As reported by UNESCO, an international conference titled “Fire Resilience for Cultural and Natural Heritage in a Changing Climate” is set to take place on November 11th and 12th, 2024, at the Parque Cultural de Valparaíso in Chile.
Organized by UNESCO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, the event will bring together over 20 specialists from five continents.
Participants will discuss the growing risk of fires affecting both cultural and natural heritage, worsened by climate change.
These fires cause damage to local communities, biodiversity, and ecosystems, with losses including both tangible and intangible assets.
Key concerns include limited monitoring, a lack of traditional knowledge integration, and minimal community involvement in managing these risks.
In early 2024, fires in the Valparaíso region highlighted the vulnerability of heritage sites to fire disasters.
In response, a pilot project was launched with the support of UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF).
This initiative aims to mitigate risks and enhance fire response capabilities at cultural and natural heritage sites in both Chile and Argentina.
At the upcoming conference, the UNESCO Fire Risk Management Guide for Cultural and Natural Heritage will be introduced and applied as part of the pilot projects at Los Alerces National Park in Argentina and cultural sites in Valparaíso.
The guide provides a framework for strengthening fire resilience at heritage sites.
The conference will cover several key themes, including heritage’s role in mitigating fire risks, disaster recovery, and the integration of local and indigenous knowledge for fire resilience.
Presentations will also address building a fire-resistant future through improved policies, training, and cross-sector cooperation.
Experts from multiple countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and the United States, will contribute to discussions.
Their presentations aim to exchange best practices and lessons learned from previous fire disasters and outline strategies to protect heritage in the face of climate change.
Following the conference, from November 13th to 15th, a specialized training program will be held for 25 managers and administrators of cultural and natural heritage sites from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The program will include representatives from World Heritage sites in Chile, with the goal of enhancing fire preparedness and response capabilities.
The project is fully funded by the HEF, supported by contributions from several countries, including Canada, Norway, France, and Qatar.
The international conference “Fire Resilience for Cultural and Natural Heritage in a Changing Climate” will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2024, in Valparaíso, Chile.
Organized by UNESCO in partnership with Chilean and local authorities, the event will focus on fire risks exacerbated by climate change, threatening both cultural and natural heritage.
Discussions will cover disaster recovery, fire risk mitigation, and the use of indigenous knowledge.
A UNESCO Fire Risk Management Guide will be introduced during the event and applied as part of pilot projects in Chile and Argentina.
Following the conference, a training program will be held for heritage site managers from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The initiative is supported by UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund, with contributions from countries including Qatar, Canada, and Norway.
