Protecting and promoting world heritage: Community is the key pillar

Delegates attending the international scientific conference “Protecting and promoting the values of World Heritage: a community-based approach for sustainable development”. Photo: HL

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Hanoi People's Committee. Attending the workshop were: Director of the Lazare Eloundou Assomo World Heritage Center; Chief Representative of the Hanoi UNESCO Office Jonathan Baker; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong; Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha, along with scientists, cultural and tourism management agencies of Hanoi and other provinces and cities.

The workshop is an event in a series of activities to implement the Action Plan for the period 2021 - 2025 of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam - UNESCO Cooperation for the period 2021 - 2025, the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy to 2030, and the conclusions of the National Cultural Conference, which emphasizes the role of culture in serving local socio -economic development.

Community is the “core” of heritage conservation

Vietnam currently has 8 UNESCO-recognized world heritage sites, in addition to thousands of national cultural and natural heritage sites. These are: Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, Ho Dynasty Citadel, Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary. Each heritage is a precious treasure, crystallized from thousands of years of history, culture and the connection between humans and nature.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong speaks. Photo: HL

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed that heritage is not only a memory of the past that needs to be preserved, but also a strategic asset for the future. However, heritage values (both cultural and natural) are facing many risks such as: climate change, uncontrolled urbanization, the negative side of globalization, pressure from mass tourism, and in many cases, indifference from people themselves. In that context, protecting and promoting heritage values becomes more urgent than ever.

Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong also said that in the 1972 Convention, UNESCO emphasized the 5 "Cs" in the global strategy, in which "Community" is considered a key pillar. "Community" is not simply a concept, but a philosophy, a core principle in heritage conservation. It is the community that holds, preserves and passes on heritage through many generations. They possess valuable knowledge and experience, and understand best the historical stories as well as the spiritual values hidden in each heritage," he emphasized.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha speaks. Photo: HL

Known as the “Heritage City” with an extremely rich and diverse cultural heritage fund including 6,494 historical and cultural relics, including world-class heritages recognized by UNESCO such as: Thang Long Imperial Citadel Center - Hanoi, Giong Festival, Ca Tru, Le - Mac Dynasty Doctorate Steles at Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam... for many years, Hanoi city has always promoted its role in preserving and promoting heritage values.

Contributing opinions at the workshop, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha affirmed that the city determines that "investing in culture is investing in sustainable development", in which protecting and promoting the value of heritage is the responsibility of the entire political system, all levels, sectors, the whole society and each citizen.

“The city has issued regulations, policies and mechanisms on preserving and promoting heritage values; focused on directing the harmony between planning work and management and conservation of cultural heritage; promoted propaganda and education on traditions and history; raised public awareness; increased investment in resources for conservation to preserve ancient architectural identity during the restoration and embellishment process…”, informed Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Vu Thu Ha.

Need to empower communities

At the workshop, delegates and cultural and historical experts clarified the role of the community in the conservation and promotion of heritage. Chief Representative of the UNESCO Hanoi Office Jonathan Baker said that promoting the role of the community is an indispensable factor in managing world heritage, and Vietnam has done this well for a long time.

Chief Representative of UNESCO Hanoi Office Jonathan Baker gives comments. Photo: HL

“Community-centered conservation is not just about consulting with local people, but also about active empowerment. That is, allowing local people to participate in decision-making, organize cultural activities, and benefit economically and socially from heritage-related initiatives,” said Jonathan Baker.

Affirming the central role of communities in preserving world heritage, Director of the World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo emphasized: “Communities are the bearers of knowledge, keepers of traditions, holders of power and play a key role in conservation. In the current context, when world heritage is facing climate change, urbanization and socio-economic inequality, we must strengthen the community-centered approach. The recognition of the role of communities has been clearly stated in the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention.”

Director of the Lazare World Heritage Centre Eloundou Assomo speaks at the workshop. Photo: HL

To promote the role of the community, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo said that localities need to ensure the welfare and sustainable livelihoods of local communities and indigenous people living in and around world heritage sites; empower through capacity building and sharing conservation knowledge; and promote the resilience of heritage to climate change based on indigenous knowledge; promote digitalization and the application of AI technology to serve heritage conservation. “UNESCO is ready to support member states in promoting this common vision - where culture is the foundation for sustainable development,” Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo affirmed.

At the workshop, delegates also shared experiences in state management and heritage ownership in promoting the value of world heritage to serve local socio-economic development and improve people's lives. At the same time, they made a number of recommendations such as: perfecting the legal basis for heritage management; promoting and further raising awareness and the role of the community; strengthening environmental protection, sustainable use of resources, and sustainable tourism development.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bao-ve-phat-huy-di-san-the-gioi-cong-dong-la-tru-cot-then-chot-702994.html