SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM THEME: PERCEPTIONS OF HERITAGE AND RESILIENCE Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness
The theme of the Scientific Symposium brings together a longstanding discussion on perceptions of heritge: “The Sacred Garden of Lumbini Perceptions of Buddha’s birthplace” (https://fid4sa-repository.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/3410/1/Lumbini.pdf) and the theme of the recently adopted ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2024 – 2027: “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage - Preparedness, Response and Recovery” (https://www.icomos.org/en/89-english-categories/home/154299-disaster-and-conflict-resilient-heritage-preparedness). “The first year of the plan focuses on how we can prepare for possible disasters, through the prevention and mitigation of hazards, improving resilience, as well as by preparing for conflicts that threaten our cherished heritage resources”.
Inspiration for the theme of Perceptions
Lumbini is one of the most sacred places in the world. Over many centuries people have developed visions of the place where Gautama Buddha was born. There are certain attributes and characteristics that are part of the common understanding of Lumbini. However, people have different perceptions, expectations and visions of Lumbini. They all are fragments of the overall picture of Lumbini. Bringing them all together provides a more comprehensive image of the sacred site.
The Buddhist scripture, the verses of the Udana 68-69 of the Khuddaka Nikaya, the exclamations of the Buddha, narrates the story of the Blind Men of Sravasti. Disciples asked Lord Buddha why the wandering hermits and scholars constantly argued about so many issues and never seemed to come to any consensus. Lord Buddha then related a tale about a king, who ordered for all the blind men in the ancient city of Sravasti to be gathered together in front of an elephant. Each was given a specific part of the elephant to touch.
Each of them perceived a different aspect of the elephant and assumed the elephant to have only the features that they personally understood: the head is like a pot, the ear is like a winnowing basket, the tusk is like a share, the trunk is like a plough, the foot a pillar, the back a mortar, the tail a pestle and the tuft of the tail a brush. However, what they did not realize is that all these physical attributes put together make the elephant.
Then the Exalted One rendered this meaning by uttering this verse of uplift: O how they cling and wrangle, some who claim For preacher and monk the honoured name! For, quarrelling, each to his view they cling. Such folk see only one side of a thing. (Udana, 68–69)
SUB-THEME 1: NAVIGATING AND NEGOTIATING CONFLICT
Co-chairs: Anie Joshi and Zeynep Ece Atabay
Armed conflicts and wars have been a reality throughout human history; however, their nature has evolved significantly in the past few decades. Since the turn of the 21st century, the changing nature and shifting characteristics of armed conflicts and warfare have dramatically increased the risks faced by cultural heritage and communities. The emergence of a new generation of armed conflicts and hybrid warfare that both target and exploit cultural heritage presents new threats and risks. These new-generation conflicts, where the cultural heritage has become a significant component of the warfare, often resulting in significant losses, including the destruction of heritage sites, looting of artefacts, and damage to traditions, identities, and collective memories. Beyond the physical damage, the loss of both tangible and intangible heritage harms communities, disrupts social cohesion, and deepens the trauma experienced by affected populations.
As heritage becomes both a target and a tool in armed conflicts and wars, its protection demands urgent, strategic, and context-specific efforts. Since its establishment, ICOMOS has been dedicated to protecting cultural heritage during armed conflicts. However, the threats from a new generation of conflicts and the risk of weaponisation and politicisation of heritage necessitate a review of our efforts and the updating of our strategies and tools.
In line with this strategic vision, this sub-theme aims to navigate and negotiate the complexities of cultural heritage in conflict situations and gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between heritage and the conflict context. This includes exploring proactive measures and emergency response to heritage in an ongoing armed conflict, mitigating damage, fostering post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation and reassessing the effectiveness of international policies and international law in managing risks.
Session topic 1.1: Understanding the conflict context in relation to cultural heritage
This sub-topic examines the complex relationship between cultural heritage and conflict, focusing on its political and social dimensions. Discussions will explore how heritage is affected during different conflict phases, from escalation to post-conflict recovery, and the strategies for its protection. Key themes include the weaponisation of heritage, its role as a victim of destruction, and its politicization as a trigger for the conflict. The sub-topic also considers the long- and short-term impacts of conflict on heritage and communities, emphasizing approaches to safeguarding cultural identity and fostering peace.
Session topic 1.2: Cross-cutting approaches for protecting cultural heritage in conflict zones.
This sub-topic explores cross-cutting approaches for protecting cultural heritage in conflict zones, addressing challenges that arise at different phases of conflict. Discussions will highlight managing complex emergencies, engaging with the uniformed sector, and applying multi-disciplinary approaches to enhance the resilience of heritage in conflict settings.
Session topic 1.3: Tools for protection of cultural heritage in conflict areas
Session topic 1.4: Communities and resilience to conflicts
SUB-THEME 2: WITHSTANDING THE FORCES OF NATURE FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HERITAGE
Co-chairs: Inu Pradhan-Salike and Dowon Kim
Natural forces can expose heritage sites to disasters, causing significant damage to both tangible and intangible values and threatening cultural identity. By reinforcing structures, implementing early warning systems, and promoting adaptive techniques, heritage sites can better withstand the destructive forces of nature, ensuring their preservation for future generations. Over time, the discourse surrounding disasters and heritage has evolved, shifting from fear of disasters to risk management, and now towards viewing heritage as an opportunity in disaster preparedness. In this context, heritage is seen as a dynamic, living entity that contributes to resilience against natural hazards, rather than merely a passive recipient of responses during disasters or preparedness efforts. Similarly, heritage sites may already be in vulnerable conditions, and even a minor natural event can potentially lead to a disaster-like scenario.
In this context, four sessions centred around preparedness has been proposed
- Understanding multi-hazards in the context of earthquakes for heritage conservation and development
- Assessing Vulnerability and Risks to enhance heritage risk reduction strategies
- Integrating Tangible and Intangible aspects for heritage disaster risk reduction
- Training and raising awareness for preparedness
Session topic 2.1: Understanding multi-hazards in the context of earthquakes for heritage conservation and development:
This session involves assessing the combined risks posed by earthquakes and other hazards (such as landslides, floods, and fires) in the context of specific heritage sites. Earthquakes can trigger secondary hazards, including soil liquefaction, landslide, fires etc. which may further compromise the structural integrity and cultural value of heritage sites. The session focuses on identifying these risks and implementing mitigation strategies, such as legal frameworks, action plans, reinforcing buildings, retrofitting infrastructure, and developing emergency preparedness plans which is crucial for safeguarding both the site and its historical significance.
Session topic 2.2: Assessing Vulnerability and Risks to enhance heritage risk reduction strategies:
This session explores the complexities of dealing with multiple hazards and threats to heritage, both tangible and intangible. It focuses on understanding vulnerability and risk assessment tools and techniques, alongside risk reduction strategies and action plans encompass both structural and non-structural measures, as well as management strategies for risk reduction.
Session topic 2.3: Traditional Knowledge for Disaster Risk Reduction of Tangible and Intangible Heritage:
This session emphasizes the importance of both tangible and intangible aspects for heritage resilience. It highlights the values of indigenous and traditional knowledge, including cultural and traditional practices, traditional restoration skills, the utilization of cultural spaces and social cohesion. The focus is on how these elements contribute to risk communication, risk reduction, and preparedness for disaster response as well as their integration into institutional frameworks for effective disaster management.
Session topic 2.4: Training and raising awareness for preparedness:
The session focuses on creating awareness and building sensitivity among key stakeholders—such as managers, communities, and authorities—on risk assessment, reduction, mitigation, and management. It emphasizes the creation of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, training programs for heritage site managers, and community awareness campaigns aimed at reducing risks to heritage sites.
SUB-THEME 3: LEVERAGING HERITAGE FOR PEACE
Co-chairs: Neel Kamal Chapagain and Tracy Ireland
Peace is a multifaceted concept with a diversity of meanings and culturally contingent perceptions. This theme recognises the importance of holding this ICOMOS Annual General Assembly (AGA) at Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha World Heritage Site. It aims to explore the relationship between cultural heritage and peace and, because of the significance of this location, to foreground key concepts from Buddhist teachings relating to peace, including non-violence, compassion, equity and social justice, empathy and concern for the wellbeing of all species.
We are seeking proposals and suggestions for ways in which the AGA might come together in Lumbini to share perspectives and build momentum towards more peace-informed heritage thinking and practice, particularly in the face of the challenges posed by disaster and conflict. We welcome inputs based in any faith, philosophy or belief systems which explore world views centred on peace and mindfulness and ask that they are feasible and practical to be realised in Lumbini. Examples could range from discussion panels exploring peace and related topics (for example multispecies ethics, nature culture connectedness, cosmologies and spiritual traditions) to workshops on meditation, mindfulness, conflict resolution, or peace as the pre-condition for sustainability. We are also interested in grounded examples of heritage recognising the insignificant or everyday experience of happiness and peaceful co-existence. Unlike the other two themes of the Scientific Symposium, this theme will not have typical paper presentation sessions, but only keynote addresses, panels and collective deliberations. It is conceptualised as a confluence of the other two themes - complementing the outcomes of the main scientific symposium and adding the location-inspired spirit of peace.
