Proceedings

The debate on the relationship between conservation and sustainable development has taken centre stage within the heritage sector and notably in the context of the World Heritage Convention. In the face of growing global challenges and diminishing resources, and with the inscription of nearly 1000 properties on the World Heritage List, including over 200 historic cities, the need to integrate a concern for sustainable development within the practice of the 1972 Convention has emerged strongly over the past decade. In 2012, the World Heritage Convention is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. On this momentous occasion, a number of meetings and activities are being organized across all regions of the world, focusing on a common theme: “World Heritage and sustainable development: the role of local communities”. The celebrations are part of the larger initiative led by UNESCO to promote the role of culture – and heritage- for development, stemming from Resolutions 65/166 of the UN GA, entitled “Culture and Development”, and should be set within the context of the Rio + 20 Conference of June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), when the world’s attention will be concentrated on assessing the progress made so far in implementing sustainable development strategies an