Press release
Community events to address climate change and Sceilg Mhichíl
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Sceilg Mhichíl is one of ten World Heritage Properties selected to take part in the international ICOMOS-National Geographic Preserving Legacies: A Future for our Past project, and is the only European site selected. Other sites include Petra in Jordan, the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras and Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia. The National Monuments Service (NMS) in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW) represent Ireland on the project.
Fundamental to the Preserving Legacies project is engagement and collaboration to inform communities on the implications of climate change on the World Heritage sites, and to enable them to safeguard their cultural and natural heritage against future impacts. The Outstanding Universal Value of Sceilg Mhichíl transcends boundaries but at its heart are the communities who live with Sceilg on their doorstep.
Over the coming weeks there will be two public meetings in Portmagee, organised by the NMS and OPW to discuss the roles of the State bodies responsible for the management and protection of Sceilg Mhichíl and to encourage community participation in discussions on climate change and the World Heritage site.
Both events are open to all to attend.
Connie Kelleher, Senior Archaeologist with NMS explained:
“The idea is to equip communities with the tools to safeguard heritage against the impact of climate change. By anticipating and assessing the effects of climate, we hope to help and turn scientific knowledge into action to protect sites.
“The first meeting on Monday, 8 April brings together the three state bodies who manage the site: the OPW, the NMS and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Each will discuss their roles in managing and protecting the World Heritage Property and Natura 2000 site and will be on hand to answer questions about Sceilg Mhichíl.
“Later this month, on 27 April, a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) community workshop will address the work being done to anticipate climate change impacts and put in place adaptation measures to address them.
“Community participation in the workshop is important to harness local knowledge of Sceilg Mhichíl, with particular interest in how community members perceive current and future impacts from climate change on the island. This will help to map out the priorities and inform measures that can be made to protect its future.
“Anticipating and assessing the effects of climate can inform adaptation measures that will help protect Sceilg Mhichíl’s unique heritage into the future while working together to ensure local and visitor alike can continue to experience the wonder of this exceptional site.”
People can read more about the international conservation project at this link: ‘Preserving Legacies: A Future for our Past’ .
Sceilg Mhichíl public information night
Monday, 8 April at 7pm in Portmagee Community Centre
Sceilg Mhichíl community climate vulnerability assessment (CVA) workshop
Saturday, 27 April from 11.30 am in Portmagee Community Centre.
More details are available here: Sceilg Mhichíl Archives - World Heritage Ireland
ENDS
Preserving Legacies: A Future for our Past
The project is funded by International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) the National Geographic Society and Manulife, in partnership with the Climate Heritage Network. Phase 1 of the project focused on two primary sites: the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras and Petra, Jordan.
There are also eight observer sites, of which Sceilg Mhichíl is one and the others are: Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia; Border Fields, USA and Mexico; Historical Mosque City of Bagerhat, Bangladesh; Nan Madol, Micronesia; Levuka, Fiji; Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba, Togo and Benin, along with Port, Fortress, and Group of Monuments at Cartagena, Columbia.
The project integrates scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge to find sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions to the long-term preservation of cultural heritage sites. This integration of different knowledge systems will support developing better approaches to adaptation, learning from past ancestral practices to safeguard values for the next generations. ‘Preserving Legacies: A Future for our Past’ project