Legislation and the ‘Heritage Horizons Project’

Some of our partner organisations are finding that current laws are insufficient to protect the environment and/or cultural heritage in their countries.

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is currently campaigning for a National Conseration Law.   ‘In barely 40 years’, writes the National Trust ‘our beloved Cayman Islands have seen unprecedented development.  This economic expansion has allowed us to prosper to the point where we claim to have the highest standard of living in the Western Hemisphere.  However, this growth, if left to continue unfettered, will lead to disastrous consequences.  The Trust has heard many serious concerns from Cayman’s citizens, both for and against a National Conservation Law.  However, those who are against can usually be persuaded to change their mind, once their concerns are addressed.   In an effort to reach a wider audience we have chosen to answer these concerns via this advertisement.’   Find out more here.

As part of our ‘Heritage Horizons Project‘, Quentin Launay, an INTO intern, is currently undertaking research into different organisational models and heritage management policy regimes, particularly with respect to legislation and tax benefits.   By making this information more widely available, we are also seeking to actively encourage and support the public sector in member countries to strengthen the legislative, financial and regulatory framework for effective heritage management.

The National Trust approach is viewed by many as an important model to the charitable and voluntary organisations that have been established to better protect and preserve both tangible and intangible heritage of national, regional, and local significance.

INTO emphasises what is special about the National Trust approach and helps build the brand – nationally and internationally – through the development and promotion of best conservation practice at global level.    If you know of similar initiatives or movements to establish a National Trust-like body, do please contact the INTO Secretariat.

Haiti: Message from the international National Trust community and ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) on the earthquake in Haiti.

Those wishing to volunteer their services should contact the INTO Secretariat and/or ICOMOS.

Prince Claus Awards, Amsterdam, 16 December 2009

INTO Director, Oliver Maurice, attended the Prince Claus Awards Ceremony in the Netherlands.  Read his report here.

INTO delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

Strategies to conserve and protect our heritage need leadership and at the end of the Dublin Conference, INTO produced a declaration which set out ways in which national governments around the globe can promote heritage protection. The text of the ‘Dublin Declaration’ follows (Dublin Declaration; Déclaration de Dublin; Declaración de Dublín) and was communicated to world leaders attending the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

Conservation in a changing climate: How INTO members are both responding to and leading in a changing world

‘Heritage of the World in Trust: Conservation in a Changing Climate’ Conference, 13-17 September 2009, Dublin

Advocating change

Addressing delegates at Conference, hosted by An Taisce the National Trust for Ireland, Simon Molesworth, Chairman of INTO, said “Conservation is a vital strategy in addressing climate change and I call upon world leaders to put in place measures at Copenhagen to protect our heritage so that it can be enjoyed by future generations”.

The impacts of climate change are already having tremendous implications for the inspirational and beautiful buildings, landscapes and cultural heritage cared for by our INTO member organisations.   At times these can be spectacular, like the dramatic weather events experienced by the Taiwan National Trust and the Indonesian Heritage Trust this year or the loss of sea ice and permafrost.  Often they can be more surreptitious, like the effect of increased rainfall on communities that have historically received little rain or never-ending growing seasons.

National Trusts and like organisations around the world are taking action to reduce the amount of energy used at the sites they look after, to generate energy from renewables and to manage land for carbon storage.   INTO member organisations are learning to adapt to the impacts of climate change and their experience can help inform the global debate.

INTO member organisations also run education programmes for visitors to heritage sites to raise awareness of the risks and impacts of climate change.  And getting communities and individuals involved in protecting local heritage sites is an effective way of growing awareness of the importance of these places, as well as promoting responsibility in protecting and conserving them.