26 August 2014
UNESCO World Heritage Paper Highlights SIDS’ Cultural Heritage and Resources
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The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has published a paper on 'Safeguarding Precious Resources for Island Communities,' as a contribution to the International Year of small island developing States (SIDS).

The paper describes the evolution of the SIDS agenda, highlights SIDS in the World Heritage Convention (WHC) context, and includes seven thematic papers on shared concerns and challenges across SIDS, such as disaster risk management (DRM) and building resilience to climate change, land management and sustainable tourism.

UNESCO25 August 2014: The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has published a paper on ‘Safeguarding Precious Resources for Island Communities,’ as a contribution to the International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The paper describes the evolution of the SIDS agenda, highlights SIDS in the World Heritage Convention (WHC) context, and includes seven thematic papers on shared concerns and challenges across SIDS, such as disaster risk management (DRM) and building resilience to climate change, land management and sustainable tourism.

The paper highlights SIDS’ underrepresentation on the World Heritage List; while SIDS constitute 20% of the total parties to the Convention, they only contain 32 World Heritage properties, or three percent of the List. The paper highlights thematic programmes in the Caribbean, Pacific and Atlantic and Indian Oceans under the World Heritage Cities, Forest, Sustainable Tourism, Earthen Architecture, Marine and other programmes.

The thematic papers aim to create cultural linkages across SIDS regions by discussing issues common to all SIDS, particularly concerns related to climate change, climate variability and sea-level rise. The papers highlight, inter alia: climate change and DRM as a priority area for multi-stakeholder partnerships dialogues at the Third International Conference on SIDS; the role of local governments in implementing sustainable tourism; land management in World Heritage sites in the Solomon Islands and Palau; and the need for capacity building for the conservation of heritage resources.

A paper on the advantages for marine sites of being part of the World Heritage network emphasizes the exceptional marine biodiversity in SIDS and recognizes “several SIDS have taken global leadership in designating large ocean areas for conservation.” It also illustrates a “mixed story” of marine conservation in SIDS, describing how some World Heritage sites have helped raise funds for marine management in SIDS while others have faced challenges, such as from coastal development.

The Government of Japan provided support for the publication, which is the 38th paper in UNESCO’s World Heritage Paper series, and the only one that focuses specifically on SIDS. [WHC Press Release] [Publication: Safeguarding Precious Resources for Island Communities] [World Heritage Paper Series]


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