Capacity Building Workshop on Nature-Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation in Asia and the Pacific

Program Dates: 15th – 26th September 2017

Venue: University of Tsukuba, Japan

Capacity Building Workshop on Nature-Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation in Asia and the Pacific has purpose of contributing to the World Heritage Capacity Building Programme led by ICCROM and IUCN, in consultation with ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in developing new approaches towards integrated conservation of cultural and natural heritage. These workshops started in 2016, explore nature-culture linkages with focus on theory and practice in Asia and the Pacific Region. The visit to Japanese heritage sites forms a core component of the programme where participants conduct practical work. Participants will be able to understand issues and explore approaches being adopted in the field.

The first workshop of the focusing on Nature-Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation under the theme “Agricultural Landscapes” was held in September 2016, which was inaugurated with an international symposium at the University of Tsukuba, and with field visits to the Noto Peninsula and the Historical villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama,World Heritage site since 1995. Participants coming from the culture and nature sectors from eleven countries in Asia and the Pacific (Philippines, India, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China, Turkey, Indonesia) and beyond(Colombia and Ghana) gathered with international and Japanese experts during the workshop.

Theme: Sacred Landscape 

Participants of the CBWNCL 2017 will explore the nature-culturelinkages in sacred landscapes and the possibilities of developing comprehensiveapproaches that consider the cultural values of natural areas and the culturalpractices of sacredness as tools for the conservation of cultural and naturalheritage. Using current knowledge that has been developed, sharing the Japaneseexperience and exchanging knowledge among practitioners from the Asia and thePacific region where many natural and cultural landscapes are consideredsacred, recommendations for the conservation of sacred landscapes in thisregion would be suggested.

Objectives

• To strengthen theoretical knowledge on sacred landscapes and their relevance in connecting conservation practices between natural and cultural heritage professionals.
• To visit and exchange experiences with local managers and residents in areas/sites where sacred landscapes are protected and conserved with different approaches,initiatives and governance systems.
• To reflect on nature-culture linkages, natural values and cultural values in sacred landscapes in general, and in participants’ own sites/case studies in particular.
• To establish networks among heritage practitioners in the region. 
• To elaborate recommendations for the conservation of Sacred landscapes in Asia and the Pacific following a nature-culture approach.

Travel, accommodation and living expenses

Organizers will cover the cost of accommodation and living expenses for the selected participants and a limited number of scholarships will be available to cover the travel costs.

Official Link

Deadline: 7^thMay 2017