As an integral part of the 46th session properties Heritage Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India through its attached office the Archaeological Survey of India, will host the 6th World Heritage Site Managers' Forum on 'Heritage and communities: inclusive and effective approaches for the sustainable management of World Heritage properties'. The theme highlights the importance of collaborative and sustainable management practices with the following main topics:

• Understanding the achievements, challenges and opportunities of the World Heritage Convention

• Leveraging the role of communities at all levels of protection and management of World Heritage

• Enhancing capacities to manage change through resilience thinking and impact assessment in the context of World Heritage

• Strengthening sustainable tourism and development through effective management and heritage-based entrepreneurship

• Integrating innovative technologies for the conservation of World Heritage

• Fostering peer-learning and networking of site managers regionally and globally

Heritage and communities are inherently intertwined. The World Heritage Convention encourages community participation in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, urging State Parties to implement policies aimed at integrating the cultural and natural heritage into the community's life. As such, communities should actively engage in the decision-making, monitoring, and evaluation of World Heritage properties. Presently, there are 1,199 World Heritage sites across 168 countries, which hold significant potential to alleviate poverty and improve sustainable livelihoods, thereby enhancing local community well-being. The upcoming forum will serve as a platform to engage with communities and draw insights from successful frameworks where they contribute to managing World Heritage properties.

The World Heritage property of Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, will be used as case study during the working sessions, where participants will have the opportunity to learn about the management and structure the property in line with the Forum theme, topics, and resources.

For more information, please visit: Call for Applications to the 6th World Heritage Site Managers' Forum