Heritage as Local Resilience:- Can Culture be a source of Strength?
In an era where the dominance of globalization is being challenged, traditional wisdom on economics and markets is facing criticism and current forms of governance are facing popular resistance the time could not be better for re-evaluating our most basic relationships to production, consumption, and livelihoods. There is a need to shift focus from technocratic solutions to ones rooted in a society’s heritage and cultural resources
Why you may ask? What value could ancient and out-of-place cultural and historic sites and practices possibly have? Besides looking beautiful or quaint, of what deeper significance could the rice terraces of Southeast Asia, the Oasis and Bazaar towns of North Africa and the Middle-East, or quaint villages in remote mountains actually have?
Such a question goes beyond the question of mere tourism and strikes at the heart of what sustainability and resilience is.
Sustainable development is intrinsic to heritage preservation. This was officially adopted on 19 November 2015, by the 20th General Assembly for framing a “Policy on the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention”. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 called for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The reasons as stated are the following;
Most historic and cultural sites have evolved over a period of time in tandem with the environment they are situated in and shaped by the people who inhabit it. Such regions bear testament to how human beings and the environment have mutually co-adapted with each other over a period of time. They represent a cultural and economic fabric which local communities have relied on for millennia and continue to do so for livelihood, goods and services. The spectacular tourist attraction of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam presents a striking example. A natural bay formed of limestone islands the spectacular region is frequented by millions of tourists from all over the world. Besides, being a source of revenue which contributes to the development of communities regulatory arrangements made to preserve the integrity of the World Heritage Site has made sure that local communities can depend on local fisheries and marine resources as a source of livelihood while reaping the benefits of tourism. A symbiotic relationship between people their livelihood and tourism is just one of the awards that heritage promises to provide to its beneficiaries.
Heritage, both built and cultural reflect creative responses to scarcity and the challenges posed by the elements of nature. These responses often reflect how human beings have co-adapted to their environments. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Al Ahsa, an oasis in Eastern Saudi Arabia has been inhabited since prehistoric times and continues to retain traces of its wells, canals, and other water management systems in an otherwise hot and arid region. In the Indian province of Rajasthan historic “Stepwells” are often attached to temples. These temples were (and continue) to be used as water harvesting devices in a country where rainfall is seasonal and water needs to be conserved for times of shortage. These landscapes provide a glimpse into historic human resilience under testing environmental circumstances and provide powerful cues on how communities can utilize their local cultural assets in combating diverse challenges
The final argument resides at the heart of collective civic happiness and general quality of life. Heritage as said earlier bears testament to the evolution of local communities over a period of time. It represents a localized pattern of land-use, production, consumption and cultural mores developed over several millenia. These factors contribute to a strong civic life and promote civic participation in economic, social, political and cultural affairs. Classic medieval 14th, 15th and 16th Century Market towns and Cities in Europe such as Prague, Vienna, and Rothenburg represent urban areas which have utilized their historic spaces, monuments and landscapes to attract tourism as well as strengthen the communal fabric of their cities and build an identity around a shared cultural uniqueness. An affinity for the past in terms of taking pride in the artistic, scientific and cultural achievements of the previous generations sits well with a contemporary appreciation for historic urban landscapes. The “Gardens of Versailles and Luxembourg” represent gardens built by royal families in the past but now used by thousands as a public space. They, in turn, embody both the cultural pride of the past as well as a concern for the environmental and social harmony of present and future generations. In a world where locus of governance has become centralized and increasingly distant local cultural pride and stewardship of cultural resources often fuels a strong sense of autonomy and self-ownership promoting more egalitarian and citizen-centric governance.
It should come as no surprise then that historic and cultural heritage hold the key to boosting resilience amongst communities. As things currently stand there is almost a growing consensus on the increasing difficulty of modern day institutions in tackling challenges of a global scale be it climate change, social unrest, terrorism, or resource depletion. If anything current institutions and political systems have just shown how difficult it is to tackle complex challenges, whilst suffering under the weight of their own size and complexity. Discussions towards moving towards local self-governance and political decentralization are already in motion even amongst international to-down level organizations. Historic and Cultural heritage is just one such powerful tool that can be used to catalyzed such a movement and enabling the move to a more just, equitable, resilient, and inclusive society.