17 December. A regional workshop took place at the World Heritage Institute for Training and Research for the Asia-Pacific Region (WHITRAP), Peking University in Beijing, China. 

Twenty-five experts from 17 countries, among them national officials and managers of cultural and natural heritage in the Asia and the Pacific region, were present at the workshop.

The opening ceremony was presided over by the Chair of the Governing Board of WHITRAP and former Vice Minister of Education H.E. Mr Zhang Xinsheng.  Also attending the opening ceremony were Ms Lu Qiong, DDG, Cultural Heritage Conservation Department, SACH; Mr Li Rusheng, DDG of Urban Construction Department, Ministry of Housing and Rural Development (MOHURD); Mr Jing Feng, Programme Specialist, UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC); and Gamini Wijesuriya, Project Manager, ICCROM.

The workshop comprised introductory lectures, case study presentations, group discussions and work, and a site visit to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. The workshop raised awareness among national agencies of the need to develop risk management plans and build capacities for disaster and climate change-related risk mitigation and adaptation strategies.  

Results of the workshop included:

• strengthening national capacities for the conservation and management of heritage properties, including for World Heritage in danger and in particular in post-conflict and post-disaster countries;
• informing Asia-Pacific World Heritage site managers of World Heritage Committee’s activities relating to disaster reduction as well as risk management and climate change issues in the Asia-Pacific region and internationally;
• clearly understanding training needs and priorities on disaster reduction of all Asia-Pacific World Heritage site managers and experts;
• devloping an action plan with recommendations for training needs and mechanisms needed to maintain a useful training network.

Participants also adopted an appeal titled ‘Beijing Appeal’ addressed to world leaders requesting them to consider the effects of disasters and climate change on cultural heritage.

The workshop was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, WHITRAP – The World Heritage Institute for Training and Research for the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO; and ICCROM.

updated on: 18 December, 2009