Globalization, cheap lemons and the crumbling away of a world heritage site

Globalization and production outsourcing have been blamed for many woes - Donald J. Trump's recent attacks on China being a classic of the genre - but I've never seen a story this week linking cheap foreign fruit to the possible destruction of one of the world's most iconic world heritage sites.

The Amalfi Coast, located in southern Italy in the Province of Salerno, was inscribed on UNESCO's world heritage list in 1997. With its picturesque villages and dramatic landscape, the region has long been a favourite destination for both Italian and foreign tourists.

Amalfi Coast (photo credit: Gilbert Bochenek

However, leading geologists have reportedly issued a warning that the coastal zone is at risk of crumbling into the sea. The problem is that the region's lemon farmers, who have built and maintained a system of stone retaining walls known as "lemon terraces" over hundreds of years, are abandoning their groves as lemon cultivation becomes a losing proposition in the face of cheaper lemons grown abroad.

The impact, according to geologists, is a mounting risk of landslides, and with it the natural beauty on which the region's world heritage designation and associated tourism depends.

Lemon orchard, Amalfi Coast (photo credit: Jensens)

Without wishing to romanticize what is undoubtedly back-breaking and sometimes dangerous work, it is sad to think that traditional lemon farming on the Amalfi Coast is disappearing, and with it the distinct character, history and perhaps even the physical landscape of a uniquely beautiful region.

Combatting "heritage pollution" in UNESCO-designated Valleta, capital of Malta

In a delightful turn of phrase, media are reporting this week that "heritage pollution" obscuring views of historic fortifications in Valleta, capital of Malta and world heritage site since 1980, will be removed. The "pollution" in question are billboards erected by the country's two main political parties.

City of Valleta (photo credit: Lleonidas)

 

While the commitment to remove the billboards is certain to be welcomed by tourists wishing to take unobstructed photos of the city's famous walls and bastions, it also underscores the power of social media in mobilizing public opinion in support of heritage promotion and preservation.

Heritage activists square off against former Georgian prime minister over hotel development in Tbilisi

A well-connected developer gets approval to build a fancy new shopping or hotel complex in an historically significant neighbourhood, prompting an angry response from heritage activists.

While this scenario will be familiar to anyone following recent news in Liverpool and Edinburgh, a more unlikely front in the battle between developers and conservationists has opened up in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.

Approximately 400 activities reportedly gathered in Tbilisi's central square this weekend to demonstrate against the construction of a USD500 million hotel complex on the edge of the Old City. The development is being spearheaded by a company controlled by former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Tbilisi Historic District (credit: Dmitry Gerasimov*)

While the authorities claim that the development will promote tourism in Tbilisi, heritage activists counter that the development is ecologically unsustainable and will alter the character of the area to such an extent that it will effectively sink Georgia's longstanding bid - dating from 2007 - to have the historic district of Tbilisi recognized as a world heritage site.

While only time will tell whether the coalition fighting the development is successful in its effort to stop it, the conflict is already taking on a political dimension with questions being raised by the main opposition party regarding the appointment of some of Mr. Ivanishvili's former cronies at Tbilisi City Hall, where they may now be in a conflict of interest with respect to the approval process for the planned development.

* https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=450747

Italy caps visitors to Cinque Terre in a victory for local residents

Designated a world heritage site in 1997, the stretch of coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere in Italy's Liguria Region has some of the world's most picturesque villages and most striking landscape.

However, as reported on this blog last October, the region's beauty has proven something of a curse for the local population, as tourist numbers have skyrocketed following the establishment of a cruise ship terminal nearby.

Cinque Terre, Liguria (credit: Idéfix-commonswiki)

In a victory for those opposed to mass tourism in Cinque Terre, Italian authorities have announced this week that that they will limit visitors to the area through a ticketing system that will stop access to the area once a pre-defined maximum has been reached. In doing so, authorities hope to reduce the number of visitors from 2.5 million last year to 1.5 million in 2016.

I expect community groups adversely affected by mass tourism elsewhere will be watching this initiative this with interest.

Is a UNESCO world heritage site causing a "dead zone" in the Irish countryside?

The complicated interplay between the preservation and protection of cultural heritage on the one hand and the priorities of local communities on the other was brought to light this week in the Republic of Ireland. Fifty kilometres north of Dublin sits the largest and most important concentration of prehistoric megalithic art in Europe. Brú na Bóinne, or the Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne, which was inscribed as a world heritage site in 1993.

Brú na Bóinne (credit:Pasztilla at Hungarian Wikipedia)

Today, some local residents are complaining about what they consider to be a heavy-handed approach by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, resulting in a highly restrictive approach to the granting of new building permits. While talk of these restrictions leading to the creation of "dead zones" in the countryside sounds alarmist, the issue highlights the recurring challenge of securing - and sustaining - buy-in on the part of those living near a world heritage site.

Rock art at Brú na Bóinne (credit: Barbara and Eugenio)

Often framed as a problem that is particularly acute in poorer countries - where local populations may be marginalized or even forcibly displaced as a result of a heritage designation, the problem can arouse equally strong emotions in a rich world context, as we are seeing here.

The challenge, as always, is to chart a course whch takes into account the legitimate concerns of local populations whose goodwill can help significantly in managing and protecting a world heritage site, while ensuring that the broader public interest in preserving heritage for future generations is maintained.

World heritage status for the Belgian traffic jam?

Such is the cachet of the UNESCO World Heritage List that campaigners and marketers seem find its use irresistible to draw attention to their pet project.

Perhaps inspired by last month's Facebook campaign to register an overturned van in Cornwall inscribed as a world heritage site, Belgian ad agency Air has launched a marketing campaign for Belgian Rail premised on a tongue-in-cheek petition to give world heritage status to the Belgian traffic jam. Certainly, the case for such a designation appears strong: Brussels and Antwerp reportedly have the worst traffic anywhere in Europe or North America, topping even notoriously traffic-choked Los Angeles.

Whether or not the mock campaign succeeds in getting more people out of their cars and onto Belgian Rail remains to be seen, but at a a minimum it helps to reinforce the profile of UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre.

Defeat for heritage campaigners in Liverpool

While heritage campaigners have chalked up a number of victories in the United Kingdom in recent years, Liverpool was the site of a defeat this week as the High Court ruled against those seeking to halt a major commercial development project on the Eastside of Lime Street, part of a world heritage site that comprises the city's historic centre and docklands.

SAVE Britain's Heritage, spearheading the fight against the development, which includes a new hotel, shops, restaurants and a student residence, remains committed in its opposition, indicating that it will appeal the ruling to save historic buildings on Lime Street that are slated for demolition.

As is often the case in conflicts over commercial development in heritage districts, the challenge lies in preserving the traditional character and historical integrity of an area without stunting the dynamism that can come with responsible commercial development.

Newly restored buildings opened to the public at Pompei

As reported previously on this blog, the famed Roman archaeological site at Pompei has been focus of a major restoration project over the past three years which has not exactly proceeded according to plan.

However, Italian authorities had something celebrate this week with the unveiling of six newly restored buildings at Pompei. The buildings, which include bathhouses and intricate mosaics, were opened to the public on Christmas Eve. A slideshow featuring photos of one of the buildings, the luxurious Fullonica Stephanus Domus, have been posted here by CNN.

Already one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy, Pompei is likely to attract even more visitors in the coming months thanks to the tangible results being achieved through the restoration process.

Hadrian's Wall: Roman limes and refugee camps

Having become fascinated with Roman Britain as a child reader of Rosemary Sutcliff's historical fiction (including her excellent book Eagle of the Ninth, which was recently resurrected as a passable Hollywood blockbuster), Hadrian's Wall was high on my destination list when visiting Northern England in the early 1990s. I was not disappointed.

Built on the order of Emperor Hadrian in 122 CE, the wall marked the northern limit of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years. As both an engineering feat and embodiment of the might of one of the word's first superpowers, Hadrian's Wall was deservedly inscribed as a world heritage site in 1987.

Today, Hadrian's Wall continues to be the focus of archaeological excavation and study. In a remarkable parallel with the challenges facing contemporary Europe, archaeological discoveries in the vicinity of the Wall include a "refugeecamp" near a Roman fort thought to have housed hundreds of families that were regarded as traitors and collaborators in the eyes of tribes rebelling against Roman rule in the early 2nd century CE.

Promoting tourism in Ireland via the latest Star Wars blockbuster

As the Hollywood marketing machine floods every available social medium in an effort to promote its latest Star Wars offering, Irish tourism authorities seem to be finding the urge to capitalize on the hype irresistible.

With the opening of the film just a day away, Skellig Michael - a world heritage site on an island off the Irish coast - is being promoted as the location of a "key scene" in the movie. The excitement has even reached the halls of the Irish parliament, where Minister for the Arts Heather Humphrey is reportedly "looking forward to seeing how Sceilg Mhichíl will feature on the big screen."

While the attempt to promote tourism via a Hollywood blockbuster is nothing new, the risk - as always - is to do so in a respectful and sustainable manner, given the environmental sensitivity of sites like Skellig Michael.

World heritage site in Kyiv becomes the latest battleground in the Ukraine-Russia conflict

In the face of continuing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the latest flashpoint is far from the battlefields of Donetsk but no less symbolic to both sides in the conflict.

The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, a world heritage site consisting of an ensemble of monastic buildings dating back to the 11th century near the banks of the Dnieper River, is in the middle of a tug of war between the Kyiv and Moscow Patriarchates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Broadly representing the two principal communities in Ukraine's divided society, the Patriarchates are at odds on other issues as well, although this conflict is likely to be particularly divisive.

While the Kyiv Patriarchate has reportedly collected more than 10,000 signatures in favour of transferring control over the site, not surprisingly the Moscow Patriarchate is strongly opposed, likening the move to the clampdown on religious activities during the Soviet period.

At this stage the prospects for a compromise do not look promising.

Commercialism and conservation go head-to-head in Florence

If more proof were needed of the fine line between politics and cultural heritage, one need look no further than the furore that has erupted in Florence following the receet disclosure of a letter sent by UNESCO to Italian authorities. Echoing concerns that have already been voiced locally for some time, the letter raised concerns regarding the sale of historical palaces, the impact of large-scale infrastructure projects, including a high-speed train, and the lack of a tourism strategy for one Italy's most picturesque cities.

While it is difficult anywhere to get the balance right between preservation on the one hand and commerce on the other, unfortunately the lure of unbridled commercialism is particularly hard to resist where massive tourist volumes provide the temptation of easy money to individuals and businesses alike.

Cause(way) for celebration in Northern Ireland

In what the Belfast Telegraph is calling a "gigantic accolade", the Giant's Causeway, a unique volcanic formation and world heritage site on the edge of Northern Ireland's Antrim plateau, has been named the United Kingdom's best heritage attraction, according to the British Travel Awards.

The awards are determined by consumer polling, which makes the win all the more impressive given that the UK boasts many well-known historical sites. Apparently other short-listed contenders included the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall and Stirling and Edinburgh Castles in Scotland.

And for anyone interested in knowing the Giant's Causeway got its name, you will the story of Irish Giant Fionn MacCumhain here.

Impact of Paris terrorist attacks and their aftermath on Brussels' Grande Place

As reported by London's Telegraph newspaper, La Grande Place in Brussels, a world heritage site and Belgium's most iconic attraction, was left "largely deserted" this week after attacks by Islamist militants in Paris and subsequent warnings regarding an "imminent threat" to the Belgian capital.

For those who would prefer to have La Grande Place to themselves, this may be an opportune time to visit Brussels, as memories are short and I expect the crowds will soon be back, much to local merchants' relief I'm sure!

Bold claims of a new underground city discovered in Turkey's Cappadocia region

Tureky's Hürriyet Daily News has reported this week on bold claims by Mr. Hasan Ünver, Mayor of Nevşehir, a city near Göreme National Park famed for its volcanic landscape . The area, inscribed as a world heritage site since 1985, boasts hundreds of man-made caves carved into the soft volcanic rock dating back to the early Christian period.

While these caves were generally used for storage and temporary shelter from marauders, Mr. Ünver is claiming that the discovery of a previously unknown underground city near Nevşehir fortress whose residents lived there permanent will "rewrite" the history of Cappadocia

The mayor indicated that plans are being made for the opening of the first part of the underground city in 2017, with excavations being undertaken under the direction of the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

James Bond: Chief marketer for VisitBritain

With marketing for the latest instalment of the James Bond franchise - Spectre - in high gear, I learned a new turn of phrase today: "set-jetting." Used by news portal India Today to describe those whose idea of a holiday is travelling to popular film sets, Spectre offers a seemingly not-to-be-missed opportunity for VisitBritain to market the country to film fans. 

Front and centre of course is world heritage site Blenheim Palace, built in the 18th century for the first Duke of Marlborough, and in the film doubling as the Palazzo Cadenza in Italy.

A novel concept: offering "asylum" to IS-threatened artwork

In what may have seemed a good idea to his speechwriter, French President François Hollande failed - in my view - to show good form in offering to grant "asylum" to antiquities being trafficked out of Syria and Iraq by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

At a time when Europe is facing its greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War and the far right is seeking to galvanize public opinion against Syrians fleeing their country's civil war, Mr. Holland could have chosen a different metaphor at a speech this week to UNESCO's general conference. That being said, France's commitment to reinforce action against trafficked antiquities is welcome, and hopefully French authorities will do all that they promise.

Living near a world heritage site in the UK pays dividends

Pity those who live near a famous landmark: constant tour bus traffic, blocked driveways, gawking tourists, etc. However, there may be a silver lining, at least if you are living in the United Kingdom. As reported this week by Zoopla, a real estate website, UK properties near a world heritage are valued 27 percent more on average than comparable properties elsewhere.

Zoopla's research also found that property values increase the longer an area has enjoyed world heritage status. Thus, homes located close to the first ten sites in the UK to be inscribed as world heritage sites, including Bath, Stonehenge and Blenheim Palace, enjoy an average property value of £424,873 (USD644.936), compared with just £274,611 (USD416,846) for sites inscribed since 2000.

Although real estate is already beyond the means of many in the UK, a takeway from this study is that anyone with a few hundred thousands pounds to spare should be keeping an eye on the UK's tentative list of properties being considered for world heritage status. Buy now and you might enjoy a windfall in years to come!

Kosovo does not (quite) make the cut for UNESCO membership

As reported on this blog last month, Kosovo has been assiduously pursuing UNESCO membership in recent months in the face of stiff Serbian resistance. However, its efforts were not enough to garner sufficient support at the Agency's general assembly in Paris this week, and its bid fell just 3 votes shy of the 95 needed for recognition.

Serbia's opposition focussed on Kosovo's alleged failure to protect Serbian cultural and religious sites, including four UNESCO world heritage sites.

With the New York Times reporting "quiet sadness in the streets of Pristina", observers expect that Kosovo will make another attempt at membership at UNESCO's next general assembly.

Mont-Saint-Michel regains its island status

Mont-Saint-Michel, a Benedictine abbey established in the 11th century in a bay off France's Normandy coast, has - according to Fox News - officially become an island again upon the completion of a decade-long project to replace an longstanding artificial causeway with a bridge.

While this may result in some inconvenience for the 2.5 million tourists who visit the Abbey each year, the bridge will allow water to flow freely around the world heritage site and help remove the sand infilling the bay. I'm sure the site will be all the more impressive without dozens of tour buses trundling up to the base of the Abbey every day.