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| Photo by Jyruz Hilbero |
In honor of our heritage and history, we celebrate the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, on April 18th of every year.
The theme for this year’s celebration is "Heritage Changes," which aims not only to promote the celebration of cultural heritage but to also emphasize the need for equitable protection for vulnerable communities, especially in this age where we are facing climate challenges. It also revolves around the fact that many heritage sites around the world are going through changes brought about by climate change.
Due to climate change, there is an increase in the temperature which can cause the rise of invasive species in new environments as well as drought, fire, and other environmental loss. Soil saturation, shrinkage, erosion, the rise of sea levels, and other climate challenges brought by climate change and global warming are the causes behind the deterioration and changes of various heritage sites.
Among the different heritage sites that are threatened by climate change, the famous Rapa Nui or more commonly known as Easter Island is one of them. The rise of sea level around the coast of Easter Island can lead to erosion and the washing away of the archaeological remains on the island.
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| Photo by Josh Haner/The New York Times |
Another heritage site at risk due to climate change is Chan Chan in Peru, which was once the Chimu civilization’s capital city in the 9th and 15th centuries. The historical buildings’ structural stability is at risk due to the local weather conditions where they experience the rise of groundwater levels, extreme periods of rainfall, and drought.
Aside from climate challenges, there were also unfortunate events that took place which resulted in the destruction of some cultural sites in Ukraine. According to UNESCO, since February 24, 2022, there have been 251 sites that were damaged which include 108 religious sites, 90 buildings that contained historical and artistic artifacts, and 19 monuments.
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| Photo of a destroyed Monastery of Caves from Getty Images |
This year’s theme also highlights the significant relationship between the different heritages and their role in addressing the climate challenges and crises we face through sustainable solutions.
Through celebrating and reconnecting with our cultural heritage, we learn and discover about their traditional and sustainable ways of doing things that can greatly aid us in finding a modern, sustainable solution to the climate challenges that we are currently facing.
Aside from this, according to an article by UNESCO, through safeguarding cultural heritages and biodiversity, we are able to protect a total of approximately 10 million square kilometers of biodiversity all around the world. Natural heritage sites also hold an important role in serving as "sinks" for greenhouse gas emissions.
Culture and heritage play vital roles in discovering and addressing the root causes of climate change. As culture brings people together, may it also brings us all to fight against the threats of climate change together, hand in hand.
As we celebrate and honor our heritage and history, may we also protect the land that our ancestors walked on and the land we are currently walking on in order to secure the future generations with a chance of walking on the same land that we have walked.
