When one hears the term “cultural heritage”, it usually brings to mind artwork (paintings, drawings, prints, mosaics, and sculptures), historical monuments and buildings or archaeological sites. However, the concept of cultural heritage is much broader and goes beyond these tangible artifacts to include all that is culturally significant for communities – such as traditional skills, customs and values, social practices, festivals and the natural landscape.
The goal of preserving cultural heritage is to allow individuals and future generations to experience and enjoy the culture and traditions that are part of their identity. In order to do this, it is important to understand what cultural heritage actually is and how it can be preserved.
It is also important to understand the different factors that affect the preservation of cultural heritage. These factors can be either negative or positive and influence the process of cultural heritage conservation. Negative factors can include lack of government concern and professional commitment, poor destination management and tourism promotion, illicit trafficking, natural catastrophes, and agricultural practices. Positive factors can include local community concern, government involvement and community support, sustainable development, and heritage awareness.
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of individuals to preserve and protect their own cultural heritage. In order to do this, they must be able to understand the importance of it, appreciate it, and share it with others. This will help to ensure that it is preserved for generations to come and continues to be shared with new generations of people.
Cultural heritage is a core element of an individual’s identity, it increases feelings of belonging and access to groups and communities; provides a connection to the past and to their ancestors; and enables them to identify themselves with their cultural background. Despite this, it is under growing threat. This can be due to economic issues, environmental threats (such as climate change), or even conflict and terrorism.
The JCCCNC’s Nikkei Photo Contest is one example of how individuals can contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage by sharing their photos and stories with others. We invite you to participate!
When it comes to the concept of sustainability, most people think about how to preserve and protect natural resources. This is a very important aspect of sustainability, as it is about creating an environment in which humans and nature can co-exist and meet the needs of both the human population and the natural world. However, the concept of sustainability can be applied to other areas as well, including cultural heritage.
The preservation and protection of cultural heritage is a critical component to the success of sustainable development, and it is crucial that governments and other organizations recognize its value and take steps to safeguard it. This is why the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Heritage was created: to protect and promote global cultural heritage. We hope that you will join us in this effort by supporting our work!