Cultural heritage is increasingly exposed to disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards such as earthquakes, floods, fires, typhoons, theft, terrorism etc. Recent examples include Typhoon in West Japan in 2018, Earthquakes in Central Mexico in 2017, Kumamoto in Japan, Central Italy and Myanmar in 2016, Nepal earthquake in 2015, UK floods in 2015, Balkan floods in 2014 and ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

The Russian North is a treasury of wooden architecture. The unique tradition of vernacular wood construction has been highly developed and preserved there, and rich experience in wooden architecture conservation has been accumulated. The main part of the course “Wooden architecture conservation and restoration” will be held in the largest open air museum of Russia, the Kizhi museum, the collection of which includes 83 wooden architecture monuments. The basis of the museum collection is the UNESCO WHS Kizhi Pogost (XVIII- XIX cc.).

Heritage conservation is an evolving practice, and one of the current debates focuses on identifying and recovering the connections between nature and culture sectors. This exchange has become instrumental for the interpretation, conservation and sustainable management of both natural and cultural heritage sites. The purpose of the Capacity Building Workshops on Nature-Culture Linkages in Asia and the Pacific (CBWNCL) is to contribute to the World Heritage Capacity Building Programme led by ICCROM and IUCN, in consultation with ICOMOS and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in developing new approaches towards integrated conservation of cultural and natural heritage. These workshops, started in 2016, explore nature-culture linkages with focus on theory and practice in Asia and the Pacific Region. The visit to Japanese heritage sites forms a core component of the programme, where participants conduct practical work. Participants will be able to understand issues and explore approaches being adopted in the field.