Toward an Ecology of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Around the globe, the impacts of climate change are increasing the risk of catastrophic events and the resulting loss of human life and communities. Until now, responses to these events and planning for future occurrences have focused on ecological and social impacts, to the almost total exclusion of the impacts on heritage. Cultural heritage includes archaeological sites, historic buildings, and artifacts, but-more importantly-it also includes the meanings, values, and contemporary social behavior associated with these tangible forms of heritage. Thus, place attachment, sense of place, and associated forms of intangible heritage are major societal factors that must be integrated into climate change adaptation and risk management models. Communities, towns, and governments typically disassociate cultural/historical resources from natural resources in issues of planning and development. A transdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage is necessary in times of risk. There is critical need for this approach, since climate change will result in accelerated changes for human communities-from dislocation to a change in the physical manifestations of place. In this paper, we explore approaches to disaster, adaptation, and resilience through the lens of cultural heritage using two case studies: the Gullah Communities of South Carolina and the diverse communities of Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Some Insights into the Theory and Practice of Heritage Ecology: Grasping the Bio-physical and Socio-historical Dynamism of the Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou

“…2. In this sense, the concept of heritage ecology proposed here differs from (but by no means contradicts) other possible and very suggesting definitions, as for example, the study of the links of heritage with its surrounding and changing ecological environment in order to guarantee its material preservation (Brabec and Chilton, 2015), or the necessity of considering the complex symbolic dimension of ecological relationships implied in the sacred landscapes not only to preserve its integrity, but also to increase the ethical consciousness on cultural and biological environmental degradation (Singh, 1995).…”

Minority Community Resilience and Cultural Heritage Preservation: A Case Study of the Gullah Geechee Community

“…(6) Which geographic area is the subject of the article? (7) Which study population in terms of age is the subject of the article? (8) Which study population in terms of gender is the subject of the article?…”

“…Despite a slow but growing body of research emphasizing the importance of the Gullah's intangible heritage in enhancing their community resilience, only a few studies focused on their social and climate change vulnerability (e.g., [5,16,22,23]) or approaches for building resilience through preservation (e.g., [7,24,48]). For instance, scholars documented the need to better integrate the Gullah community's place attachment, sense of place, and intangible heritage into climate adaptation planning and risk management [7]. Ellis et al [22] discussed the impact of climate and societal changes on Gullah's fishing practices and fish consumption and the negative impact that these changes can have on community health.…”

“…Previous research (e.g., [54][55][56]) suggested that policies that involve minority or marginalized communities for shared responsibilities and decision-making and have the full ownership of local institutions, such as tourism, are more likely to result in effective policies for heritage preservation and enhancing community resilience. Incorporating the spectrum of people's attitudes and values, traditional knowledge, and socio-cultural practices that are embodied in local community culture and heritage was suggested as a more inclusive and collective approach to disaster management and climate change resilience for the Gullah community as well as for other minority and/or marginalized communities [7,49,53,57,58]. In addition, empathic and emotional engagement with place can create cultural meaning and can embed the pro-environmental behavior in place-oriented norms and institutions [59].…”

“…Lastly, community-led tourism can empower the community and enhance resilience. The resulting social, economic, environmental, and cultural strength and endurance (e.g., [7]) can help the Gullah community minimize both natural and human-caused threats such as climate change and societal marginalization. Importantly, the goal of enhanced community resilience should not be to simply help the community to "bounce back" after disruption or disaster, but to "bounce forward" to a more sustainable, inclusive, and democratic participation in the policy decisions that affect their cultural identity, way of life and knowing, and livelihoods.…”