Traditional and customary Heritage systems: Nostagia or reality? The implications for managing heritage places (original) (raw)

'The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972–2012: Reflections and Directions', 2011 12 (text)

The Historic Environment: Ploicy and Practice, 2012

The World Heritage Convention celebrates its fortieth anniversary in 2012. In 1972, the key words were environment and protection; today, key agendas are sustainable development, climate change and culture. The Convention identifies sites for conservation according to academically derived criteria of outstanding universal value. Since 1972, the motivation for inscription has shifted from cultural recognition to economic gain. In addition, the United Nations operates to a progressive set of radical, inclusive agendas. This article reflects on the achievements and future directions for the Convention, focusing especially on cities.

The World Heritage Convention at 50: management, credibility and sustainable development

Purpose-The World Heritage Convention has reached a milestone, and this year, in 2022, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The aim of this article is to review whether and how the goals of the strategic action plan (SAP) for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (2012-2022) have been reached. Design/methodology/approach-This article starts by considering the outcomes for three of the SAP goals, dealing with protection and management; the credibility of the World Heritage List and sustainable development, using additional information from the final implementation report of the SAP (UNESCO, 2021a), which provides key performance indicators and the implementation status for each goal and associated outcomes. This article then compares and contrasts available data, trends and examples to provide more in-depth analyses of the implementation of the three goals. Data have been gathered from my own research and from the work of other academics and practitioners. Findings-The article finds several key positive changes, including the recent revisions of the Operational Guidelines to include provisions from the 2015 UNESCO Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development. However, a number of concerning or worsening trends relating to the protection and management of the World Heritage List, its increasing lack of credibility and sustainable development make it difficult to conclude that the implementation of the goals has been positive. The article concludes with suggestions for addressing these issues. Originality/value-This paper fills a gap, as not much has yet been published on the state of implementation of the Convention at 50 years old.

Community development through world heritage

2012

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.

World Heritage status and sustainable development: Promises and realities of a title

Gaining World Heritage (WH) status inserts a historic site onto a global stage, providing a series of benefits such as access to international technical and financial resources, touristic promotion, and stimulus to the local economy. However, receiving this title may do more harm than good, as it upsets the delicate balance between promoting and preserving the historic place. Under political and economic pressure, the title may affect the local social dynamic and contribute to weakening cultural integrity and local identity, consequently undermining livelihoods. In Latin American contexts, this contradiction can be detrimental to local sustainability. Are people prepared to defend their heritage? How do local inhabitants and other involved parties perceive the WH status? What needs to be done to improve social participation aiming to reinforce identities, capacitating and empowering local communities so that they can better practice their role in the process of preservation? Addressing these questions is the purpose of this article.

World Heritage: Challenges for the Millennium

2007

The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this publication and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The publication of this volume was financed by the Italian Funds-in-Trust.

Luger, Kurt und Ripp, Matthias: World Heritage Management – Committing to Preservation and Facilitation: Theoretical and Practical Considerations.

Luger, K. and Ripp, M: World Heritage, Place Making and Sustainable Tourism - Towards integrative approaches in Heritage Management (to be published autumn 2020), 2020

World Heritage Cities (WHCs) can be understood as systems that are part of a greater whole representing complex and constantly transforming modern societies. These systems and subsystems are where the heritage sector dynamically interrelates with transportation, tourism, the wide field of culture with its own intercultural di- mensions, migration, and the economy – either locally, nationally or even globally. Altogether they are guided by some invisible hand within a yielding infrastructure. The 21st century presents many challenges that have become undercurrents in society and, more specifically, WHCs. Even though heritage has proven to be a ste- adfast resource for urban development (CHCfE 2015), serious fixes exist due to changes in demographics, social fabric, migration flows, and in wealth and lifestyles – all compounded by continued global warming and climate change. These factors significantly influence urban development in terms of housing de- mand, traffic density, tourism, not to mention issues concerning sustainable urban management (Deutscher Staedtetag 2019, 4).