At its 17th General Assembly, ICOMOS approved this morning the “Paris Declaration” (On heritage as a driver of development).
“This declaration and these recommendations”, says its Preamble, “are intended for use by the stakeholders of heritage conservation, of development and tourism, and more especially to the States, local authorities, international institutions, the United Nations agencies and the UNESCO in particular, as well as to relevant associations from the civil society”.
Mentioning culture and cultural diversity as the Fourth Pillar of sustainable development (Johannesburg Summit, 2000), the Preamble explains how this particular challenge is to be taken up:
“In response to the threats of degradation and destruction due to different aspects of development on heritage and on its inherent values that are crucial for sustainable development, we offer to take up the challenge of conserving cultural heritage understood in its broader context. This heritage is indeed a fragile, vital and non renewable resource that is at risk of being lost forever for current and future generations if it is deteriorated or destroyed.
“Heritage, with its values contributing towards identity, as a repository of memory of cultural and social history, with authenticity, integrity, and a ‘sense of place’, is a vital element of the development process.
“It is only by demonstrating heritage as an asset for development, a contributing factor for social cohesion and economic attractiveness, and for enhancing understanding among peoples that heritage can bring the solutions for socio-economic, cultural or tourism development and its long-term conservation.
“It is by giving heritage new spiritual functions and new day-to-day uses for social life and development, that we will find way for sustainable conservation through self-financing.
“This will help avoid: unjustified destruction of traditional built heritage ensembles; the negative impact of an uncontrolled architectural modernity that contributes to the degradation of the quality of life in towns and regions; the excesses of an unregulated tourism, where visitors flows and facilities are located too closely to the sites, threaten their economic and cultural values and do not benefit local communities”.
In order to achieve the Declaration’s objectives, following actions are recommended (the document further describes each single action, but here only the main headers are mentioned):
- Regarding the issue of “Heritage and Regional Development” - “to revitalise towns and the local economy; to promote rehabilitation and balanced regional development; to preserve space and non renewable resources”
- Regarding the “Return to the Art of Building” - “conservation; standards; an inspirational model for groundbreaking creation”
- Regarding the balance of cultural heritage, “Tourism and Development” - “heritage and the challenge of tourism: what strategies, what tools?; can tourism development be sustainable?; to help local communities take ownership of their heritage and of the development of tourism”
- Last but not least, concerning “The Economics of Heritage” - “to better know the fallout of heritage conservation; to encourage the structuring effects of heritage on economic development and social cohesion”.
The original text, 6 pages long and in two versions (English and French), goes of course much more in depth - and it should be available online pretty soon, I guess. But I wanted to let colleagues have a look at a short synthesis thereof, as soon as possible.
I’d be glad for your feedback on this issue. Any thoughts? Comments?
