Cultural heritage is a rich collection of art, objects and buildings that reflect a society’s history. It’s often viewed as important to a nation’s identity and pride. It’s also widely recognized as a powerful economic driver, attracting tourists and creating jobs. In addition, it has a role to play in social development, providing a sense of belonging and meaning to people who cherish their culture.
There are a variety of threats to cultural heritage. These include cultural appropriation and neglect, both of which can diminish the authenticity of a culture’s traditions. Cultural appropriation occurs when elements of a culture, such as clothing designs or spiritual practices, are commodified and commercialized without respect for their origins. This can cause cultural traditions to lose their relevance or authenticity, and even lead to their extinction. Neglect, on the other hand, can result in a lack of priority for preserving cultural heritage. This can cause archaeological sites to deteriorate, languages to disappear and traditional crafts to decline.
Many of the benefits associated with cultural heritage are intangible, making it difficult to quantify. However, it is possible to measure some of these benefits. For example, the value of a museum visit can be measured by the admission fee charged, which provides a good indication of the importance visitors place on being able to view cultural heritage. Similarly, it is also possible to estimate the value of recreational use of a natural or built environment, such as a historic city, from the number and quality of visitors it attracts.
Despite the difficulty in measuring the value of cultural heritage, it is still very important to protect and preserve it. Some of the most obvious ways this is done are through legal protections and international cooperation. For example, laws might restrict activities that damage cultural heritage sites and prevent the illegal trafficking of artifacts. International organizations like UNESCO work to protect cultural heritage worldwide.
Another way in which we can preserve cultural heritage is through education. This is often achieved by encouraging a cross-cultural understanding. This can help to combat the phenomenon of cultural arrogance, an attitude that a person or group thinks their own culture is superior to others. In some cases, this can even lead to conflict. For instance, the recent death of a self-styled Christian missionary who tried to force his beliefs on members of a remote tribe on North Sentinel Island illustrates this point.
The protection and preservation of cultural heritage is an essential aspect of a healthy, sustainable world. Increasing the rigor of the estimation of its values will help to strengthen the case for its preservation and highlight its significant contribution to global well-being. We encourage you to read this article and join us in promoting the awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage around the globe. We can all learn from it, and we all have something to gain.