An Outcome Paper “Integrated Approach to the Management of the World Heritage Properties in the CIS Countries” has been published
The International Scientific and Practical Seminar of CIS and Baltic countries “Integrated Approach to the Management of the World Heritage Properties” was held on 29-31 October, 2014 in the cities of Minsk and Niasvizh, Belarus. The Seminar was organized with the support and participation of the UNESCO Moscow Office in partnership with the Foundation ‘Cultural Heritage and Modernity’ (Belarus) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, the National Commission of the Republic of Belarus for UNESCO, and the CIS Executive Committee. According to the Seminar's results, an Outcome Paper has been prepared.
With consideration of the principles of the UNESCO Conventions of 1972, 2003, and the main provisions of the UN General Assembly Resolution “Culture and Sustainable Development” (2013) and according to the UNESCO main lines of action in the field of culture, the «Integrated Approach to the Management of the World Heritage Properties» Seminar addressed practical issues of capacity-building in the protection and conservation of the heritage and the promotion of wise and effective management to achieve sustainable development, reconciliation and dialogue within and among countries.
In the Outcome Paper of this Seminar, the authors, М. Buykli, N. Maksakovsky, Т. Matyl, A. Stashkevich, and О. Titova, give an idea about current trends and application of an integrated approach to the heritage management. The publication contains a characteristic of the historical and cultural potential of the World Heritage properties in the CIS countries, as well as discloses basic UNESCO requirements to the development of the management plans of the World Heritage properties.
The edition provides a description of two demonstrative practices of development and implementation of management plans for the World Heritage properties (as exemplified by «Kizhi Pogost» (Russian Federation) and «Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra» (Ukraine)). The final part analyzes the concepts «sustainable development» and «sustainable tourism», and ends up with recommendations developed by the participants of the Seminar.
The recommendations directed to the respective representatives of governments, regulatory bodies, and authorities of the World Heritage properties of the CIS countries, discuss the following issues:
- Exchange of experience and best practices concerning the preservation and management of the World Natural and Cultural Heritage properties;
- Facilitating the implementation of the integrated approach into the practice of preservation and management of the World Heritage properties;
- Development and implementation of management plans of the World Heritage properties;
- Improvement of state mechanisms of preservation and use of the World Heritage.
The participants of the Seminar believe that a prioritized protection of the cultural heritage will not only be of significant value to the process of establishing a common cultural space of the CIS countries based on the knowledge and humanist values, but will also facilitate the preservation and augmentation of cultural values among the broader international community, as well as the continuity of the historic consciousness of all generations.
Learn more about the promotion of the integrated approach to the management of WHS in the activities supported by the UNESCO Moscow Office:
<- Back to: UNESCO Office in Moscow