation and Restoration SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy 56
Institutions106
Climate Change TICCIH – International Technical Committee for Case Study: 19th-century Tenements in Use
Case Study: ICORP on the Road 108
UNSRCR – UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage by a Housing Association at Lauriston Place
in Edinburgh 58 SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals112
Rights
WG – Working Group Full List of ICOMOS Working Groups: SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Case Study: Climate Heritage Network 114
CCHWG – Climate Change and Heritage Growth60 The Way Forward 119
Full List of ICOMOS ISCs: EPWG – Emerging Professionals Case Study: Augtraveler - Use of Interpretation Glossary of Terms 120
CAR – ISC on Rock Art OCDI-RBAWG – Our Common Dignity: Rights- Technology to Build a Sustainable Tourism
CIAV – ISC on Vernacular Architecture Based Approaches References and ICOMOS Doctrine 129
Model62
CIF – ISC on Training SDTF – Inter-ISC Task Force on Sustainable
CIIC – ISC on Cultural Routes Development (former name of SDGWG)
CIPA – ISC on Heritage Documentation SDGWG – Sustainable Development Goals
CIVVIH – ISC on Historic Cities, Towns and Villages - Syria/Iraq Working Group
ICAHM – ISC on Archaeological Heritage - Working Group on Indigenous Heritage
Management
8 Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 9
Executive Summary
At the International Council on Monuments The Policy Guidance document draws upon social cohesion and dialogue to achieve
and Sites (ICOMOS), we strongly believe the scientific expertise of the ICOMOS Peace within and among societies (SDGs
that heritage—natural and cultural, tangible SDGs Working Group and ICOMOS scien- 10, 11, 16); and
and intangible—is fundamental to address- tific committees at the national and interna- • the shared medium of heritage and its
ing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable tional levels. It also builds on the doctrinal connections with all aspects of human
Development Goals (SDGs), but more work texts created by the ICOMOS global mem- life to create Partnerships (SDGs 11, 17).
is needed to demonstrate these links. bership, which have shaped heritage con-
servation literature worldwide. An essential The Policy Guidance document concludes
To address this gap, the ICOMOS SDGs principle has been to ensure that there is a with some recommendations for the Way
Working Group, in cooperation with the balanced representation of experts from all Forward. These include further refining the
wider ICOMOS membership, has prepared five global regions and all areas of exper- document and developing a strategy for its
this Policy Guidance document to illus- tise within the practice of cultural heritage implementation. This is in line with the SDGs
trate the many ways in which heritage can conservation. Working Group’s strategy for the Decade
address the SDGs. By providing guidance of Action, which prioritizes engagement
to ICOMOS members, heritage profession- The policy statements put forward in this of ICOMOS Committees in localizing the
als, and development actors, among others, document are grounded in the “5 Ps” SDGs, leveraging strategic partnerships
the document aims to demonstrate the underlying the 2030 Agenda (People, for the dissemination of case studies, and
potential for harnessing heritage to assist Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships) promoting research for the development
in achieving sustainable development. and the interrelated nature of the SDGs. of indicators. Supplementary information
Converging under the main policy direc- is provided at the end of the document,
The document consists of 17 policy sec- tive ‘to harness the power of heritage including a Glossary and a list of references
tions. Each section addresses a specific to accelerate the achievement of the from ICOMOS and other sources.
SDG and includes: a ‘Baseline’ of the cur- SDGs’, they express a call to mobilize:
rent context (i.e. threats and potentials); a • the knowledge and resources transmit-
‘Policy Statement’ on the contribution of ted through heritage to achieve the well-
heritage to the targeted SDG; and a ‘Case being of People (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
Study’ illustrating an example of practical 11);
implementation strategies and the interplay • a ‘Culture-Nature’ approach and land-
between different SDGs. While some SDGs scape-based solutions to achieve the
may seem more relevant to heritage than well-being of the Planet (SDGs 6, 7, 11,
others, it has been the approach to treat 13, 14, 15);
them all consistently, as heritage-based • the shared resources embodied in her
approaches can contribute to sustainable itage to achieve Prosperity of communi-
development in more ways than conven- ties (SDGs 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14);
tionally assumed. • the connecting power of heritage for
10 Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 11
Foreword
We all feel a special attachment to a place, the Working Group has undertaken numer- formative change, bringing into sharp relief
an object, a memory, or a tradition. It is nat- ous international activities, including partic- the role that heritage practices can play in
ural to value certain things and to want to ipation in the UN High-Level Political Forum the effort to ‘build back better’ and ensure
preserve them for ourselves and for those (HLPF), developing partnerships with key a resilient and sustainable future. This real-
who come after us. Heritage conserva- UN bodies and other organizations, and ity makes the SDGs, and the contributions
tion presents a wide spectrum of actions: raising awareness through scientific events that heritage can make in attaining them,
not only keeping and passing on what we and public platforms. more urgent and relevant than ever.
value, but also harnessing and enhancing
heritage resources to support the goal of ICOMOS members were instrumental in ICOMOS members and heritage profes-
sustaining life on Earth. ensuring that heritage was included in the sionals can assist society in learning from
final 2030 Agenda document, with Target the past and applying that knowledge to the
In 2015, the role of culture and heritage in 11.4 representing a milestone in the inclu- present in order to create a viable and sus-
sustainable development was recognized sion of culture in a global policy heading. tainable future. Just as importantly, actors
by the United Nations (UN) in the 2030 However, it has now become evident to in the sustainable development community
Agenda and its seventeen Sustainable many experts and practitioners that culture can embrace the contributions of heritage
Development Goals (SDGs). Cultural her in general, and heritage in particular, have towards making their work more effective,
itage appears most prominently in Goal 11 much wider application under the SDGs inclusive, and long lasting. Heritage and
on Sustainable Cities and Communities as and affect all aspects of our lives. the Sustainable Development Goals: Policy
Target 11.4 “to protect the world’s cultural Guidance for Heritage and Development
and natural heritage” and more implicitly in The SDGs Working Group has prepared Actors will assist in both processes, as part
other goals such as SDG 4 on Education, this Policy Guidance document to illustrate of a longer journey to sustain our valued
SDG 8 on Work and Economic Growth, and the many ways in which heritage addresses heritage, and in so doing, truly achieve the
SDG 12 on Consumption and Production. the SDGs, and to provide guidance to SDGs.
ICOMOS members, heritage professionals,
As a leading global organization of heritage and development actors, on how these Peter Phillips,
professionals, the International Council on interactions can be harnessed to assist Chair of the ICOMOS SDGs Working Group
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has taken in achieving sustainable development.
a keen interest in sustainable development The multi-faceted emergency caused by
over the past decade. The SDGs Working the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019
Group was formed in 2015 to coordinate has tested our resilience at a global scale
the ICOMOS response to the 2030 Agenda and exacerbated existing challenges and
by devising strategies to mainstream herit- inequalities. It has also caused significant
age in the SDGs and to localize sustainabil- negative impacts to the heritage sector.
ity within heritage practice. With a growing The post-pandemic recovery period pro-
membership of more than 120 members, vides an incredible opportunity for trans-
12 Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 13
Introduction
Text Box 1: References to Culture
and Heritage in the 2030 Agenda
Direct references using the word ‘culture/cultural’:
Heritage is more than just monuments.
1
planet, in the face of the interlinked chal- • Cultural diversity and intercultural understanding: The Introduction refers
Heritage—cultural and natural, tangible lenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, to the need to respect cultural diversity (para. 8) and pledges member states
and intangible—is an evolving resource socio-economic disparities and health to foster intercultural understanding, tolerance, and mutual respect, while
that supports identity, memory and ‘sense crises. acknowledging the natural and cultural diversity of the world, recognizing that
of place’, and has a crucial role in achieving all cultures and civilizations can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of,
sustainable development. It enables social The 2030 Agenda, however, represents sustainable development (para. 36).
cohesion, fosters socio-economic regen- only modest progress in acknowledging the
eration and poverty reduction, strengthens role of culture in development processes. • Education: Under Goal 4 to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
social well-being, improves the appeal and While Target 11.4 explicitly aims to ‘protect and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’, Target 4.7 stresses the
creativity of regions, and enhances long- the world’s cultural and natural heritage’ need for education to promote ‘a culture of peace and non-violence, global
term tourism benefits. We must take up the under Goal 11 on Sustainable Cities and citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution
challenge of conserving this fragile, non-re- Communities4, and there are several other to sustainable development’.
newable resource for current and future direct and indirect references to culture • Creative economy and tourism: Both under Goal 8 to ‘promote sustained,
generations2. and heritage5 throughout the document inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment
(see Text Box 1), the 2030 Agenda fails to and decent work for all’, and Goal 12 to ‘ensure sustainable consumption and
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable acknowledge fully and affirm the impor- production patterns’, Targets 8.9 and 12.b refer to the need to devise and
Development, adopted by the United tance of heritage as an essential driver and implement ‘policies to promote sustainable tourism, including through local
Nations in 2015, is a plan of action for enabler of sustainable development. culture and products’, and the need to develop suitable monitoring tools in
‘People’, ‘Planet’, and ‘Prosperity’, which this area.
seeks to strengthen universal ‘Peace’ At the International Council on Monuments
• Urbanism: Under Goal 11 to ‘make cities and human settlements inclusive,
through the ‘Partnership’ of all countries and Sites (ICOMOS), we strongly believe
safe, resilient and sustainable’, Target 11.4 highlights the need to ‘strengthen
and stakeholders (the ‘5 Ps’). Founded on that heritage6 can play a key role in address-
efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage’.
the principle of human rights, this holistic ing the SDGs, but more work is needed
Target 11.4 distinguishes itself as the only Target dedicated to a cultural
plan connects all recent global agendas3. to understand and address the potentials
theme, thus serving as the anchor of much cultural heritage work, although
It sets out 17 Sustainable Development and challenges that link heritage to each
this does not preclude the relevance of other targets in the full spectrum of
Goals (SDGs), calling on the world to take Goal. The Policy Guidance document is
the SDGs.
the bold and transformative steps that are the first step in addressing this gap. It illus-
urgently needed to heal and sustain our trates where heritage can make a positive
Indirect references using concepts associated with culture and/or heritage:
1. In this Policy Guidance document, key terms and concepts such as ‘heritage’ are used in a specific way, as defined in the • Literacy: The Introduction refers to a vision of universal literacy (para. 7), which
Glossary at the end of the document.
2. As expressed in the Paris Declaration on Heritage as a Driver of Development (ICOMOS, 2011a).
is closely associated with promoting cultural understanding.
3. Examples include: the Paris Agreement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the New Urban • Creativity: Target 8.3 suggests that creativity and innovation should be encour-
Agenda; the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDDR, 2015); and the Addis Ababa Agenda for Finance for
Development.
aged by development-oriented policies together with productive activities,
4. Closely relevant to SDG 11.4, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) decent job creation, and entrepreneurship.
in its summit Habitat III in 2016, lays out how cities should be planned, developed and managed sustainably, and features
several references to cultural heritage.
• Food security: Under Goal 2 to ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved
5. At ICOMOS, we have been following developments in the field of culture, of which cultural heritage is a major element, as nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’, Target 2.5 touches on the need
well as those in natural heritage, due to the principle of culture-nature connectedness. Thus, ‘culture’ and ‘heritage’ are both
relevant domains with which cultural heritage intersects.
to ensure ‘access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the
6. As the ICOMOS mission and area of expertise is defined as cultural heritage, this Policy Guidance document has focused on utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge’.
the cultural aspects of heritage. However, a conscious decision has been made to use just ‘heritage’ to denote our subject
matter, implying that cultural and natural heritage need to be addressed together, due to the inherent links between them.
Future updates to this Policy Guidance document can elaborate further on the culture-nature connection and interdepen
dency, as well as enhancing the contributions of the nature conservation perspective.
14 Introduction Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 15
• Natural heritage and cultural landscapes: Under Goal 6 to ‘ensure availability to the role of SDGs in their work remains businesses, civil society, and expert organi-
and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’, Goal 14 to ‘con- partial and uneven. This disconnect leads zations, which is potentially suitable for both
serve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’ and Goal 15 to missed opportunities for synergy build- high-level policy and grassroots implemen-
to ‘sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land ing and agenda setting based on scientific tation. It aspires to help build synergies and
degradation, halt biodiversity loss’, several Targets have close associations with evidence, dialogue, and robust arguments strengthen advocacy. With its constantly
the protection of natural heritage and intangible heritage, such as artisanal fish- for policy and practical change. evolving doctrines and methodologies,
ing. These include references to ‘water-related ecosystems’ (6.6), ‘coastal and ICOMOS is a learning organization that
marine areas’ (14.5), ‘marine resources, including (…) fisheries, aquaculture and Addressing this issue is the shared respon- seeks to mobilize its adaptive capacity for
tourism’ (14.7), ‘freshwater ecosystems’ (15.1), ‘mountain ecosystems’ (15.4) sibility, not only of international agencies, the SDGs to respond to the current needs
and ‘genetic resources’ (15.6). such as the United Nations Education, of the professional and broader society.
• Peace and justice: Under Goal 16 to ‘promote peaceful and inclusive societies Science and Culture Organization
for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, (UNESCO) and the United Nations Human World Heritage is a critical theme in this
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels’, Target 16.4 refers to the need Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), context, as UNESCO’s 1972 Convention
to ‘strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets’, while Target 16.10 com- but also of national and local govern- concerning the Protection of the World
mits to ensuring ‘public access to information and protecting fundamental free- ments, businesses, civil society, and Cultural and Natural Heritage has been
doms’, which should involve recognizing the importance of libraries, archives, expert organizations, including actors a standard-setter for all heritage world-
and other cultural institutions. outside the heritage sector, as well as con- wide. The first—and only—UN instrument
cerned individuals. While UNESCO, as the addressing culture and nature together,
UN-mandated agency, has been adminis- and one of the most-ratified UN conven-
tering a wide range of long-standing culture tions (with 194 countries), the Convention
contribution and be leveraged by all actors The insufficient presence of culture and programmes8, expert networks such as addresses key topics that link heritage
in the heritage and development fields heritage in sustainable development ICOMOS, with their versatile working meth- practices to sustainability objectives, such
to improve policy and practice. It also debates has been well documented by ods, can engage with society at diverse as the notion of intergenerational equity
addresses the challenge points where her- ‘The Future We Want Includes Culture’ levels and accelerate the implementation of through the transmission of heritage,
itage practices might be at odds with sus- (later the ‘Culture 2030 Goal’) campaign of the SDGs using heritage (see Text Box 2). and its oft-cited Article 59. UNESCO has
tainable development objectives, with the which ICOMOS is a member7. Through the made many subsequent efforts to extend
awareness that more in-depth studies and analysis of progress reviews of the SDGs, The aim of this Policy Guidance document heritage protection into the sustainable
debates are called for in future outputs of especially SDG 11, in the outcome decla- is twofold: on one hand, it seeks to address development paradigm, most notably
the SDGs Working Group. rations and national government reports to development actors and raise awareness with the 2011 Recommendation on the
the United Nations (UN) High-Level Political of the potential contribution of heritage Historic Urban Landscape and the 2015
Forum (HLPF), the campaign reiterates that practices to sustainable development Policy Document for the Integration of
‘Both cultural and natural heritage sites, culture is as essential as the economic, processes; on the other hand, it provides a Sustainable Development Perspective
while under immense pressure from the social, and environmental dimensions of guidance to ICOMOS members and her- into the Processes of the World Heritage
impacts of urbanization, climate change sustainable development. itage professionals at large, in adopting a Conventions.
and degradation due to other natural sustainable development perspective in
and human factors, play a crucial role As heritage professionals work to strengthen their heritage practices and aligning them Progress in making this shift in World
supporting local economies, livelihoods the application of SDG 11 (Target 11.4), to the SDGs. Therefore, it represents a first Heritage practice is still piecemeal. As an
and quality of life in human settlements.’ it has become increasingly clear that the attempt to provide a policy framework for Advisory Body supporting UNESCO in
contribution of heritage to the whole range all actors, including international organi- the implementation of the World Heritage
‘Heritage for Sustainability’, UN High- of SDGs needs to be recognized by devel- zations, national and local governments, Convention, ICOMOS has a key role to
Level Political Forum Event Booklet, opment stakeholders. Simultaneously,
ICOMOS & IUCN, 2018 explicit attention by heritage professionals
8. T
hese have recently been enhanced with the addition of the new Culture 2030 Thematic Indicators (UNESCO, 2019d); see:
whc.unesco.org/en/culture2030indicators.
9. A
rticle 5 states that ‘each State Party shall (…) adopt a general policy (…) which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage
7. For more information, see: www.culture2030goal.net. [situated on its territory] a function in the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehen-
sive planning programmes’.
16 Introduction Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 17
Text Box 2: ICOMOS and Sustainable Development
Founded in 1965, ICOMOS is a worldwide network of experts and practitioners
working on the conservation and protection of cultural heritage. It is the only global
non-governmental organization of this kind dedicated to promoting the application
of theory, methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation, protection,
use, and enhancement of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. ICOMOS is an
Advisory Body for the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention,
reviewing nominations and the conservation status of properties. Through decades
of studies, conferences, and discussions, ICOMOS has built the philosophical and
doctrinal framework of cultural heritage on an international level and helps the evo-
lution and dissemination of these ideas through its advocacy.
One of the promotional graphics used by ICOMOS, with the slogan ‘heritage: driver and The UN’s ICOMOS engages with a great range of heritage issues through 29 International
→
→
enabler of sustainability’ and a special icon for heritage, featuring elements representing official Target Scientific Committees (ISCs) that specialize in various types and aspects of her
culture, nature and people. 11.4 icon. itage, seven Working Groups and Initiatives that advance transversality within and
outside of heritage communities, and 107 National Committees across five global
regions12.
The work of ICOMOS has been founded, from the outset, on a principle closely
play in ensuring that site management pro- The Policy Guidance document draws aligned with sustainability: the common responsibility to safeguard the heritage
tects Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) upon a diverse range of expertise sourced of humanity for future generations. In the past decade, ICOMOS has increased
while contributing to sustainable devel- from ICOMOS’s SDGs Working Group and its focus on heritage within the context of sustainable development, issuing doc-
opment. Strengthening the dimensions of representatives of ICOMOS’ national and uments such as: the Paris Declaration on Heritage as a Driver of Development
sustainable development is an essential international scientific committees, who (2011a); the Concept Note on Cultural Heritage, the UN SDGs and the New Urban
part of the World Heritage cycle. It needs have provided inputs through an in-person Agenda (2016); the ICOMOS Action Plan on Cultural Heritage and Localizing the
to go hand-in-hand with defining the OUV, experts meeting, an online survey, an online SDGs (2017a); and the report The Future of Our Pasts: Engaging Cultural Heritage
from the beginning of the nomination pro- Working Group meeting, and two rounds of in Climate Action (2019a).
cess—where vast amounts of resources consultations on drafts of the document. It
are deployed by States Parties—through also builds on the large number of doctri- In the vision set out in the 2017 SDGs Action Plan, ICOMOS committed to using
to conservation, management, and moni- nal texts shaping cultural heritage protec- advocacy and knowledge production to support the ‘recognition, mainstreaming
toring. We hope that this Policy Guidance tion literature worldwide, created by the and localization of cultural heritage as a driver and enabler of sustainable devel-
document will also help to further the her- ICOMOS global membership. An essential opment in the process of implementing the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the
itage-sustainability relationship in World principle has been to ensure that there is a SDGs’. Most recently, ICOMOS updated its Triennial Scientific Plan to declare
Heritage processes. However, it must be balanced representation of experts from all Climate Action as its single most important priority. Moreover, in partnership with the
emphasized that World Heritage is only a five global regions and all areas within the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Centre
small fraction of the heritage that is valued practice of heritage conservation. While it is for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM),
by communities around the world. ICOMOS an ICOMOS-authored publication, the doc- ICOMOS has been developing the Nature-Culture Thematic Community of the
deals with heritage at large through its ument is also aligned with guidance from Panorama Platform, which showcases place-based and people-centred case stud-
broad global network of members and UNESCO and its other Advisory Bodies10, ies to raise awareness and build capacity on the links between nature conservation
committees working locally on the ground. as well as other key partner institutions11. and the safeguarding of cultural heritage.
10. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and 12. F
or a matrix of how ISCs’ work themes dovetail with the SDGs, see the 2017 SDGs Action Plan.
Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
11. See ‘References and ICOMOS Doctrine’ at the end of this Policy Guidance document.
18 Introduction
The document consists of 17 sections. The Policy Statements put forth in this doc-
Each section addresses a specific Goal, and ument are grounded in the 5Ps underlying
includes a ‘Baseline’ of the current context the 2030 Agenda and in the interrelated
(i.e. threats and potentials) and a ‘Policy nature of the SDGs. Converging under the
Statement’ that supports the harnessing main policy directive to harness the power
of heritage for sustainable development. of heritage to accelerate the achieve-
HERITAGE AND THE 17 SDGS:
These are followed by a set of specific ment of the SDGs, they express, in mutu-
recommendations for the integration of ally reinforcing ways, a call to mobilize:
heritage as a positive contributor to devel-
POLICY STATEMENTS
opment, the protection of heritage from • the knowledge and resources transmitted
harm during development processes, and through heritage, to achieve the well-be-
the improvement of heritage practice for a ing of People (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11);
AND CASE STUDIES
better alignment with sustainable develop- • a ‘Culture-Nature’ approach and land-
ment objectives. Each section ends with a scape-based solutions, to achieve the
‘Case Study’ that illustrates the interplay of well-being of the Planet (SDGs 6, 7, 11,
heritage practices with that Goal and other 13, 14, 15);
supporting Goals. While some SDGs may • the shared resources embodied in her-
seem more relevant to heritage than others, itage to achieve Prosperity within com-
the approach has been to treat them all munities (SDGs 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14);
consistently, as heritage practices can • the connecting power of heritage for
contribute to sustainable development in social cohesion and dialogue, to achieve
more ways than conventionally assumed. Peace within and among societies (SDGs
The document concludes with some rec- 10, 11, 16); and
ommendations for the Way Forward, a • the shared medium of heritage and its
Glossary, a list of references from ICOMOS, connections with all aspects of human
and other sources. life, to create Partnerships (SDGs 11, 17).Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 21
Policy Statement
Harness the potential of heritage
End poverty in all
to eradicate extreme poverty for all.
its forms everywhere • Leverage heritage in all its forms to provide sustainable livelihoods for all.
• Ensure access to affordable services and infrastructures provided by tangible
and intangible heritage assets.
Baseline
• Reduce exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme weather events
and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters by
Poverty is a complex phenomenon that skills, can help to reduce exposure and vul- integrating heritage and Indigenous knowledge in community planning and
cannot be understood only in terms of nerability to climate-related extreme events services.
income or employment. It is estimated and other environmental shocks and dis-
that 10% of the world population lives in asters. Despite the power of heritage for • Enhance sustainable socio-economic opportunities for all through heritage.
extreme poverty, struggling to fulfil the most poverty reduction, many groups suffer from Promote capacity building with a focus on helping to develop a diverse local
basic needs including access to water, social and economic exclusion because of economy and avoiding mono-economies that are dependent on tourism and
sanitation, or education. Social protection their culture and heritage. growth.
systems help prevent and reduce poverty • Ensure that any heritage-based sustainable economic opportunity benefits
and provide a safety net for the vulnerable. from social protection systems for vulnerable groups.
However, social protection is not a reality
• Ensure that no one suffers from socio-economic exclusion because of their
for a large majority of the world’s popula-
culture and heritage.
tion. Disasters, including climate-related
ones, or biological ones like pandemics, as
well as wars and conflicts, can exacerbate
poverty, especially for the most vulnerable.
Heritage can contribute to eradicating
extreme poverty for all. The rehabilitation
of historic urban centres, undertaken in
full respect of heritage values, can provide
access to basic services and infrastruc-
tures, as well as access to traditional water
and sanitation systems. Access to heritage
can support productive activities, decent
job creation, entrepreneurship, creativ-
ity, and innovation that make use of local
resources and skills. Intangible heritage,
including Indigenous knowledge and local22 SDG 1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 23
Case Study
Rehabilitation of the Medina of Fez supported by an international movement Contribution to the SDGs:
in solidarity, made the safeguarding of the The large number of rehabilitation projects
Medina of Fez a national priority. implemented in the Medina of Fez have
Location: Medina of Fez, Morocco During the period from 2005 to 2013, the made it a successful case study, particu-
historical place integrated the new territorial The rehabilitation of the Medina of Fez was larly in terms of fundraising and financial
Timeframe: 1981 – 2020 development approaches launched by the linked to urban redevelopment and thereby investment in the heritage and social sector
National Initiative for Human Development represented a significant component of with notable examples including social ani-
People/Institutions involved: (INDH), the Regional Development urban design with respect to sustainable mation and social participation in housing
Moroccan Government; World Bank; Programmes of Tourism and Crafts, and development. Positive and negative expe- development.
Arab Fund for Social and Economic the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The riences gathered over the past thirty-five
Development (FADES); UNESCO; Agency second period of development, from 2013 to years on the rehabilitation of the medina Government, religious and civic leaders,
for the De-densification and Rehabilitation 2018, focused on implementing restoration were integral to the process. The overall merchants, artisans, householders, rent-
of Fez Medina (ADER-Fez); Moroccan and rehabilitation programmes for historical rehabilitation strategy for this historical ers, and many other ordinary members
ICOMOS Members; Local Authorities; monuments and the treatment of buildings area was to address its problems by imple- of the population contributed ideas for
Public Authorities; Civil Society; Private that were threatened with collapse, based on menting a sustainable conservation pro- possible development into project com-
Sector (Private national and international conservation and sustainability strategies. gramme, focusing especially on its historic ponents, worked toward consensus on
donors). housing stock, the social development of interventions and strategy, and described
Project Description: the medina, its historic monuments and the the social dynamics of the city to assure
The financial structure of the conservation The most serious issues facing the Medina of urban environment including its architec- a match between plans, aspirations, and
programme reflects the intensive participa- Fez UNESCO World Heritage Site included tural heritage. The programme could not local capacities.
tion of the local authority, municipal coun- the deteriorating residential zones, the be launched without first seeking adequate
cils, NGOs, national/international donors, degradation of the infrastructure, the trans- tools (institutional, social, financial, and Participation was high: a number of local
and national/international financial institu- formation of traditional handicraft activities technical) for its implementation. ADER- NGOs were involved in the project devel-
tions. The different ministries (especially the into partially mechanized small-scale man- Fez, the Agency for the Densification opment between ADER-Fez and the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the ufacturing, the significant number of low-in- and Rehabilitation of Fez Medina, placed population; and many local stakeholders
Ministry of Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry come households, the complex property stakeholder participation at the core of its participated in the social assessment. This
of Islamic Affairs and Waqf) have partici- ownership and occupancy patterns, and implementation strategy, including social had a direct impact on project design. The
pated financially in different programmes the environmental pollution. To address the animation and social participation in hous- objective of the programme was to directly
according to their prerogatives. situation, the Moroccan public authorities, ing rehabilitation. It operated a programme involve the population in the rehabilitation
of emergency intervention to historic mon- process in order to improve living condi-
uments and buildings, to housing units tions and fight against poverty through job
threatening to collapse, and to infrastruc- creation.
SDGs addressed: ture and urban facilities with two priorities:
the safety of the human lives; and the safe- In terms of social, environmental, and inte-
guarding of cultural heritage and traditional grated sustainability, the process of safe-
constructions; adapted to the requirements guarding the Medina of Fez has focused
of modern life. on the participation and integration of local24 SDG 1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 25
society in the sustainability of the reha-
bilitation and conservation project, which
was and remains essentially profitable for
the population. The quality of housing and
the environment are substantially improved
thanks to public investment in solid waste
management, sanitation and sewerage net-
works, infrastructure, and urban facilities.
Other contributions to the SDGs resulted
from the stakeholders’ participation in
developing tools and disseminating best
practices for sustainable restoration, reha-
bilitation, and urban heritage conservation13.
Medina of Fez UNESCO World Heritage Site
→
→ A striking contrast.
→ The population
participation and job
creation.
13. Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Mr. Fouad Serrhini, the General Director of ADER-Fez, for providing pictures and
all information.Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 27
Policy Statement
End hunger, achieve food Harness heritage, including rural and
security and improved
agricultural landscapes, waterscapes
nutrition, and promote
sustainable agriculture and associated intangible and
Baseline
biotic heritage, for sustainable food
production and consumption.
The number of hungry or malnourished support biodiversity, aid in adaptation to
people in the world has increased since climate change and offer the potential for
2014. An estimated 821 million people toxin-free environments that thrive through • Protect landscapes and associated practices from harmful food production
were undernourished in 2017, according to organic means without agrochemicals. interventions to ensure the continuity of ways of life and food independence
the UN. Some of the causes are: reduced These cultural landscapes, associated for local communities.
access to food, global warming, climate with practices of farming, fishing and food
change and poor governance, as well as production, and serving as vessels of local • Promote cultural food production practices which are nutrient-rich (e.g. ‘super
wars and insecurity. The global pandemic genetic biodiversity, are threatened by food’) and can adapt to climate change.
has further exacerbated the trend of vulner- modern, intensive, agriculture and animal • Enhance local knowledge for sustainable food production.
able people facing food insecurity. farming, and unsustainable development
• Ensure compensation mechanisms when heritage designation impacts
infrastructure.
access to food resources, in full consultation with concerned rights-holders,
Established systems of food distribution
duty-bearers, and other stakeholders.
and sharing can address food security
effectively. In addition, heritage, particularly
agricultural and cultural landscapes, can
provide ecosystem services and benefits,
food, and livelihood security for millions.
The diversity of agricultural, forest, fishery,
and natural resources held in cultural land-
scapes serves as a cornerstone, essential
for the sustenance and resilience of global
human life. Food security landscapes take
multiple forms, including traditional poly-
culture farming systems, agroecosystems,
Indigenous agricultural and fishing sys-
tems, and forest landscapes that provide
traditional herbs and medicines. All these
sustainable landscapes and waterscapes28 SDG 2 – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, Heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals 29
and promote sustainable agriculture
Case Study
Connecting Practice – Phase III: The Cultural relevance of traditional management prac- 2010, when Southwest China was hit by
Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces tices within the World Heritage framework. extreme drought, the HHRT was able to
To achieve this, ICOMOS and IUCN have balance local needs with limited impact on
focused their attention on selected sites, the grain yield. Research has demonstrated
Location: Southern Yunnan, China one of which is the Cultural Landscape of the that the vertical articulation of the Forest-
Project Description: Honghe Hani Rice Terraces (HHRT), which Village-Terrace-River landscape system
Timeframe: 2018 – 2020 The Connecting Practice Project is a joint is designated both as a UNESCO World facilitates water conservation. In particular,
exploration by the International Committee Heritage site and as a Globally Important the upland, well-preserved, forest zone
People/Institutions involved: on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) site. guarantees a water supply even in the case
Gwenaelle Bourdin, coordinator (ICOMOS the International Union for Conservation HHRT, located in southern Yunnan, China, of drought events. This ingenious agricul-
International Secretariat); Maureen of Nature (IUCN) (2018), which aims to encompasses a complex system of forests, tural, water, and land management system
Thibault, assistant coordinator (ICOMOS develop approaches that will build upon rice terraces, natural water supply and and the cultural practice of preserving and
International Secretariat); Kristal Buckley the interconnection of natural and cultural traditionally designed irrigation systems, maintaining this system has proved its
and Luisa De Marco, project team mem- values, as well as processes within cultural intertwined with rural settlements. A deep resilience to climatic changes, offering a
bers (ICOMOS World Heritage Advisors); landscapes. This is a significant approach understanding of topography and water possible solution to food sustainability for
Tim Badman and Leticia Leitao, project for achieving more effective protection of for over a millennium has led to a system our future. The Connecting Practice Project
team members (IUCN); Yoshihide Endo our heritage. It contributes to harnessing of harnessing rainwater from forested has investigated the socio-ecological resil-
and Aurélie Fernandez, project participants traditional knowledge for future innova- mountain-tops, channelling it through a ience of the HHRT and the synergy between
(GIAHS FAO Programme); Marlon Martin, tion in order to address climate action sensitively arranged irrigation system, and World Heritage and GIAHS designations to
field visit expert (ICOMOS Philippines); and sustainability challenges. Phase III of distributing it to a labyrinth of agricultural achieve the SDGs in this Decade of Action
Nupur Prothi Khanna, field visit expert the Connecting Practice Project focused terraces. Short-term needs versus long- (2021-2030).
(ICOMOS Board member); Qwingwen Min, on: promoting bio-cultural approaches term sustainability are balanced by harvest-
field visit expert (GIAHS FAO Programme to manage evolved cultural landscapes; ing construction timber and firewood from Contribution to the SDGs:
expert); Haiming Yan (ICOMOS China); explored resilience in management village forests, whilst protecting sacred The Connecting Practice Project seeks to
Rouran Zhang (ICOMOS China); Yuxin Li responses; and investigated the role and forests and biodiversity through religious improve the management effectiveness of
(ICOMOS China). practices. For over a thousand years, the heritage places, integrating both natural
Hani people have developed and practised and cultural dimensions, by preserving and
this intricate subsistence system, in which transmitting knowledge and practice, both
SDGs addressed:
integrated rice farming, forest cultivation, scientific and traditional, to future genera-
and animal breeding combine to address tions. Heritage is a repository of knowledge
pest control and soil fertility. The production that can help humans to build a sustain
of native red rice varieties is the outcome of able future for humanity. This project aims
this elaborate socio-economic and cultural at reiterating the importance of heritage
system that has sustained the land and the preservation and transmission, assuming
Hani people for centuries through droughts a critical role in sustainable development
and challenging circumstances. In 2009- strategies.You can also read
