Cultural heritage refers to the physical and intangible features of a society that are inherited from generations past. These may include monuments, historic buildings, archaeological sites, artifacts, works of art, and a culture’s history and traditions.
Preservation of a cultural heritage is the act of protecting artifacts and traditions from factors that would change them or wear them away. It may involve restoring historical buildings, passing on ancient crafts or recording traditional tales.
It also means taking measures to ensure that these artifacts remain accessible to future generations. This can involve establishing museums, donating to charities and participating in outreach programs.
Economic Benefits of a Heritage Site
A cultural heritage site can provide benefits to both the community that houses it and the visitors who come to explore its richness. These benefits range from a boost in income for the local economy to generating jobs and fostering a sense of social stability and well-being.
These benefits can help reduce poverty. In some cases, they can even give modern people a chance to thrive by passing on the tradition of an ancient craft or making sure that the community can still use their historic buildings.
It can help a community feel more rooted in their history and make them proud of the things that they have. This is because it gives them a way to look back at their past in a way that explains who they are today.
Cultural heritage is a major industry that generates jobs, often in restoration work or operations at historical sites. In addition, it can create opportunities for businesses that specialize in artisanal crafts or in related services such as restaurants and hotels at heritage sites.
Conservation and UNESCO safeguarding activities for cultural heritage are an essential part of international cooperation efforts to save sites that may be at risk from natural disasters, war or terrorism. For example, Angkor Wat was saved after years of conflict through UNESCO’s International Coordinating Committee (ICC) – which brought thirty countries and an ad hoc experts group together under an innovative approach that linked safeguarding activities to sustainable development initiatives.
UNESCO’s Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage Treaty has been ratified by more than 180 countries. Its purpose is to prevent the loss of intangible cultural heritage in times of crisis and war.
Intangible cultural heritage is important because it represents the ways in which a society views itself and communicates with the world. These types of materials can be difficult to preserve, but they are an essential component of a country’s culture and history.
The importance of preserving cultural heritage is growing as the human population increases and as we experience changes in our environment. This is especially true for older cultures that have been around for hundreds or thousands of years.
While there are many people that try to preserve cultural heritage, it is up to each of us to do our part. This can mean refusing to participate in any activities that could lead to the illicit trade of a culture’s treasures. It can also mean becoming a vocal advocate for the preservation of a culture’s heritage.