From 3-5 December 2024, SEAMEO SPAFA hosted a Consultative Meeting on Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development for Southeast Asia, uniting 10-15 experts and partner organizations, such as ICCROM; Fine Arts Department (FAD) 11th Regional Office (Songkhla); The Songkhla Towards World Heritage Foundation; DASTA; Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore; George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI); and IUCN. Here’s what happened:
Key Objectives:
– Enhancing the conservation and management of historic cities in Southeast Asia.
– Promoting urban heritage as a driver of sustainable economic and cultural development.
– Addressing climate change risks to historic urban areas.
– Strengthening urban planning by integrating traditional knowledge and creative economy principles.
Why Songkhla?
Songkhla served as a case study for exploring challenges and opportunities in urban conservation, offering a real-world context to identify emerging issues and best practices.
Meeting Highlights:
– Collaborative workshops and discussions on developing a capacity-building program tailored to Southeast Asia’s unique urban heritage needs.
– Insights into leveraging urban heritage as a resource for economic growth through creative industries and tourism.
– Strategies for adaptive reuse of historic buildings to balance preservation and development.
Expected Outcomes:
– Greater awareness of the economic value of cultural heritage.
– Practical tools and methods for urban conservation shared among regional stakeholders.
– Enhanced skills for professionals in heritage management and urban planning.
The Impact:
This event reinforced the role of urban heritage in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. It highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors to ensure vibrant, resilient, and culturally rich urban environments for generations to come.
To see more photos from this event, see SEAMEO SPAFA’s Instagram post, HERE.
The post Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development for Southeast Asia – Consultative Meeting on Developing Capacity-building Activities | 3-5 December 2024, Songkhla Province, Thailand first appeared on Seameo Spafa.
The post Urban Heritage for Sustainable Development for Southeast Asia – Consultative Meeting on Developing Capacity-building Activities | 3-5 December 2024, Songkhla Province, Thailand appeared first on Seameo Spafa.