Heritage, disaster response and resilience
This is a brief report from the UK National Commission for UNESCO and PRAXIS at the University of Leeds. Disasters have significant physical, environmental, economic, cultural and social impacts, including the loss of lives and livelihoods, detrimental effects on buildings and infrastructure, and displacement of communities, as well as the destruction, damage, and fragmentation of (tangible and intangible) heritage. This session explored the role of heritage in risk preparedness, disaster response and recovery, but also in the long-term planning for disaster risk management. It also focused on how heritage can be used to better strengthen communities’ resilience, an integral part of sustainable development.
The key insights are:
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Heritage – cultural and natural, tangible and intangible – is an invaluable resource for emergency preparedness and recovery.
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The effectiveness of disaster resilience and recovery depends heavily on the implementation of inclusive, locally and culturally appropriate approaches.