Workshop on impact assessment in a World Heritage Context (in Spanish)

Organizers: ICCROM, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, IUCN, Ministry of Climate and Environment of Norway, Regional World Heritage Institute in Zacatecas (IRPMZ).

We are seeking 30-35 participants from the region of Latin America and the Caribbean to join the next Spanish-language edition of the online Workshop on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context (IAWH24 LAC). The workshop will explore how impact assessment and multidisciplinary cooperation can be useful for supporting better decision-making: both by identifying solutions for both protecting World Heritage properties, as well as encouraging high-quality sustainable development.   

This workshop targets professionals working with World Heritage and/or impact assessment. Limited places will be allocated to applicants from Spanish-speaking countries outside the Latin American and Caribbean region.

Why is this workshop needed?

World Heritage properties continue to face pressure from various forms of development – including commercial and residential projects, energy projects, transport infrastructure and tourism development – and other significant changes that can affect their Outstanding Universal Value. State of Conservation reports often bring these issues to the attention of the World Heritage Committee, which has long requested impact assessments to inform better decision-making for the future of World Heritage. To respond to these Committee requests and comply with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, States Parties, local authorities and World Heritage management teams have increasingly sought guidance and support to build capacities on impact assessment. 

The objectives of this workshop are to:

• introduce participants to the updated methodology of the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context; 

• equip participants with current knowledge of and skills to use impact assessments to inform decision-making regarding various factors affecting heritage in general and World Heritage properties in particular; 

• provide participants with knowledge on management and monitoring requirements and reporting mechanisms for World Heritage properties; 

• effectively communicate the benefits of linking nature and culture and the role of impact assessments in heritage management planning; and 

• promote the exchange of experiences and information in heritage management and conservation among practitioners.

What is the content of the course?

This online workshop on Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context will introduce participants to the methodology outlined in the updated Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context (July 2022), which was prepared by the three Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Convention – ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN – in partnership with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. As a result, the course content will be aligned with the most recently revised operational guidelines, policy documents approved by state parties, and decisions made by the World Heritage Committee. As a result the course content will be aligned with the most recently-revised Operational Guidelines, policy documents approved by States Parties and decisions taken by the World Heritage Committee. 

The course will be structured around the 11 steps of the Toolkit and then expand on what makes an enabling environment for good impact assessment, and how this overall process can help improve the management of World Heritage. The workshop will tackle the following overarching topics:

• Heritage Place Approach

• Analysing heritage values and attributes

• Analysing the factors affecting the heritage place

• Process and Principles of Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context

• Methodology for Impact Assessment and its 11 steps

• Creating an enabling environment for Impact Assessment

Who is the workshop for? 

This course specifically targets:  

• heritage practitioners and individuals from institutions with responsibilities related to managing World Heritage properties, or other heritage places in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean and other Spanish-speaking countries (limited seats available);  

• heritage practitioners involved in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) or other type of impact assessment related to a World Heritage property or other heritage places in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean and other Spanish-speaking countries (limited seats available); 

• impact assessment specialists working with heritage places and in particular, World Heritage in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean;

• officials and decision-makers whose State Party has been requested to conduct an impact assessment by the World Heritage Committee; and 

• community members, other practitioners or heritage stakeholders involved in impact assessments at heritage places in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Workshop schedule

The workshop Will take place in Spanish and will be fully implemented online from 14 to 16 October 2024. The course will the place in the morning hours for the region of Latin America and the Caribbean corresponding to the time from 15.00 to 18.00 CEST (Rome). 

Participants are required to attend the entire course to receive a final certificate.

Some theoretical and introductory presentations will be uploaded as asynchronous learning materials on the new ICCROM e-learning platform, divided into seven learning modules. Participants will access these materials in advance so they are familiar with the content and can fully engage in discussions and exercises during the live sessions.

Cost of the workshop

The workshop is free of charge for all selected participants. Participants must cover other expenses related to their participation. This includes access to and use of a computer, a stable internet connection and their time.

How to apply for this workshop

Applications should be received by 29 September 2024 completing the following process:

• complete the online application form in Spanish
• send your CV (in Spanish, max 2 pages), your profile photo and the endorsement of your institution, which confirms that you have the support of your workplace for taking the time to complete the entire course, to whl@iccrom.org.

If you encounter any issues submitting your application via the ICCROM website, please email us at: whl@iccrom.org.