Tangible Risks, Intangible Opportunities: Long-term Risk Preparedness and Responses for Threats to Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage is exposed to numerous disasters resulting from natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and cyclones, and increasingly from human-induced hazards, like arson, armed conflict and civil unrest. The great East Japan Tohuko Earthquake and Tsunami (2011); Thailand Floods (2011); Haiti, Chile and Christchurch earthquakes (2010); and recent civil unrests in Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Syria have caused serious damage to tangible and intangible attributes of cultural heritage sites ranging from historic buildings, museums, historic settlements, as well as cultural landscapes. Undoubtedly, the frequency and intensity of some disasters has increased recently due to the impact of Global Climate Change, as well as social, economic and political changes. Considering these challenges, the ICOMOS Advisory Committee symposium in Beijing on “Reducing Risks to Cultural Heritage from Natural and Human-Caused Disasters” aimed to assess these risks and formulate policies, strategies and techniques for reducing risks to disasters, responding to emergencies and recovering from disasters. A brief was prepared for the one-day symposium soliciting position papers and case studies on the following five sub-themes: 1. Techniques and strategies for mitigating risks to cultural heritage from natural and human-caused disasters 2. Methodology and tools for undertaking risk-assessment of cultural heritage 3. Protecting cultural heritage in times of conflict and other emergencies 4. Planning for post-disaster recovery of cultural heritage 5. Awareness-raising and capacity building for managing disaster risks to cultural heritage