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     Heritage Interpretation and Sustainable Development

    • With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN in 2015, UNESCO also adopted the Policy to Integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into the World Heritage Convention to contribute to achieving the SDGs in the cultural sector. Since then, various research, programs, and projects have been implemented.
    • Based on Article 5 of the World Heritage Convention, which states “adopt a general policy to allow heritage to function within the life of the community,” WHIPIC, after its establishment in 2022, aimed to examine how heritage interpretation can contribute to the SDGs through its first World Heritage policy research project. Additionally, it sought to identify the future research directions and areas necessary for WHIPIC.

    Objective

    Through viewpoint of “heritage interpretation for sustainable development”,the project examines the concept of heritage interpretation that proactively responds to global issues including climate change, conflicts between nations, rights of marginalized groups and indigenous people, and to explore good practice of such heritage interpretation.

    Person in charge

    • Hyeonji Kong, hj.kong@unesco-whipic.org
    • Period: 2022
    • Status: Complete

    Contributors

    • Sarah Court | Independent heritage specialist
    • Patricia Alberth | World Heritage Manager of Cultural Department, City of Bamberg
    • Ang Ming Chee | General Manager, George Town World Heritage Incorporated
    • Giovanni Boccardi | Former Chief of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit of UNESCO
    • Shikha Jain | Founder Director, DRONAH(Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage)
    • Sophia Labadi | Professor of Heritage, Kent University
    • Peter Larsen | Senior lecturer of Geneva University
    • Aylin Orbasli | Professor, Architecture and Urban Heritage, Oxford Brookes University
    • Hattaya Siriphatthanakun | Specialist in Cultural Heritage Conservation, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts
    • Michelle Stefano | Folklore Specialist of American Folklife Centre, Library of Congress
    • Pascall Taruvinga | Lecturer/ Coordinator of postgraduate studies in Heritage Management, Rhodes University
    • Gamini Wijesuriya | Senior Advisor of ICCROM
    • Ege Yildirim | Independent heritage planning consultant, Ayse Ege Yildirim Heritage Planning

    Research Method

    YearResearch MethodStatus
    2022Literature review(March-July): The emergence of the concept of heritage interpretation and sustainable development and their relationsComplete

    Roundtable

    (August)



    Discussion 1: Inclusiveness and Equality

    Heritage interpretation addressing:

    •  gender equality
    • contested history
    • human rights
    • indigenous/ marginalised group

    Discussion 2: Well-being of Heritage Community

    Involving local community in:

    • managing disaster and COVID 19 - urban heritage regeneration
    • evitalising sustainable tourism - in the nomination process

    Discussion 3:  Revisiting of World Heritage system

    • recognising ideal and reality of SDG in WH system
    • reviewing Operational Guidelines
    • reviewing Sustainable Development Integration Policy


    Publication

    Research on the World Heritage Convention and Interpretation policy: Heritage Interpretation for Sustainable Development