Recommendations of the 4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage
Sharjah 29 May – 1 June
The 4th Arab Forum delved into the concept of Omran by exploring its constituent concepts and theories. These components reflect societal interactions, particularly considering contemporary perspectives relevant to present current circumstances and challenges such as crises, conflicts, and natural Hazards. Omran culture, with its inherent urban nature that aligns with modern dynamics, establishes a mental framework, and contributes to building societal awareness, which is manifested through collective practices that fortify heritage resilience on solid foundations.
Omran culture, in its human and social nature, inevitably evolves and responds to the surrounding conditions. It encompasses the sciences and knowledge associated with its urban history and the practices gained from its culture. Participants unanimously emphasized the significance of defining concepts linked to Omran culture (Homeostasis, flexibility, resilience, collaboration, balance, etc.) and exposing them to deep critique and re-examination. They also affirmed that heritage conservation isn’t solely achieved through traditional materials and inherited architectural styles, but rather by approaching it through the values and characteristics it holds.
The sessions also addressed the importance of developing forecasting mechanisms and tools to mitigate risks, in addition to highlighting the significance of strategies and preparedness plans to respond to post-disaster scenarios. The forum underscored the value of enhancing community engagement through programs and awareness efforts aimed at comprehending the challenges that cultural heritage resilience continues to face.
This forum takes into account previous documents recommendations, with the aim to develop them within a regional context:
- The Sharjah Initiative (2012), which addressed guiding principles for the Arab countries, calling for preventive measures to enhance the resilience of cultural heritage in times of crisis.
- The documents related to SENDAI framework and urban resilience: Cultural Heritage Addendum issued by UNDRR.
- IPCC sixth assessment report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability
- EEAS the first EU progress report on the approach to actual cultural heritage in conflicts
- The eight principles of Baukultur (relevant to “Culture of Omran”)
Initial recommendations:
For governments/ member states
- Establish robust local and national coordination mechanism for forecasting disastrous events and conflicts; put in place an organizational structure with strong leadership and clarity of coordination and responsibilities (example military/ police specialized units working with heritage bodies; and the role of municipalities).
- Establish up-to-date data on hazards and vulnerabilities. Prepare risk assessments based on holistic participatory processes and use these as the basis for planning and development of the built environment and long-term goals.
- Identify and develop financial mechanisms to support resilience activities (e.g., work with existing fund or foundations active in the region)
- Carry out risk-informed territorial planning, development and develop tools based on risk assessments, taking in consideration vulnerable populations (Apply and enforce sustainable realistic, risk compliant building regulations compatible with local environments)
- Identify, protect and monitor contextual natural ecosystems within and outside the physical built historic environment to sustain and safeguard their protective harmonious functions as natural buffers and enhance their use for risk reduction.
- Build institutional capacities related to resilience of built heritage to acquire the adequate knowledge to execute their roles and increase the resilience of historic areas.
- Enhance social connectedness and culture of mutual collaboration and engagement through community (especially youth) and government initiatives and by using digital channels and platforms of communication.
- Form adequate infrastructure and develop plans or strategies for heritage protection, and maintenance, and create protective, risk mitigating infrastructure.
- Ensure effective disaster response to protect the built environment by updating contingency and preparedness plans, linking with early warning systems and increasing emergency and management capacities.
- Establish strategies for post-disaster recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction ensuring that they are aligned with long-term planning and provide an improved built environment and increased resilience for the affected living community.
Tools to be developed by built heritage experts and relevant professionals (interdisciplinary skills to develop):
- Establish an inventory and a baseline (Observatory of Heritage in the Arab Countries for monitoring the risks) of the current level of disaster resilience concerning cultural heritage (crisis mapping of built environment in the Arab region).
- Set up awareness tools to enhance understanding of resilience challenges for cultural heritage.
- Identify funding opportunities for cultural heritage preservation
- Create or strengthen knowledge exchange activities among cities, and engage the private sector.
- Create opportunities to build capacities within professionals, decision-makers, and civil society, emphasizing professional and continuing education.
- Enable dialogue and consensus between all stakeholders responsible for cultural heritage protection, disaster risk reduction, and related areas.
- Engage communities (including minorities and vulnerable population groups) in the decision-making process related to cultural heritage protection and disaster resilience.
- Identify opportunities and create means to reach out to decision-makers and the population about the potential socio-economic impacts of development (e.g., gentrification, increased inequalities, and reduced business resilience) and the possible ways to manage those impacts.
- Revive and Integrate local knowledge and functional traditional practices into actions related to cultural heritage protection and disaster resilience.
- Promote the integration of traditional materials and construction techniques in building regulations (green architecture), and identify strategies for strengthening and preserving heritage assets.
- Lead to actions and implementable model projects to deliver increased resilience for the built environment, the community, and its cultural heritage over time.
Recomendations
1. Research our heritage and leverage it in protecting our environment. This includes research in areas like human history and ethnoecology (encompassing ethnobiology, ethnobotany, ethnozoology). Assessment of vulnerabilities and potential mitigation and adaptation in WHSs is critical.
2. Create culturally sensitive educational material that result not only in awareness but also in behavioral change. Key elements of these modules included: a) listing problems and identifying solutions, b) be accurate/factual yet carry simplified messages/memes, c) have simple catchy messaging, d) utilize state-of the-art tools like smart-phone applications, animations, games, catchy messaging, and social media.
3. Focus on linking cultural heritage and natural heritage protection. This is a very powerful connection that motivates people, especially in the context of colonization and occupation.
4. Identify challenges caused by humans (including apartheid wall, colonies, use of pesticides, etc) on cultural heritage.
5. Localised action and localised geography: indigenous people are the best stewards of their heritage (cultural and natural) and can devise locally effective solutions. We thus need to avoid top-down approaches.
6. Incorporate climate change knowledge in formal and informal education.
7. Connect climate change with agriculture heritage.
Thank you very much for the exceptional efforts you are making at ICCROM Sharjah. You are indeed creative, just as we expect, and I appreciate your achievement in creating this platform to share all the recommendations. Much respect and appreciation to you.
I commend and emphasize what was mentioned in the recommendations and in the way they were formulated and compiled by you, which included all the recommendations mentioned at the time (much respect and appreciation to you). Here are some additions or confirmations of some of the tools that should be developed by heritage experts:
1- Youth Engagement: Tools can be developed to engage youth in resilience efforts and the preservation of cultural heritage. This can contribute to passing on knowledge and traditional practices to the younger generations.
2- Continuous Assessment: Tools should be developed for ongoing and periodic assessment of the effectiveness of resilience strategies and their modification if necessary.
3- Environmental Impact Analysis: Tools can be developed to assess the environmental impact of cultural heritage resilience projects. This helps ensure that environmental pollution is avoided, and biodiversity is preserved.
4- Effective Legislation and Policies: Tools should be developed for evaluating legislation and policies related to resilience and cultural heritage to ensure their effectiveness and updating them when necessary.
5- International Partnerships: Tools can be developed to promote international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the field of resilience and cultural heritage protection.
6- Community Monitoring: Mechanisms should be developed for community monitoring, allowing citizens and local communities to report potential risks and pressure officials to take action.
7- Innovative Financing: Tools can be developed to explore innovative financing opportunities, such as crowdfunding, social investment, and partnerships with the private sector.
8- Ethics in Cultural Heritage: There is a need to develop tools for discussing and promoting ethics in dealing with cultural heritage and resilience, including issues such as intellectual property rights and mutual respect.
4 Comments
Thank you very much for the opportunity. We would like to share the following recommendation:
Omran culture embodies the coexistence between man and his architectural surroundings. Armed conflict is one of the challenges to this organic relationship, as history has shown us that military operations can cause irreplaceable destruction to cultural property. To enhance the protection of cultural heritage and property in armed conflict, the ICRC encourages States that have not yet acceded to the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols, to take the necessary steps to do so to safeguard cultural property against foreseeable effects of armed conflict.
Thank you very much for this opportunity. We would like to share the following recommendation:
Omran culture embodies the coexistence between man and his architectural surroundings. Armed conflict is one of the challenges to this organic relationship, as history has shown us that military operations can cause irreplaceable destruction to cultural property. To enhance the protection of cultural heritage and property in armed conflict, the ICRC encourages States that have not yet acceded to the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols, to take the necessary steps to do so to safeguard cultural property against foreseeable effects of armed conflict.