UNESCO and GIAHS

Beyond designation schemes, working together for a

sustainable world...

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1. UNESCO and GIAHS: synergies and areas of cooperation

2. Beyond the boundaries of Designated Sites: Promoting Sustainable Development

3. Presenting WH sites, Biosphere Reserves and GIAHS at EXPO 2015

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Already available on http://www.fao.org/giahs/giahs-inforesources/workshop-proceedings/scientific-and-steering-committee-meetings/en

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• 1972: the World Heritage Convention

• 1992: Introducing Cultural Landscapes (The term "cultural landscape" embraces a diversity of manifestations of the interaction between humankind and its natural environment)

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• 2003: Convention on Intangible Heritage

• 2005: Introducing Sustainable Development (sustainable uses not impacting the universal values)

• 2007: Involving Local Communities for effective management

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• Good cooperation and exchanges continue (including recent meeting with ADG/CLT, DIR/WHC and D/DIR/WHC and Mr Koohafkhan at UNESCO HQs)

• UNESCO welcomes further collaboration on specific topics such as oasis systems (interest by ICOMOS on a thematic study) or the heritage of agro-pastoralism and advice to States Parties on the identification of agro-pastoralist systems for inclusion on tentative lists and potential World Heritage nominations

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• A special issue of the World Heritage Review on agricultural heritage (No 69) on-line at http://whc.unesco.org/en/review/69/

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• 2007: First Expert Meeting on WH and Agro-pastoralism (Meyruels, Lozère, France)

• 2009: Second Thematic Meeting of Experts on Ago-pastoral Cultural Landscapes in the Mediterranean (Albania)

• 2012: Third Thematic Meeting of Experts (Cévennes, France)

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• More details on requirements for the effective management of (agri)cultural landscape World Heritage sites (GIAHS page 77): http://whc.unesco.org/en/series/26/

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More cooperation with various UNESCO programmes and initiatives/projects: • Biosphere Reserves (and WH site) including

GIAHS (example of Cévennes, France);

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More cooperation with various UNESCO programmes and initiatives/projects: • Biosphere Reserves (and WH site) including

GIAHS (example of Cévennes, France); • LINKS (Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems) • SUMAMAD project (Sustainable Management of

Marginal Drylands – 9 BRs involved - Emphasis on the “dryland paradigm”: improvement of traditional land and water productivity while seeking alternative livelihood strategies to rehabilitate dryland communities);

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SUMAMAD Project: 9 Research Sites

Bolivia: arid Central and Southern Altiplano

China: Hunshandake Sandland - Xilin Gol Biosphere Reserve

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SUMAMAD Project: 9 Research Sites

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More cooperation with various UNESCO programmes and initiatives/projects: • Biosphere Reserves (and WH site) including

GIAHS (example of Cévennes, France); • LINKS (Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems) • SUMAMAD project (Sustainable Management of

Marginal Drylands - Emphasis on the “dryland paradigm”: improvement of traditional land and water productivity while seeking alternative livelihood strategies to rehabilitate dryland communities);

• UNESCO-SCBD Joint Programme on Linking Biological and Cultural Diversity (Florence, 2014).

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Develop a list of WH Sites or network of Biosphere Reserves is not our ultimate goal: • WH Convention: By signing the Convention, each

country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community.

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The Key Idea:

• Culture must be at the center of our development strategies, since cultures frame people’s relationship to others in their society and the world around them, including the natural environment, and condition their behaviors.

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The Key Idea:

• Development initiatives and approaches which take local conditions and cultures into account are likely to result in more context-sensitive and equitable outcomes, whilst also enhancing ownership by target beneficiaries. Integrating culture into development policies and programmes, therefore, fundamentally contributes to their effectiveness and sustainability.

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Develop a list of WH Sites or network of Biosphere Reserves is not our ultimate goal: • MAB Programme: The Seville Strategy calls for

BRs being models of Land Management and Sustainable Development. The WNBR is a network of natural environments dedicated to interdisciplinary research, capacity-building, management and experimentation with innovative combinations of economic, environmental and energy alternatives for sustainable development.

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A few more thoughts: • Multiple designations could be a burden for local

communities (designation, reporting and monitoring, thematic initiatives);

• National platforms are necessary to: Ensure necessary governmental commitment

and support (financial and human resources, legal and institutional framework, etc.);

Expand the impact of the sites, nationally and internationally, through consolidation and replication of good practices / models;

Increase impact on development policies (as an ultimate goal).

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Bringing the vision of a sustainable hunger-free world to Expo 2015

Ending hunger and malnutrition: the way to Zero!

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Content Development and Pavilion 0

UN is providing ideas for content

in Pavilion 0 and other thematic areas

Pavilion Zero as the main example of UN-Expo 2015 collaboration

9,000 sqm meters pavilion with 12 thematic rooms

The main pillars of the Theme represented with a scenografic language

that captures attention and stimulates learning among visitors

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World Environment Day

5 June

World Humanitarian Day

19 August

World Food Day

16 October

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United Nations Thematic Itinerary

A path connecting several areas of

the site related to United Nations

content

Thematic areas

Clusters

Country pavilions

Civil Society area

Events

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Collaboration with other Participants

Official invitation to all participants to take part in the 3 UN-Expo

days

Country pavilions may opt to showcase UN joint activities

Country pavilions may wish to involve the UN in specific events

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Thank you

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