The official page of the National Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change (NCBCC) organized by MAC INSERCH at Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi bringing together activists, policy-makers, environmentalists and academicians for the cause. Heritage is an inclusive and comprehensive notion that comprises of many diverse values like natural, cultural, historical, archaeological, arch
itectural and geological worth and wealth. Heritage is a reflection of what people belonging to different cultures and eras of the mankind consider precious and preservable- a sense emanating from the ways of lives and habits they espouse and enshrine. A well-preserved heritage permits communities to ascertain documentation and dissemination of their cultural history truly and chronologically. The consensus and acknowledgment regarding the diversity of cultural heritage, along with fair and equitable access enhances the collective feeling of place, belonging, respect, purpose and welfare, that contributes both to the cohesion of communities and reducing of inequalities. The ability to access, enjoy, care for and transmit heritage is an essential cultural right and a fundamental component of what the economist Amartya Sen has called the ‘capability of individuals to live and to be what they choose’- an essential part of the very definition of human development. In 1972, the UNESCO Convention on World Heritage made international efforts to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. From an economic viewpoint, world heritage has global public attributes because its benefits and values extend to all countries, peoples and generations. Global efforts at recognition and protection of cultural and natural heritage are spearheaded by UNESCO through ICOMOS (International Council on Museums and Sites) for cultural properties and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) for natural properties as countries individually lack the economic, scientific and technological resources for preservation. It is envisaged that the changes in climatic condition due to human activities are likely to affect spatial distribution of population. Rise in sea levels is likely to affect mangroves, coastal wetlands, sea grasses etc in a big way. These would lead to extinction of many species which are already vulnerable. Changes in the biodiversity at local and global levels are further likely to affect global and regional climatic conditions. Over a period of time we have come to realize that the natural wealth bestowed on us is limited and there is gradual depletion of these resources. Various earth summits from Kyoto to Paris, have all delved on issues of resource depletion, alarming carbon emissions and global warming and resultant climate change. It is worth mentioning that the most important principle in natural heritage management approach today involves the sustainability principle. The indifference towards heritage- environmental and ecological- needs to be reversed, to bring about sustainable development. With climate change, the composition of most current ecosystems is likely to change. The world has been witnessing a tidal increase in technology and urbanization, especially post World War II. All these factors pose a series of threats to tangible and intangible cultural, national, economical heritage as well. Because of migration and industrialization, population density between rural areas and cities differs greatly today. We look at these changes mostly in a stereotyped manner, failing usually to consider how these kinds of facts pose a great threat to heritage assets. Heritage is not a renewable resource; therefore it should be conserved with utmost vigour and conviction. Until very recently, preservation meant protecting the physical assets (mainly ‘monuments’), but now it is seen as a clear imperative that when trying to protect heritage, national, environmental, cultural and economical aspects must be taken into account. This widening of the definition and ambit of ‘heritage’ brings both the tangible and the intangible heritage under the umbrella of conservation and facilitates its use and development on the rubrics of accessibility, sustainability and compatibility. Preserving tangible heritage or objects is an important activity from the point of view of underscoring their relevance to archeology, architecture, technology, history, memories, knowledge and culture but preserving intangible heritage or cultural practices and life expressions is equally important as to them we owe our sense of identity, continuity, art and refinement. Today societies know and narrate themselves not just through built heritage but also through oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, festivals, customs and traditions. In preserving tangible and intangible national or cultural and community based heritage, the ideals of self representation as well tolerance are energized. The approach today also emphasizes on preserving the living heritage rather than fossilized heritage as that makes for a more continuous and meaningful engagement with the so-called ‘self’ and the ‘other’ as well as the ‘present’ as incumbent on past and future. The 5th National Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change focuses on the theme of conserving heritage: natural resources and tangible wealth. After four successful conferences probing the various aspects of examining and ameliorating climate change, this edition of the Conference trains its lens on the impact on heritage and the strategies and dimensions of conservation being employed or which need to be employed in the world today.
