Gov’t vows to tackle Climate Change threats to monuments….

This was during a ceremony to commemorate the International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day. The day is observed every April 18 across the world. The Day was observed this year under the theme: “Heritage and Climate”.

The Inspector General No.1 at the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Oyono Bitounou Martin Valere, made the declaration during a ceremony at the Reunification Monument yesterday. He was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Arts and Culture Bidoung Mkpatt.

He declared that: “The Ministry of Arts and Culture, through its technical structures has planned activities that can provide answers to the problem posed by ICOMOS”. 

Oyono stated that: “It will be a question of drawing up an exhaustive report on the climatic impact on our sites and monuments and to propose concrete strategies for resilience in the face of this global phenomenon”.

The day was also marked by a photo exhibition of the heritage sites and monuments of Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo. This was irrespective of whether they were registered on the World Heritage List or not.

On behalf of the Minister of Arts and Culture, Oyono recalled that Cameroon has been a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS since 2000.

The minister’s representative also recalled that: “The issue of the impact of climate change on world heritage was brought to the attention of the World Heritage Committee in 2005, under the direction of UNESCO and Advisory Bodies such as ICOMOS”.

In 2020, Oyono said ICOMOS had declared the climate an ecological emergency. Till date, he noted that Climate Change is considered as one of the main threats to World Heritage properties.

The threats, he added, are likely to affect heritage symbols, their universal values, integrity, authenticity, and their potential for economic and social development.

This year’s edition of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, he further quipped, provided an opportunity for countries to present strategies to promote the preservation of tangible cultural heritage.

While underscoring the need for inclusive transition to a low-carbon future, Oyono said there is need for focus on the potential of research on climate-resilient path ways to preserving heritage sites.

He also called for the integration of traditional and historic conservation of heritage buildings and landscapes; valuing traditional knowledge, practices and cultural heritage as an integral part of the people.

Homage was paid to the Reunification Monument that has been in existence since 1972. This, Oyono said, is a symbol of the country’s march towards unity.

The Day was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, ICOMOS on April 18, 1982. It was approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983. It has as objective to preserve the diversity of the cultural heritage of humanity and the implementation of national and international policies for the protection of heritage.