Why is it essential to protect and save our cultural heritage?

1. Because there is an ever-present risk of it disappearing completely

In the last hundred years, Europe has gone through some tragic historical events such as the two World Wars, former Yugoslav war, and the very recent war in Ukraine, which have had a negative impact not only on human life but also on the whole European cultural heritage. Numerous historical monuments and cities with a historical legacy of hundreds and thousands of years have been partially or completely destroyed, and the population, weakened by the traumas of war, has been forced to emigrate from the regions of conflict, gradually losing their connection to their native places and their cultural specificities. This "uprooting" has led to the alteration or even loss of valuable intangible traditions.

Not only wars are threats to the European cultural heritage, but it can also be endangered in times of peace, due to social dynamism and the continuously evolving human society. Hence, the social, cultural and economic transformations that society in general has undergone have involved a continuous change in people's activities and social relations between members of communities, an assimilation of elements of modernism into everyday life and a rapid change in the mentality of individuals and society. Against this background of globalisation, many folk traditions and customs have been lost because traditional communities lacked resilience to external factors and because they were not financially supported by the authorities to preserve their cultural heritage.

There are also technical and technological factors that have managed to produce changes in the local communities through the disappearance of some traditional crafts, agro-pastoral practices and activities, cultural events and social practices since the young population is drawn to new, modern activities that are better paid than traditional ones. Migration from the village to the city has led to a weakening of communities and the older population has had no one to whom they could pass on some folk traditions nor people to carry them on. In the absence of young people to revitalize cultural heritage, it will disappear.

In the category of social factors we mention migration. Many European countries have today become multicultural due to the influx of immigrants from all over the world who, for various reasons, have chosen to live in a country other than their native one. This continuous mobility of the population across the European continent implies an interaction with the heritage of the host country and the discovery of forms of intangible heritage unknown or little known before arriving there. Attitudes and ways of relating to this heritage are very important in the conservation process. Attitudes of shared responsibility towards heritage protection, pride and appreciation of universal values, uniqueness and antiquity of new cultural customs and traditions they experience and interact with are preferable. Openness to a deeper knowledge of cultural heritage implies an understanding of its importance and role in contemporary society, as well as its practical benefits (education, tourism, economy) (Croitoru, C; Marinescu- Becut, A, 2018).

Unfortunately, there is a high risk that heritage disappears when it is targeted by crimes such as vandalism, arson, theft and illicit trade in cultural goods. Illicit trade in cultural goods, especially those with heritage value, falls under the category of organised crime. According to data from the US Department of Justice, crime against art ranks third in a list of the highest grossing illegal trade activities (Charney et al, 2012). They are second only to drug and arms trafficking. Furthermore, fundamentalist terrorist groups use the proceeds from the sale of stolen antiquities to fund their activities (Charney et al, 2012).

2. By virtue of both the cultural significance and the heritage values it preserves

A cultural asset or a cultural custom becomes heritage only if it has a special value for an ethnic group, a population or a community. These values are handed down to the present day and are appreciated by the contemporary population. According to the Burra Charter: Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects. Value is both a culturally and historically constructed concept, and heritage is a value-laden concept (Harvey, 2001; Pendlebury, 2013). A tangible or intangible element belonging to the culture and civilisation of a community becomes heritage over time if it possesses a wide range of values, values that have accumulated over time, have been passed down to the present day and are equally valuable to the present population. Basically the term cultural value expresses the reasons why we should consider a cultural asset as a heritage object of special significance (Pereira Roders, 2011).

Societies are thus considered to preserve objects because they have value for their members (Caple, 2009) and they preserve them precisely because of these values (Appelbaum, 2007). In heritage practice values are those positive or qualitative characteristics that a particular person or group attributes to a cultural object or sites (Mason, 2002), including those practices, folk legends, and memories that arise in close relation to social and aesthetic values often spontaneously or experimentally (Jonhnston, 2017). Positive or qualitative characteristics define both actual and potential cultural values (Mason, 2002), which we also refer to as attributes (UNESCO, 2011).

Although cultural values vary from one culture to another, nowadays heritage, whether tangible or intangible, has become a common asset of all the inhabitants of the planet and for this reason it is necessary to preserve, save and protect it, because it belongs to everyone. Value is no longer seen as something inherent in an attribute, which can be understood by experts, but a quality that is formed at every moment between an object and a subject. Based on this premise, heritage is seen as a permanent interaction between resources and values, between past and present (Avrami et al., 2000; De la Torre, 2002). The associative aspect of value is that it expresses meaningful connections with people, events, places, practices, traditions, stories, objects, etc.

Here are a few examples of heritage values:

• Historical antiquity: Shows how old a tradition is, a series of historical events in the past are associated with it; this value generates stability, continuity and connection to the past, which are particularly important in the formation of a sense of identity in a community or in the individual (Lowenthal, 1975).
• Social values: They manifest themselves through attachment, through the feeling of belonging to a tradition.
• Uniqueness: Indicates the specificity of the tradition in question, whether it is widely practised or particular to certain communities.
• Authenticity: In UNESCO Operational Guidelines, Section 82, it is stated that a cultural property meets the conditions of authenticity if their cultural values are sincerely and credibly expressed through a range of attributes such as form and design, materials and substances, use and function, traditions, management techniques and systems, location and positioning, language and other forms of intangible heritage, spirit and feeling and other internal and external factors (UNESCO, 2011).
• Cultural identity: It is the distinguishing mark of a people/ethnic group/community, its history, tradition and customs, within a given geography (Cultural identity what it is, its elements and how it is constructed | Thpanorama - Now become better) We also find references to identity of origin, language, religion, needs, customs (Popescu, A, Biharia, 1978).
• Aesthetic value: Refers to beauty. For example, a national costume has an aesthetic value in terms of the colours and traditional motifs it is sewn with.

In this way, our heritage (material, immaterial) has a strong historical, cultural and identity value, it preserves aspects of culture and civilisation specific to a society, it expresses how people worked, how they related to the environment in which they lived, what their relationships were, what their spiritual beliefs were, etc. The heritage left by our ancestors also has a memorial value because it expresses the memory of a people and perpetuates certain mentalities regarding the history of the past (Varin, page 22).

Even the cultural significance, authenticity and outstanding universal values of the intangible heritage elements inscribed on the UNESCO list are subject to threats that risk endangering their outstanding quality. As part of the study Dive into intangible cultural heritage! Dive into intangible cultural heritage - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO, UNESCO has identified 46 threats and risks for 500 protected intangible elements. The report highlighted a combination of threats and risks which are presented in Annex 1 of the report.

3. Due to its benefits in promoting a more sustainable society

Heritage enhancement brings a range of social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits to the communities that preserve it.

UNESCO highlights the links between the five domains of intangible heritage (Traditional Craftsmanship; Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature & Universe; Oral Traditions and Expressions; Performing Arts, and; Social Practices, Rituals and Festive Events) (UNESCO, 2003) and the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all United Nations members in 2015 (Agenda 2030). (Figure 1).

These correlations were identified in the framework of the project Dive into intangible cultural heritage! Dive into intangible cultural heritage - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO.

For example, Handicrafts registers the most connections with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals), SGD 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 15 (Life and Land). (Figure 2).

The UNESCO study also shows that dance, song, language, rituals, craft know-how, and theatre play a special role in social inclusion; poetry, dance, and traditional meeting aid in increasing tolerance; while modern dance, craft, traditional martial arts support gender equality/women's rights, etc.

In Europe, unfortunately, we are increasingly faced with the emergence of extremist manifestations, acts of terrorism and the radicalisation of certain social groups, an increase in intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion (read about the European radicalisation awareness network here).

In this context, we can use intangible heritage to raise awareness among the population, to form positive attitudes towards the culture and civilisation of a people, to cultivate respect for the culture of another social group, to promote common values such as social inclusion, tolerance, etc.

4. Its important role in preserving our contemporary world's cultural diversity

As the world's cultural diversity is increasingly threatened by the forces of globalisation and nationalism, whose impact on minority cultures is becoming more and more aggressive, UNESCO, in collaboration with its partners ICOMOS and ICROM, decided to draft a new document with the aim of preserving cultural and heritage diversity with a focus on authenticity, known as the Nara Document on Authenticity (Nara Document, 1994). The document highlights the importance of preserving the cultural and heritage diversity of the contemporary world as regards the intellectual and spiritual enrichment of humanity and the development of humanity's collective memory (Nara Document, 1994).

UNESCO appreciates the importance of the diversity of cultural expressions (including traditions) because it is a springboard for the sustainable development of communities, an important factor enabling individuals and peoples to express and share their ideas and values (UNESCO, 2005). Its adoption recognises the importance of traditional knowledge as a source of intangible and material wealth, and in particular the knowledge systems of indigenous peoples, and its positive contribution to sustainable development, as well as the need for its adequate protection and promotion (UNESCO, 2005). Protecting the diversity of cultural expressions ensures respect for the following principles:

• Principle of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Principle of sovereignty;
• Principle of equal dignity of and respect for all cultures;
• Principle of international solidarity and cooperation;
• Principle of the complementarity of economic and cultural aspects of development;
• Principle of sustainable development;
• Principle of equitable access;
• Principle of openness and balance.

References

Avrami, E., Mason, R., De la Torre, M eds. (2000). Values and Heritage Conservation. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute.

Caple, C., (2009). The Aims of Conservation. In Conservation:  Principles, Dilemmas and Uncomfortable Truths, edited by: Richmond A and A. Bracker, Butterworth-Heinemann, London, pp.25.

Croitoru, C; Marinescu-Becut, A, 2018, Young_people_and_cultural_heritage_RO.pdf, Editura Universul Academic, Bucuresti.

Charney, N, Denton, P and Kleberg, J. Protecting Cultural Heritage from Art Theft. International Challenge, Local Opportunity, available online at http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/march-2012/protecting-cultural-heritage-from-art-theft.

De la Torre, M., (2002). Assessing the Values of Cultural Heritage. Los Angeles: Getty Conservation Institute.

Johnston, C., (2017). Recognising Conection: Social Significance and Heritage Practice, in Corima—Revista de Investigacion en Gestion Cultural, vol.II, june, Universidad da Guadalajara, Mexico, pp.2–34.

Harvey, D.C. (2001). Heritage Pasts and Heritage Presents: Temporality, Meaning and the Scope of Heritage Studies, International Journal of Heritage Studies 7:4, 319–38.

Lowenthal, D., (1975). Past time, present place: landscape and memory. Geogr.Rev.,65, pp.1–36.

Mason, R., (2002). Assessing Values in Conservation Planning: Methodological Issues and Choices, in de la Torre, Marta, ed. 2002. Assessing the Values of Cultural Heritage: Research Report, CA: Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, pp. 5-30.

Pendlebury, J., (2013). Conservation values, the authorized heritage discourse and the conservation-planning assemblage, International Journal of Heritage Studies, Volume 19.

Pereira Roders A., (2013). Monitoring Cultural Significance and Impact Assessments, in ‘IAIA13 Conference Proceedings’ Impact Assessment the next generation, Calgary Stampede BMO Centre, Canada.

Pereira Roders, A., Velpaus, L., and Colenbrander, B.J.F. (2013), Urban Heritage: Putting the Past into the Future. The Historic Environment: Policy and Practice, vol.4, no.1, pp.18–33.

UNESCO (2011), The Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.