Kevin Phun’s Post

"Our cultural practices are tied to our traditional Country and protecting this means that our traditions, stories, and connection to the land can remain strong for future generations."—Kuuku Ya'u Elder, Gregory Pascoe. Yesterday the Australian and Queensland governments, alongside a number of Traditional Owners from the region, announced some areas of Cape York Peninsula have been submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Cape York Peninsula is home to extremely rich, complex cultural landscapes which have been vital to and sustained by Traditional Owners for tens of thousands of years. Cape York is also a biodiversity hotspot being home to 18.5% of Australian plant species, despite only being 3% of the continental landmass. The Cape also provides habitat for over 300 threatened species including the green sawfish, Cape York rock wallaby, and southern cassowary. The submission for tentative listing is a first but welcome step towards recognising the globally significant cultural and natural heritage of the Cape, and its universal importance for future generations and the environment. Read more👇 https://lnkd.in/gEhtsDGn #Capeyork #UNESCO #WorldHeritage #biodiversity #queensland

In the past 3 days, I’ve visited a number of World Heritage Sites in Turkey, including: - The ruins of the oldest city in the world, Çatalhöyük (hint: streets hadn’t been invented yet); - A three-adjoining-valleys cave village, Zelve, where a monastery and a mosque sat across from each other and living in peace for centuries; - Two of the “underground cities” in the Cappadocia region. I learned about the strength of human ingenuity in meeting the urban needs of the times, early feats of engineering, stories of resilience and the human spirit. Sadly, much of this heritage is being lost due to erosion, accelerated through the pace of climate change. Still, so much learning and inspiration. #cityplanning #urbanplanning #urbandesign #plangirltravels #TravellingUrbanEnthusiasts #travellingplanners #learningbyseeing

From the iconic #Kakadu to the the ancient #Willandra Lakes Region, Australia’s list of World Heritage places is incredibly diverse and stand as a #testament to the rich #cultural, #natural, and #historical legacy of the country. However, the threat of #climatechange puts these invaluable treasures at risk. Jess Melbourne-Thomas and many other co-authors have developed a #climatechange “toolkit” for World Heritage properties with site managers and Traditional Owners.  This piece underscores the urgent need for #action and #collaboration between #climatescience and #Indigenous knowledge systems. This toolkit, the first of its kind in Australia, integrates #Indigenouswisdom with #scientificexpertise to address the escalating impacts of climate change. The research explores the #vulnerabilities of diverse landscapes, offering practical #guidance for #adaptation and #mitigation strategies. By tapping into Indigenous knowledge, such as #culturalburning and understanding long-term changes in #watercycles, we can better protect these landscapes for future generations. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of #engaging #Indigenous communities as #custodians of the land and champions of conservation efforts. #Managers, #stakeholders, and #rightsholders now have access to this invaluable toolkit, #empowering them to take #proactive steps in #preserving Australia's cultural and natural heritage. Brenda B. Lin, Mandy Hopkins, Ro Hill, Lance Syme, Tracy Ireland https://lnkd.in/gDctNiQq

🏔️ Mountains and Heritage-Making: Balancing Conservation and Cultural Preservation In recent years, mountain regions have gained significant recognition as both cultural and natural heritage. This global trend, championed by Western countries and Eastern Asia, has been institutionalized by organizations like UNESCO, ICCROM, and IUCN. The goal? To protect these precious landscapes and traditional practices, while fostering social cohesion within mountain communities. Heritage designation offers incredible benefits, from the creation of national parks to the safeguarding of cultural traditions. It also promotes sustainable tourism that supports local economies, as seen in successful examples like Australia’s Uluru and the inscription of Alpinism as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. These initiatives show how heritage-making can tackle contemporary challenges like climate change while preserving the essence of mountain traditions. However, there are challenges, including over-tourism, cultural commodification, and the disruption of traditional systems. As highlighted in a new policy brief, careful planning and community engagement are essential. The brief, featuring insights from GEDT members Prof. Bernard D. and Peter Bille Larsen, stresses the importance of local knowledge in creating policies that harmonize heritage preservation with the livelihoods of mountain communities. https://lnkd.in/eX_f8EEA #CulturalHeritage #MountainConservation #SustainableTourism #ISE #UNESCO #Alpinism #LocalCommunities

NatureCultures Working Group – ICOMOS-IFLA International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes – UNESCO It is a pleasure to contribute as a co-convenor of the NatureCultures Working Group—ICOMOS-IFLA ISCCL—UNESCO. The group discussions are focused on the deep understanding of the Cultural Landscape Heritage from an indissociable NatureCultures relationship. For such, the consideration of First Nations worldviews globally alongside diverse viewpoints that privilege such an approach is fundamental and very often overlooked. We believe that those perspectives are essential to creating practical guidelines for protecting, regenerating, and assimilating natural and cultural heritage in the global south and north changing landscapes. Key focus topics include climate emergencies, heritage management, energy transition, water management, biodiversity restoration and conservation, SDGs, and conflict and natural disasters. Thanks to Ana Inés Bajcura for the trust. The ICOMOS Commentary on Nature-Culture Keywords, an outcome of a joint project between IUCN and ICOMOS, might be of interest. It focuses on the terms ‘biocultural’, ‘resilience’, and ‘traditional knowledge’ in relation to the interconnection of cultural and natural heritage conservation as a resource for practitioners and researchers. https://lnkd.in/eXAsQsue International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) ICOMOS GA2023 IFLA IFLA ARC Training Centre for Healing Country Curtin Institute for Energy Transition #naturecultures #sustainability #firstnations #biocultural #heritage #climatechange #watermanagement #biodiversityconservation #SDG

🌾 Planning the restoration of the Kazakh Steppe 🌿 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and ACBK — Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan have begun an Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme restoration planning project. Genevieve Stephens, Kazakh Steppe Project Officer explores: 🕰️ Impact of History: From ancient nomadic tribes to Soviet rule, uncover the layers of the landscape's rich heritage shaping restoration efforts. 📊 Satellite Insights: Harnessing remote sensing technology to map out land-cover changes and ecological shifts, guiding targeted restoration plans. 👥 Local Engagement: Ensuring restoration efforts resonate with local needs and aspirations. 🌍 Sustainable Futures: Fusing traditional knowledge with scientific method, forging a path towards resilient ecosystems and thriving communities. Find out more about the journey to revive Kazakhstan's steppe landscapes ⬇ https://lnkd.in/dYped6Kt #GenerationRestoration #ConservationOptimism

Have you ever wondered how many cultural and natural landmarks are deemed so crucial that they need to be preserved for future generations? The UNESCO World Heritage List includes over 1,100 sites around the globe. These are places of outstanding universal value to humanity, ranging from ancient ruins and architectural masterpieces to nature reserves and biospheres.

Europa Nostra and EIB Institute announce Europe’s 7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites 2024, and among them is: Working-class Housing (fr. courées) in Roubaix-Tourcoing https://lnkd.in/eyAqmEm7 "The selection of the 7 sites was made on the basis of the heritage significance and cultural value of each of the sites, as well as the serious danger that they are facing today. The level of engagement of local communities and the commitment of public and private stakeholders to saving these sites were considered crucial added values."

What is the key factor in selecting materials for heritage conservation? A) Cost-efficiency B) Availability C) Authenticity D) Durability Choose One from these questions (Comment Below).

Read this informative article from The Guardian to learn more about the Urdaibai Red Alert 🚨 and its implications for people and nature. Plans for a new Guggenheim Museum in Guernica’s #UNESCO-designated Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve have sparked concerns among locals and environmentalists. If the project goes forward, this protected area, a vital ecosystem for biodiversity and migratory birds, could be significantly impacted by an estimated 140,000 visitors annually. Environmental groups are concerned that the museum will disturb Urdaibai’s fragile ecosystems, while supporters argue it could bring economic benefits to the region. The situation highlights the complex challenge of balancing cultural development with environmental preservation, particularly in an area with such ecological significance. Additionally, on October 19, 2024, a large demonstration against the expansion of the Guggenheim Museum was held, drawing over 10,000 people. 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gYewGHyv #Guggenheim #Urdaibai #RedAlert #Wetlandconservation