Regional workshop: Vulnerability Assessment of Disasters and Climate Change in World Heritage Properties

Dates: 6 – 12 December 2009

Place: Peking University, China

Partners

• WHITRAP - UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region
• WHC – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
• ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)

In collaboration with:

• Asia-Pacific States Parties to the World Heritage Convention
• Management authorities of cultural and natural World Heritage sites
• UNESCO National Commissions in Asia and the Pacific

Background
WHITRAP is a category 2 institute under the auspices of UNESCO, approved by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 34th session in November 2007. The institute’s mission is to strengthen the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, by building the capacity of conservation professionals, managers and practitioners involved with the World Heritage Site inscription, protection, conservation and management in the Asia and the Pacific region, through training, research, the dissemination of information and networking. The main founding institutions of WHITRAP are Peking University in Beijing, Tongji University in Shanghai and Suzhou Municipality. The Secretariat of WHITRAP is based at Peking University, Beijing, China.

Objectives

• Present risk management strategies promoted by the World Heritage Committee;
• Provide an overview of methodologies and tools for risk management; and existing studies on climate change;
• Assess and monitor disaster risks in the World Heritage properties of the Asia-Pacific region;
• Reinforce community participation in project implementation;
• Develop a risk management strategy and an action for capacity building for the region.

The workshop comprises introductory lectures, case study presentations, group discussions, team project and site visits. Participants are expected to actively take part in the discussions.

Programme
The Asia and the Pacific region is particularly exposed to disasters and affected by climate change. However, managers of most World Heritage properties in the region, especially cultural and natural heritage sites, are not aware of the specific risks that may affect their sites, nor have put in place adequate plans to reduce them.

A regional workshop gathering experts from different regions and bringing together managers of World Cultural Heritage properties at particular risk may contribute to identifying their main vulnerabilities to disasters and climate change; raising awareness among the responsible agencies of the need to develop appropriate risk management plans; and building capacities on the methodology of disaster and climate change related risks mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The workshop comprises introductory lectures, case study presentations, group discussions, team project and site visits. Participants are expected to actively take part in the discussions.

Participants
Twenty five participants (national officials, managers of cultural and/or natural heritage) in the Asia and the Pacific region will be selected by the organizers.  Priority will be given to applicants from sites with post-conflict and post-disaster situations in the developing countries.

Working language: English.

Travel, accommodation and living expenses
With financial support from UNESCO, scholarships covering round-trip travel, accommodation, meals and support materials in Beijing, China during the workshop will be available from the WHITRAP.  

Application
Please fill the application form and send it together with the following documentation (by mail or email) to the contact address below:

• A full professional curriculum vitae (in English)
• A brief report (3-5 pages) on project(s)concerning cultural heritage or risk management with which you have been or are currently involved. Explain your overall potential for success in applying follow-up actions.

Mr CAI Mantang
Director
WHITRAP
Tan Siu Lin Centre
Peking University
Haidian District
Beijing 100871
P. R. China
Tel: +0086-10 6275 7947
Fax: +0086-10 6275 7433
E-mail: mtcai (at) pku.edu.cn

For further information, please contact one of the following:

• Mr Gamini Wijesuriya, Project Manager, Sites Unit, ICCROM: gw (at) iccrom.org
• Mr Feng JING, Programme Specialist, UNESCO/WHC:
  F.Jing (at) unesco.org

Deadline for receiving applications: 31 August 2009