Protecting cultural heritage as a disaster management tool

The World Disasters Report of 2014 contends that protecting cultural heritage, including the knowledge and skills developed in disaster cultures, is not only useful for disaster management, but should be prioritised alongside other more common concerns, as follows: Of great significance, if less understood, is the positive role that heritage can play in reducing a disaster’s impacts on people’s lives, properties and livelihoods… Protecting heritage from disasters is… not a luxury, but a fundamental consideration to be given priority together with other humanitarian concerns, especially when traditional knowledge and sustainable practices that ensured a certain level of protection from the worst effects of natural hazards or human-made disasters are being progressively abandoned.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Individual/collective memory, Local knowledge

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention, Preparedness

Types of Actors Concerned: Local authorities, Government, European Civil Protection Mechanism, UN and other international organisations

Recommendations:

• Prioritise protection of cultural heritage when preparing disaster management plans and procedures. Moreover, disasters managers should capitalize on tangible and intangible cultural heritage to assist communities in becoming more resilience