Introduction       

        In 2023, the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITR-AP, Shanghai Center) launched the "World Heritage Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals" project (2023-2028). The overall goal of the project is to facilitate the understanding of the 2015 UNESCO Policy document for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Process of the World Heritage Convention and to create appropriate tools for heritage practitioners to streamline recommendations for the effective use of heritage as a driver for sustainable development, in line with the Regional Framework Action Plan for Asia and the Pacific developed based on the 3rd Periodic Reporting cycle. The project includes multiple activities, including the recognition of Good Practices from heritage practitioners on how heritage conservation and management contribute to sustainable development.

        The 2025 HeritAP Annual Meeting is organized around three main areas: (1) current international and national policies and actions that incorporate heritage into the Sustainable Development Goals; (2) announcement of the 2025 Good Practices in Prosperity & Livelihood; and (3) call for practices in 2026 focusing on “Knowledge & Skills”. WHITR-AP’s HeritAP’s Sustainable Development project will align with UNESCO’s Promoting Tangible-Intangible Synergies at UNESCO Designated Sites in Asia-Pacific project. An intended outcome for integrating both projects is the identification of cases that illustrate good practices in the sustainability dimensions and that exemplify avenues for bridging the artificial divide between tangible and intangible heritage, effectively creating synergies between UNESCO Conventions and priorities. These cases will serve to underpin the development of guidelines for streamlining sustainable development in heritage practices and for enhancing integrated approaches to tangible and intangible heritage. This presents a valuable opportunity for collaboration among Centers under the auspices of UNESCO in both tangible and intangible heritage fields. Future publications within the framework of this collaboration, including the selected good practice cases, will be broadly disseminated at international events.

Organizer
World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITR-AP)

Host
WHITR-AP Shanghai
Hangzhou Liangzhu Archaeological Site Administrative District Management Committee
Archaeological Heritage Management Committee of ICOMOS China

Co-organizer
ICOMOS China

Partners
UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia
International Centre on Space Technologies for Natural and Cultural Heritage under the auspices of UNESCO (HIST)
International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites under the auspices of UNESCO (WHIPIC)
International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (IRCI)
International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP)
International Research and Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP)

Support
Tongji University
Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning and Design Institute Co. Ltd.

Agenda
4 November

• Registration

5 November

• Policies and actions on the Sustainable Development Goals at the national and international levels
• “World Heritage Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals 2025: Prosperity and Livelihoods” — summary and presentation of good practices
• Synergies between tangible and intangible cultural heritage in sustainable development
• Call for “World Heritage Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals 2026: Knowledge and Skills”

6 November

• Field visit