Cultural sustainability

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A sustainability profile for Johannesburg using the Circles of Sustainability approach that includes culture as one of its major domains. Johannesburg Profile, Level 2, 2013.jpg
A sustainability profile for Johannesburg using the Circles of Sustainability approach that includes culture as one of its major domains.
The Three Pillars of Sustainability Sustainable development.svg
The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Cultural sustainability as it relates to sustainable development (or to sustainability), has to do with maintaining cultural beliefs, cultural practices, heritage conservation, culture as its own entity, and the question of whether or not any given cultures will exist in the future. [2] From cultural heritage to cultural and creative industries, culture is both an enabler and a driver of the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. [3] Culture is defined as a set of beliefs, morals, methods, institutions and a collection of human knowledge that is dependent on the transmission of these characteristics to younger generations. [4] Cultural sustainability has been categorized under the social pillar of the three pillars of sustainability, but some argue that cultural sustainability should be its own pillar, due to its growing importance within social, political, environmental, and economic spheres. [2] The importance of cultural sustainability lies within its influential power over the people, as decisions that are made within the context of society are heavily weighed by the beliefs of that society. [2] [5]

Contents

Cultural sustainability can be regarded as a fundamental issue, even a precondition to be met on the path towards sustainable development. However, the theoretical and conceptual understanding of cultural sustainability within the general frames of sustainable development remains vague. And consequently, the role of culture is poorly implemented in the environmental, as well as political and social policy. Determining the impact of cultural sustainability is found by investigating the concept of culture in the context of sustainable development, through multidisciplinary approaches and analyses. This means examining the best practices for bringing culture into political and social policy as well as practical domains, and developing means and indicators for assessing the impacts of culture on sustainable development. [6]

Sociopolitical landscapes

Culture has an overwhelming effect on social, economic and political planning, but as of yet, has failed to be incorporated into social, and political policy on a grand scale. [7] However, certain policies regarding both policy and politics have managed to be implemented into some conventions that are implemented on a global scale. [6] Culture is found everywhere within a society, from the relics of previous generations, to the accumulated values of a society. [7] Culture within society can be divided into two, equally important subtopics that aid in the description of cultural specific characterizations. These categories, as defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are "Material" and "Immaterial". [7] Material objects such as shrines, paintings, buildings, landscapes and other humanistic formations act as a physical representation of the culture in that area. [7] Although they have little social and political utility, they serve as physical landmarks and culturally dependent objects whose meaning is created and maintained within the context of that society. [2] The accumulation of these cultural characteristics are what measures a society's cultural integrity, and these characteristics are inherently capable of transforming landscapes of political, social and environment nature via the influence that these values and historical remains have on the population. [7]

Little success has come with the implementations of cultural policy within the context of politics due to a lack of empirical information regarding the topic of cultural sustainability. [8] The Immaterial category contains more socially and politically applicable characteristics such as practices, traditions, aesthetics, knowledge, expressions etc. [7] [9] These characteristics embody social and political utility through education of people, housing, social justice, human rights, employment and more. [7] [9] These values contribute to the well-being of a society through the use of collective thinking and ideals i.e. culture. Culture also presents more room for expansion on its effects on a society. Specifically, creativity, respect, empathy, and other practices are being used to create social integration and also to create a sense of "self" in the world. [7]

Convention implementation

Implementation of policy on a global scale has had little success, but enough to show an increasing interest in the topic of Cultural Sustainability. The conventions that have been implemented, have done so on a large scale, involving multiple countries, across most continents. UNESCO has been responsible for the vast majority of these conventions, maintaining that cultural sustainability and cultural heritage are a strong cornerstone of society. [10] One of the more relevant conventions created in 2003 is the "Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" which proclaims that culture must be protected against all adversarial combatants. [10] This safeguard was implemented as an understanding that culture guarantees sustainability. Implementing policy based on cultural history is in the process of becoming a widely talked about subject and holds that cultures will be able to thrive in the context of both present and future. Conventions made by UNESCO regarding cultural preservation and sustainability are surrounding the promotion of cultural diversity, which means multiple cultures and ideals within one grand culture. [10] [2]

Cultural heritage

Cultural memorabilia and artifacts from a cultures history maintain an important role in modern society as they are kept as relics and shrines in order to remember the stories, knowledge, skills and methods of ancestors and learn invaluable lessons from the past. Today, cultures use libraries, art exhibits and museums as a placeholder for these important objects and other culturally significant artifacts. [6] Not only are these objects revered, but the buildings themselves are oftentimes a symbol of cultural integrity to the community which it belongs. Linking with the other pillars of sustainability, the biggest barrier to cultural sustainability is funding. Economic sustainability relies on a number of systems with goals to ensure economic prosperity by eliminating spending where it is not needed. [11] Cultural buildings such as museums oftentimes fail to receive the funding it needs to continue the preservation of culturally significant artifacts. [6]

Human-centered design and cultural collaboration have been popular frameworks for sustainable development in marginalized communities. [12] [13] [14] [15] These frameworks involve open dialogue which entails sharing, debating, and discussing, as well as holistic evaluation of the site of development.

Sustainable tourism

Tourism is a traveling method for which people can venture to different areas of the globe and experience new ways of living, and explore landscapes not native to their country of origin. Tourism is constantly being criticized for its impact on the social, political and environmental landscapes due to its high volume of mass consumers. Within the realm of tourism exists more sustainable practices and ideals that are aligned with the idea of cultural sustainability.

Geotourism

Forest view stairs in Thenmala 1.jpg

Geotourism is a form of tourism which relies heavily upon the sustainability, or even the improvement of a selected geological location. [16] Serving as an alternative to mass tourism, Geotourism was created with the purpose of aiding in the sustainable development movement. Geotourism is a method which focuses on Sustainable culture, ecological preservation and restoration, welfare of local populous, and the wildlife in the immediate area. [16] The link between Geotourism and Cultural sustainability lies within their role in maintaining the natural state of the environment, including the social and cultural environment. Preservation of the local culture has been a key element of Geotourism from its inception, and due to this form of tourism, travelers are able to experience true local culture, lifestyles, and practices experienced by the people native to that region. [16] The scope of Geotourism covers many geological features, from wider areas such as mountains or coasts to smaller rock formations. [17] This form of tourism provides education regarding destinations they have traveled to via ethnographic methods, and also calls upon the traveler to become aware of the footprint they leave on the environment, as well as social changes that may be harmful to the indigenous peoples. [8] Responsibility plays an important role in Geotourism by informing travelers of their duties to respect, and preserve the local culture. [8] Many countries have adapted this method of tourism, going as far as to implement geotourism sites equipped with guides that discuss matters of importance in that area such as environmental or cultural concerns. [16] Such countries include: [16]

Geotourism in Honduras includes The Bay Islands, a Caribbean archipelago made up of three main islands, Utila, Roatan, and Guanaja and a few lesser islands and cays located off the north coast of Honduras. These islands have been blessed with stunning natural scenery, highlighted by idyllic beaches, tropical hillsides, and mangrove forests. [18]

Geotourism in Mexico includes Puerto Peñasco. This region includes the protected Sea of Cortez, the Pinacate Crator which offers barren deserts, sacred tribal and Indian lands, fishing zones, estuaries, oyster beds, and vibrant farmland and wine country. [19] Over the past decade, Puerto Peñasco, a former modest fishing village in Sonora situated just 65 kilometers away from the US border, has transformed into one of the most rapidly expanding urban areas in Mexico. [20]

Geotourism in Canada includes Nova Scotia. It was visited by explorers and geologists from around the world for centuries, Nova Scotia′s geological sites are now recognized for their beauty as much as for their rich history. Nova Scotia’s sites include the iconic lighthouses, which is built on rocky precipices that reach out into the sea. [21]

Geotourism in Portugal includes the Geopark of Arouca, which, in 2010, was officially recognized and joined the Global network of Geoparks, under the auspices of UNESCO. The park is known for its natural, gastronomical, and cultural heritage. This mountainous area, with rivers, natural parks, steep slopes and lush vegetation covers the entire municipality of Arouca. The granite used to build so many religious and historical monuments, Romanesque chapels and Baroque churches in the region came was extracted from its mountains – Freita and Montemuro. [22] As the practice of sustainability in all forms (environmental, social, and economy) becomes a more revered topic and gains traction within political spheres, sociologists suggest refining the practices of tourism to fit a mold that is more conducive to the sustainability models. [16]

Tazim et al. suggests the key to sustainable tourism lies within the responsible practice of travelers, but also within the direct participation of the locals in tourism practices. [8] Although Geotourism shows to be a viable alternative for mass tourism, reducing the footprint of travellers on different parts of the world, there have been criticisms made regarding its fairness to the local population. Issues of fair pay, and the rights of the local people are the basis of the ethical dilemmas this kind of tourism faces. Tourism has a direct effect on the culture of the local populous, and as such, the focus of sociologists has been how to maintain the local environment (physically, socioculturally, and economically) while at the same time, introduce people to a new culture. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecotourism</span> Tourism visiting environments

Ecotourism is a form of tourism marketed as "responsible" travel to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. The stated purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and human rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural diversity</span> Quality of diverse or different cultures

Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures, as opposed to monoculture. It has a variety of meanings in different contexts, sometimes applying to cultural products like art works in museums or entertainment available online, and sometimes applying to the variety of human cultures or traditions in a specific region, or in the world as a whole. It can also refer to the inclusion of different cultural perspectives in an organization or society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geopark</span> Internationally protected area that advances the use of geological heritage in a sustainable way

A geopark is a protected area with internationally significant geology within which sustainable development is sought and which includes tourism, conservation, education and research concerning not just geology but other relevant sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural heritage</span> Physical artifact or intangible attribute of a society inherited from past generations

Cultural heritage is the heritage of tangible and intangible heritage assets of a group or society that is inherited from past generations. Not all heritages of past generations are "heritage"; rather, heritage is a product of selection by society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions</span> UNESCO-related treaty

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is an international treaty adopted in October 2005 in Paris during the 33rd session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In response to the fears that globalization would lead to an increasingly uniform global culture, it allows states to protect cultural diversity by promoting and defending their own cultural industries. It also establishes international co-operation to help protect the cultural industries of developing countries, including the creation of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity. It reaffirms many of the principles of the 2001 UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity but, unlike that declaration, it is legally binding and requires legal ratification by member states. The convention is the first international treaty to give cultural goods a special status, having cultural as well as economic value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable tourism</span> Form of travel and tourism without damage to nature or cultural area

Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Sustainable tourism should embrace concerns for environmental protection, social equity, and the quality of life, cultural diversity, and a dynamic, viable economy delivering jobs and prosperity for all. It has its roots in sustainable development and there can be some confusion as to what "sustainable tourism" means. There is now broad consensus that tourism should be sustainable. In fact, all forms of tourism have the potential to be sustainable if planned, developed and managed properly. Tourist development organizations are promoting sustainable tourism practices in order to mitigate negative effects caused by the growing impact of tourism, for example its environmental impacts.

Public participation, also known as citizen participation or patient and public involvement, is the inclusion of the public in the activities of any organization or project. Public participation is similar to but more inclusive than stakeholder engagement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable landscape architecture</span> Category of sustainable design

Sustainable landscape architecture is a category of sustainable design concerned with the planning and design of the built and natural environments.

Geological Park Iskar–Panega is an UNESCO-run Geopark in Northern Bulgaria, located 3 km south of the municipal centre Lukovit. It consists of two sections: the Karlukovo Karst Complex lies in the valley of the Iskar River, while the Roadside Landscape Park "Panega" is at the Zlatna Panega valley. Started in 2006, it became the first geopark in Bulgaria, and created temporary employment for 20 previously unemployed people. Another economic effect was that the number of overnights at main lodging facilities in Lukovit increased by 40%, and the number of visits to the city and region rose significantly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geotourism</span> Tourism associated with geological attractions and destinations

Geotourism is tourism associated with geological attractions and destinations. Geotourism deals with the abiotic natural and built environments. Geotourism was first defined in England by Thomas Alfred Hose in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UNESCO Global Geoparks</span> Definition of the UNESCO global geopark network.

UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). that administers the network.

Environmental governance (EG) consist of a system of laws, norms, rules, policies and practices that dictate how the board members of an environment related regulatory body should manage and oversee the affairs of any environment related regulatory body which is responsible for ensuring sustainability (sustainable development) and manage all human activities—political, social and economic. Environmental governance includes government, business and civil society, and emphasizes whole system management. To capture this diverse range of elements, environmental governance often employs alternative systems of governance, for example watershed-based management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture 21</span>

Culture 21, also known as Agenda 21 for culture, is a program for cultural governance developed in 2002–2004 and organized by United Cities and Local Governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage</span> UNESCO treaty

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is a UNESCO treaty adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 17 October 2003.

The concept of cultural policy in Abu Dhabi, a city within the United Arab Emirates refers to any initiative undertaken by the Emirate government aimed at achieving goals of certain cultural content and ascribable within a coherent strategic framework. Today, Abu Dhabi's foremost ambition is to develop a cultural infrastructure that will allow it to establish itself as a reference point for culture on three levels:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azores Geopark</span>

The Azores Geopark is a network of 121 geographically-dispersed sites of geographic heritage and marine areas that covers the nine volcanic islands of the archipelago of the Azores. This network is managed by the Azores Geopark Association, a non-profit association, with its headquarters in Horta on the island of Faial, established 19 May 2010. It is part of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The Association's mission is to ensure the geological conservation, environmental education and sustainable development, while promoting the well-being of the population and a respect for the environment.

Tourism impacts tourist destinations in both positive and negative ways, encompassing economic, political, socio-cultural, environmental, and psychological dimensions. The economic effects of tourism encompass improved tax revenue, personal income growth, enhanced living standards, and the creation of additional employment opportunities. Sociocultural impacts are associated with interactions between people with differing cultural backgrounds, attitudes and behaviors, and relationships to material goods. Tourism can also have significant political impacts by influencing government policies and promoting diplomatic relations between countries. Environmental impacts can be categorized as direct effects including environmental damage, wildlife destruction, deforestation, water pollution, and indirect effects, such as increased harvesting of natural resources to supply food, indirect air and water pollution. Tourism also has positive and negative health outcomes for local people. The short-term negative impacts of tourism on residents' health are related to the density of tourist's arrivals, the risk of disease transmission, road accidents, higher crime levels, as well as traffic congestion, crowding, and other stressful factors. In addition, residents can experience anxiety and depression related to their risk perceptions about mortality rates, food insecurity, contact with infected tourists, etc., which can result in negative mental health outcomes. At the same time, there are positive long-term impacts of tourism on residents' health and well-being outcomes through improving healthcare access positive emotions, novelty, and social interactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural governance</span>

Cultural governance is governance of culture. It includes cultural policy made by governments but extends also to cultural influence exerted by non-state actors and to policies which influence culture indirectly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ecotourism in Mexico</span>

Ecotourism in Mexico is tourism that sustainably experiences fragile, pristine and relatively undisturbed natural areas. Tourism is a large sources of revenue for Mexico Ecotourism has received mixed responses, but organizations such as the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) stressed its importance in the long-term economic health of Mexico.

References

  1. ↑ James, Paul; with Magee, Liam; Scerri, Andy; Steger, Manfred B. (2015). Urban Sustainability in Theory and Practice: Circles of Sustainability. London: Routledge. ISBN   9781315765747.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Soini, Katriina; Birkland, Inger (2014). "Exploring the scientific discourse on cultural sustainability". Geoforum. 51: 213–223. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2013.12.001.
  3. ↑ Culture for Sustainable Development. (2020, July 23). Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://en.unesco.org/themes/culture-sustainable-development
  4. ↑ "Definition of CULTURE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  5. ↑ Bender, Oliver; Haller, Andreas (2017). "The cultural embeddedness of population mobility in the Alps: Consequences for sustainable development". Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift - Norwegian Journal of Geography. 71 (3): 132–145. doi: 10.1080/00291951.2017.1317661 .
  6. 1 2 3 4 Loach, Kirsten; Rowley, Jennifer; Griffiths, Jillian (2017-03-04). "Cultural sustainability as a strategy for the survival of museums and libraries". International Journal of Cultural Policy. 23 (2): 186–198. doi: 10.1080/10286632.2016.1184657 . ISSN   1028-6632.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Axelsson, Robert; Angelstam, Per; Degerman, Erik; Teitelbaum, Sara; Andersson, Kjell; Elbakidze, Marine; Drotz, Marcus K. (2013-03-01). "Social and Cultural Sustainability: Criteria, Indicators, Verifier Variables for Measurement and Maps for Visualization to Support Planning". Ambio. 42 (2): 215–228. doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0376-0. ISSN   0044-7447. PMC   3593035 . PMID   23475657.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Jamal, Tazim; Camargo, Blanca; Sandlin, Jennifer; Segrado, Romano (2010-01-01). "Tourism and Cultural Sustainability: Towards an Eco-cultural Justice for Place and People". Tourism Recreation Research. 35 (3): 269–279. doi:10.1080/02508281.2010.11081643. ISSN   0250-8281. S2CID   155010718.
  9. 1 2 Chiu, Rebecca (2004). "Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Housing: a Conceptual Exploration". Housing, Theory and Society. 21 (2): 65–76. doi:10.1080/14036090410014999. S2CID   154738373.
  10. 1 2 3 "Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage - intangible heritage - Culture Sector - UNESCO". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Foreign Affairs Trade and Development Canada. "Development Sustainable Economic Growth Strategy". GAC. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  12. ↑ Edmunds, David S.; Shelby, Ryan; James, Angela (November 2013). "Tribal Housing, Codesign, and Cultural Sovereignty". Science, Technology & Society, & Human Values. 38 (6): 801–828. doi:10.1177/0162243913490812. JSTOR   43671157. S2CID   56421238.
  13. ↑ Saiyed, Zahraa (September 2017). "Native American Storytelling Toward Symbiosis and Sustainable Design". Energy Research & Social Science. 31: 249–252. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2017.05.029.
  14. ↑ Martin, Tania (September 2005). "Thinking the Other: Towards Cultural Diversity in Architecture". Journal of Architectural Education. 59: 3–16. doi:10.1111/j.1531-314X.2005.00001.x. S2CID   142865996.
  15. ↑ Necefer, Len; Wong-Parodi, Gabrielle; Paulina, Jaramillo; Small, Mitchell J. (May 2015). "Energy development and Native Americans: Values and beliefs about energy from the Navajo Nation". Energy Research & Social Science. 7: 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2015.02.007 .
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Farsani, Neda Torabi; Coelho, Celeste; Costa, Carlos (2012). "Geotourism and Geoparks as Gateways to Socio-cultural Sustainability in Qeshm Rural Areas, Iran". Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 17: 30–48. doi:10.1080/10941665.2011.610145. S2CID   154571686.
  17. ↑ Gordon, John (21 January 2021). "Geoheritage, Geotourism and the Cultural Landscape: Enhancing the Visitor Experience and Promoting Geoconservation". Geosciences. 11 (2): 39. doi: 10.3390/geosciences8040136 .
  18. ↑ "National Geographic". Archived from the original on April 6, 2005.
  19. ↑ "30 top geotourism sites in Mexico (Geo-Mexico special) | Geo-Mexico, the geography of Mexico". 14 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Bryant, E. (2007). Barriers to Sustainable Coastal Development in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico.
  21. ↑ "National Geographic and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society's Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter Introduce Eastern Newfoundland Geotourism MapGuide and Website – National Geographic Partners Press Room". 2013-04-24. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Geotourism in the north of Portugal".
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