8 December. On 5 December, a two-week course started in the city of Zacatecas, Mexico. This course aims to discuss management approaches to World Heritage properties in Latin America. In particular, the objective is to increase understanding of approaches to management planning, taking into consideration the greater participation of stakeholders and discussing strategies for reducing risks from disasters.

The course is jointly organized by ICCROM and the Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (CNCPC-INAH), in collaboration with the Regional Centre for World Heritage in Zacatecas, and with the support from the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO.

Fifteen participants from 11 countries are taking part in this activity. These professionals are responsible for the management and conservation of World Heritage properties, or are working on the management of risks from disasters at heritage sites in their countries.

The course combines a series of practical and theoretical sessions through lectures, case-studies, and group-work exercises on specific issues of planning, management, and disaster risk management. One of the tools for the course will be the World Heritage resource manual, Managing Disaster Risks for World Heritage, developed by ICCROM in partnership with IUCN, ICOMOS, and the World Heritage Centre.  Participants will use this manual to develop management frameworks for their properties.

This course forms part of two ICCROM programmes: the LATAM Programme for conservation of cultural heritage in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the new programme on Improving Conservation and Management Practices through the World Heritage Convention.

Member States represented: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, United States (Puerto Rico)

updated on: 13 December, 2011