Heritage and Horizon: Global experts unite to advance culture and sustainability

International experts meet to discuss the findings of the CULTIVATE project.

UHI Centre for Mountain Studies, in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, hosted a forum to present and discuss findings from the international CULTIVATE project. The event gathered leading global experts, researchers, and practitioners in cultural and natural heritage, fostering idea exchange and collaboration on innovative strategies to enhance cultural heritage research and practice for the future.

The ‘Heritage and Horizon’ conference was co-hosted with the University of Edinburgh with a welcoming address from Anna Nsubuga, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, followed by a series of presentations from the research team from Scotland, Norway, Estonia and the Czech Republic. A panel discussion was led by Anne Anderson, chair of the UK National Commission for UNESCO's Board of Directors, with the afternoon sessions featuring a range of interactive workshops.

Dr Rosalind Bryce, Principal Investigator for the CULTIVATE project and Director for UHI Centre for Mountain Studies based at UHI Perth, highlighted the significance of the event:

“The gathering was an excellent opportunity to bring together a community of researchers and practitioners interested in how sustainability challenges are underpinned and shaped by the culture and heritage of land and communities. Our research team appreciated the opportunity to work closely with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, to highlight the importance of UNESCO Biospheres and other designations as landscapes in which we can collaborate to further our knowledge and test new approaches.”

Anna Nsubuga, UK Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, emphasised the transformative potential of UNESCO sites:

“The CULTIVATE project has shown how UNESCO sites can address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges by delivering a genuine emphasis on community-led approaches to place-making. Each Biosphere, through working with local communities, has shown the importance of cultural heritage in addressing global challenges related to climate and our natural resources. It has also shown how no one group of people has the answer, and no one group of people can bring about change. We have to do this together, and a deep understanding of place is critical to achieving that.”

The CULTIVATE project showcased impactful, place-based approaches to sustainability by:

• Engaging youth (16-18) and adults in Scotland, Norway, Estonia, and the Czech Republic to envision the future of their communities and landscapes.
• Developing the Area Place Plan for Wester Ross and Lochalsh in Scotland.
• Creating community resources, including films, interactive maps, books, and poetic interpretations, to amplify local cultural narratives.