ABSTRACT
The chapter reviews international policies related, on the one hand, to disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change, within the larger framework of human rights and sustainable development, and – on the other hand, to cultural heritage protection, to identify and discuss cross-references among all these policies and their mutual implications in practice.
Cultural heritage and DRR, as sector of activities, are highly relevant to each other's mandate but are unfortunately not enough integrated at institutional and implementation levels. Disaster risks, indeed, tend to be neglected by heritage organisations that give priority to other issues perceived as more visible and urgent. Many disaster risk policies and plans, at the same time, tend to overlook heritage, considering it as a secondary concern.
A review of the nexus between cultural heritage and DRR within international policies, however, shows a growing awareness of the importance of heritage as a precious resource to be protected from disasters, both in its own right and for its possible contribution to resilience. By recognizing and implementing these policies, through a new, integrated approach that would seize opportunities for synergies, practitioners within both sectors could significantly enhance the effectiveness of their work.
Against this background, the chapter aims at providing these practitioners – and anyone interested in advocating for heritage protection and DRR – with the arguments, underpinned by agreed international policies, that will help them garnering support and building the institutional coordination mechanisms that are required to make any strategy and operational plan truly effective.
