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Report: Imperiled, Underfunded Global Heritage Sites a $100 Billion Opportunity for Developing Nations

October 17, 2010

 

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Report: Imperiled, Underfunded Global Heritage Sites a $100 Billion Opportunity for Developing Nations

“Saving Our Vanishing Heritage” Details the Loss of and Threats to
Major Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Sites in Developing
Countries Over the Past Decade – and Successful Models of Preservation

Twenty Sites Identified as “On the Verge” – of Vanishing
and Losing Their Potential to Be Engines for Development
for Local Communities if Not Protected and Preserved

SAN FRANCISCO – Global Heritage Fund (GHF) today released a new report, Saving Our Vanishing Heritage: Safeguarding our Cultural Heritage Sites in the Developing World, detailing the state of conservation for the planet’s most significant and endangered cultural sites over the past decade (2000-2009) – and the $100 billion opportunity these sites are for developing nations.

Vanishing surveys the 500 major archaeological and heritage sites in developing countries to evaluate the current loss and destruction, conservation and development of these irreplaceable treasures. The report and accompanying online database identify nearly 200 sites in the developing world as “At Risk” or “Under Threat,” and 20that are “On the Verge” of irreparable loss and destruction.

Vanishing illuminates the simultaneous and accelerating threats facing global heritage sites in developing countries from five man-made threats: development pressures, unsustainable tourism, insufficient management, looting, and war and conflict. Vanishing identifies the critical lack of monitoring of heritage sites a primary reason for their demise, and calls for a new Global Fund for Heritage comprised of emergency funding from governments, foundations and corporations to save our remaining heritage sites – specifically focused on the poorest countries and regions of the world.

With Vanishing, GHF is launching a new early warning and threats monitoring system, Global Heritage Network (GHN), using state-of-the-art satellite imaging technology and ground reports to enable international experts and local conservation leaders to clearly identify and solve imminent threats within the legal core and protected areas of each global heritage site. Only 76 of the sites in GHN are designated UNESCO World Heritage, but all are clearly visible from space and are registered national treasures in their respective countries.

A Major Economic Opportunity for Developing Countries
Vanishing estimates that there is a potential $100 billion per year opportunity by 2025 for the developing world to help achieve their UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to eradicate poverty if global heritage sites are protected and preserved. Already, economic analysis shows total annual revenues for the 500 heritage sites to exceed $24.7 million in 2009.

Vanishing identifies 20 heritage sites that are “On The Verge”: facing major irreparable loss and destruction while offering the promise of being economic engines for their regions and communities if rescued, restored and managed responsibly. They include:

While hundreds of global heritage sites are under threat or are at risk, the 20 “On the Verge” sites were identified by GHF and the Vanishing report’s Editorial Committee as 1) in the most danger due to the five man-made threats; 2) having great potential to become an economic engine for the region and local communities if protected and preserved; and 3) having high potential for sustainable tourism and responsible development. 

The Report’s Editorial Committee is comprised of 24 experts in global heritage conservation and sustainable development from leading universities, institutions and interntional agencies including the World Archaeological Congress, Archaeological Institute of America, ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University College of London and others.

Vanishing also identifies over 120 global heritage sites under imminent threat or at risk from over 500 sites being monitored by Global Heritage Network (GHN), a newly launched early warning, threats monitoring and expert collaboration system (ghn.globalheritagefund.org).  Through the joint efforts of hundreds of international experts, GHN is identifying sites and threats attacking legal core and protected areas, ranking those most in need of intervention, as well as identifying best practices and solutions that can save these irreplaceable treasures.

“Global heritage sites are mankind’s history – a link to the past, our common humanity and the basis for scientific and aesthetic inquiry – but they’re also sources of national identify and important economic assets for sustainable development,” said Dr. Ian Hodder, professor of Cultural and Social Anthropology at Stanford University. In addition to conducting the excavation of the 9,000 year-old site of Catalhoyuk in Turkey – one of GHF’s 16 Projects – Dr. Hodder has played a central role in founding GHF and shaping its mission and approach.

GHF specifically focuses its funding and conservation efforts on the developing world because of the scarce human and technical resources in those countries to protect their historical treasures, and for the economic promise global heritage sites have as community-based, responsibly managed tourist destinations.

Developing countries also face a dangerous imbalance in international recognition by international heritage conservation institutions. For example, while Italy and Spain have 44 and 41 cultural UNESCO World Heritage designations respectively, Peru with 4,000 years of history and hundreds of major sites – has only nine. Guatemala, the cradle of Maya civilization, has just three.

“The world of heritage preservation must move from older government-to-government models that are often slowed by bureaucracy, corruption and dependence to one that is dynamic, grounded in local partnerships, supported by government and private donors, and is consistently focused on long-term sustainability,” said Jeff Morgan, executive director of GHF. “To save our vanishing global heritage, we must immediately address the lack of attention and anaemic funding levels that these irreplaceable treasures of humanity receive, especially those facing rapid changes in tourism growth or modern development. Overuse without reinvestment and equal investments in management equals disaster.”

Key findings of the study include:

Heritage sites in the developing world are in peril. More than 300 sites have experienced damage during the last decade as a result of man-made threats including development pressures, unsustainable tourism, insufficient management, looting and war and conflict. 

Preserving and sustaining heritage sites is a $100 billion opportunity a year for the developing world. The cumulative economic value to GDP (jobs, regional growth, foreign exchange earnings) of the top 500 global heritage sites surveyed is $20-30 billion annually. Heritage sites in 180 developing countries are expected to generate over $100 billion a year by 2020.

Global heritage should be a core strategy for international development. Tourism to heritage sites in many developing countries now generates more foreign revenue than any other industry, and an estimated 32-39 percent of all international travel is cultural heritage related. In 2010 alone, tourism revenue to these sites is projected to be $300-400 billion.

Despite the opportunities, funding for preservation remains anemic. Current funding for heritage conservation from major foundations and corporations is a fraction of what is needed to solve the crisis facing the developing world. Less than one percent of total U.S. philanthropic funding today goes to domestic cultural heritage preservation.

The following are some of the key recommendations made in Vanishing:

Multiply international private-sector and government funding. Through targeted philanthropic, government and business investments, create a multi-billion dollar fund to assist the poorest, most vulnerable countries with the most endangered and significant sites. The fund, managed by a joint executive board of government and private-sector leaders, could support international experts in providing technical and financial resources, and require in-country matching funding from the national government and private-sector.

Reinforce our global institutions. Global institutions for heritage preservation in developing countries are grossly underfunded. The UNESCO World Heritage Center has less than $30 million annually to plan, provide training and support its sites in over 150 countries. The U.S. government made voluntary contributions of just $694,100 in 2009 to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund, and funding from other governments is meager and sporadic.

Promote new models for sustainable preservation and development. New models are needed to better define the economic and cultural value of heritage sites, and to guide effective investments. One example is GHF’s Preservation by Design® methodology that assists site leaders in a multi-year, process of master planning, scientific conservation, community training and development, and in-country partnerships for sustainability.

Advance Innovative Solutions and Technologies. Heritage conservation currently lacks baseline assessments and standard monitoring system to measure efforts to protect and catalyze the economic potential of endangered sites. Solutions include building an “Early Warning and Threats Monitoring System” that combines satellite technology, imagery analysis and change detection with on-the-ground monitoring; creating online collaborations to enable training with international experts; establishing “Archaeological Protected Areas” (like national parks); funding “Subsidies for Preservation and Responsible Development” so businesses and communities have incentives for long-term sustainability; and integrating “Communities and Heritage Preservation” so sites are considered part of a larger “ecosystem” with living populations, natural and cultural assets. 

Increase Public-Private Partnerships. New private-sector associations made up of leaders in industry and civil society has emerged in recent years to save endangered sites. These are led by leading families, business leaders and corporations in partnership with the public sector.

About Vanishing
Vanishing evaluated sites on their potential for sustainable preservation and responsible development, while identifying best practices in master planning, site management, training, historic urban preservation and integrated community development. The research was overseen by an Editorial Committee comprised of 25 leading experts in heritage conservation and international development from universities, preservation groups, international development agencies and the private sector.

About Global Heritage Fund (GHF)
GHF is an international conservancy protecting and preserving the most significant and endangered cultural heritage sites in the developing world. Deploying our proven Preservation by Design methodology, GHF provides timely funding and technical expertise to 1) develop comprehensive master conservation plans, 2) enable sustained preservation through local community involvement, 3) ensure excellence in conservation, and 4) secure complementary funding and long-term partnerships. GHF is a 501c(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California.
Web site:  http://www.globalheritagefund.org.

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Saving Our Vanishing Heritage — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between UNESCO and Global Heritage Fund?
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), established in 1945, is a specialized agency whose stated purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and the human rights along with fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.

Global Heritage Fund, founded in 2002, is a non-profit organization and international conservancy whose stated mission is to save the earth’s most significant and endangered cultural heritage sites in developing countries and regions through scientific excellence and community development.

What is the difference between a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global heritage site, according to Saving Our Vanishing Heritage?

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of 911 worldwide properties (including cities, buildings, monuments, forests, mountains, lakes, deserts, etc.) officially recognized by UNESCO as having special cultural or physical significance to the world. Nearly half of all UNESCO-inscribed sites can be found in North America or Europe.

A global heritage site, as defined by GHF in Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, is one of 500 major archaeological and cultural heritage sites in developing and emerging countries and regions that are national treasures and of universal significance to mankind. Today, more than 200 of these sites are endangered and facing irreversible loss and damage, while fewer than 80 have been UNESCO-inscribed.

Why does GHF focus exclusively on global heritage sites in developing and emerging countries and regions?

GHF sees the unfavorable imbalance in the UNESCO World Heritage List against the developing world as a key reason for lack of corresponding funding and assistance to enable preservation and protection of sites in these countries. For example, while Italy and Spain have 44 and 41 cultural UNESCO designations, respectively, Peru—with 4,000 years of history and hundreds of important cultural sites—has only nine. Guatemala, the cradle of Maya civilization, has just three.

Furthermore, GHF believes that by focusing on sites in low-income countries—places where the per capita income is less than $3 to $5 a day—it can help alleviate poverty by creating long-term jobs, income, and recurring investment. In Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, this is called the “$100 billion opportunity.”

How did GHF estimate the $100 billion opportunity for global heritage sites? What are the assumptions?
A GHF-sponsored analysis of 500 global heritage sites by a team of Stanford University economics graduates estimates that global heritage sites in the developing world are expected to generate over $100 billion a year by 2025, up from $24.6 billion today.

The analysis found that more than 50 global heritage sites today each have annual revenues of over $100 million, up from a fraction of that number twenty years ago. Worldwide tourism to global heritage sites is also increasing on average at 8 to 12 percent per year, according to United National World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with many sites doubling or tripling in visitation and revenues every ten years.

The $100 billion opportunity assumes a worldwide effort will be made for the preservation and responsible development of global heritage sites.

How were the twelve “On the Verge” sites chosen?
While hundreds of global heritage sites are under threat or are at risk, the twelve “On the Verge” sites were identified by GHF and the Vanishing report’s Editorial Committee as: 1.) in the most danger due to the five man-made threats; and 2.) having great potential to become economic engines for their respective regions and local communities if protected and preserved.

Who would be the primary donors to the Global Fund for Heritage? How would it be administered?
The Global Fund for Heritage would target philanthropic, government, and business investments to support global heritage. It would be managed by a joint executive board of government and private-sector leaders and donors, including archaeologists and heritage law and policy experts. It would support international experts, provide emergency assistance and technical and financial resources, and secure matching in-country funding.

What is the Global Heritage Network?
Global Heritage Network (GHN) is an early warning and threats monitoring system that uses state-of-the-art satellite imaging technology, combined with online community software, to enable collaboration between international experts and local conservation leaders to identify and mitigate man-made threats to global heritage sites. Click here to learn more.

What is Preservation by Design?
Preservation by Design is GHF’s integrated conservation and development methodology—a living framework that combines long-range planning, conservation science, community engagement, and monitoring and evaluation. It incorporates the latest methods and technologies, combined with a partner-driven conservation strategy, to increase the prospects for long-term successful and sustainable conservation efforts.  Click here to learn more.

Can I speak with anyone on the Editorial Committee?
Absolutely. Please contact Mike Smith at Fenton Communications for more information.

What are the next steps for GHF?
With the release of Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, GHF hopes to alert the international community to the need for greater investment in global heritage conservation, a strategy that has proven to be one of the most effective and targeted ways to help alleviate poverty by creating long-term jobs, income, and recurring investment in developing countries.

Going forward, GHF will continue with its following goals:
• Work with local communities on world-class conservation projects
• Promote internationally GHF’s Preservation by Design methodology as a recognizable and replicable approach to project design, management, monitoring and evaluation
• Develop Global Heritage Network, an internet database and technology platform for use by all GHF projects, international experts and the public
• Engage the world’s leading archaeological conservation and community development experts in planning, projects and programs
• Develop a strong, stable and growing global network to support GHF through guidance and advice to management, generous and sustained funding and advocacy, leadership and best practices in governance
• Continue to build a committed and effective Board of Trustees and Senior Advisory Board with diverse expertise
• Advocate on behalf of significant and endangered cultural heritage sites in developing countries

What can I do to support GHF? How can I get involved?
There are a number of ways to support GHF and become involved. Please have a look at our Support GHF page to learn how to make a donation, become a member, join the conservation society, join the leadership council, and more.

You can also join the Global Heritage Network to participate in discussions about global heritage, and to learn more about GHF’s mission.