Two Birds with One Stone - What are the threats to heritage & How does tourism affect heritage.

 

Two Birds with One Stone…

We welcome our readers to this area of the post, that is, if you have read our previous posts, which may be important because some material from there is also talked about here. Now you may ask why name it ‘Two Birds with One Stone’, that is because this post will be tackling on two questions/sections. So, pack yourselves in as this is going to be a long one.

Nevertheless, before we do begin, it is necessary to make a contents' table specifically for this post, as all the topics are as interlinked as they thought they would be. So, the basic contents covered here are:

• What are the threats to heritage?
• How does tourism affect heritage?

As we move on from Section 2, which is a very small part of this blogpost. Let's move onto more stuff related with the UAE. These two sections are very much interlinked thus will talked about together. Going in order from Section 3 to then 4.

What are the threats to heritage?

The general answer that we would give is:-

There are several threats to heritage, including:

Development and urbanization: The pressure to build new structures and develop land can lead to the destruction of historic sites and neighbourhoods.

Climate change: Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and increased frequency of natural disasters can damage or destroy heritage sites and artefacts.

Melting of glaciers due to climate change. Picture form Wikimedia Commons

Lack of funding and resources: Heritage sites and buildings may not be properly maintained or preserved due to a lack of financial resources.

Neglect and vandalism: Heritage sites may be neglected and left to deteriorate, or may be vandalized by individuals who do not understand or appreciate their cultural significance.

Tourism: Overcrowding and overuse of heritage sites can lead to damage and erosion, and can also disrupt local communities.

Political instability: Wars, civil unrest and political upheavals can lead to damage and destruction of heritage sites and artefacts.

Misuse of heritage sites: Heritage sites may be used for commercial or other activities that are not in keeping with their original purpose, leading to damage and degradation of the site.

Invasive alien species: Invasive alien species can be species of plants or animals, or other organisms that are not native to a certain place. Whether they got there by accident—maybe through shipping and tourism—or they were deliberately introduced to that area as a temporary solution to a problem, they do not belong there, and they can be very harmful to our world’s natural heritage. Their presence in an ecosystem where they do not belong can disrupt the natural balance of the species native to that ecosystem, and can even lead to the extinction of the native species. Major examples of invasive species are the Galápagos Islands and Australia, both of which have unique biodiversity, thus species living there are not immune to other species which could be very harmful and is a very expensive issue to solve.

Common invasive species in the Adelaide Hills, Australia are: olive, artichoke thistle, fennel, and bamboo.

Building of infrastructure: As we construct more and more roads, dams, and buildings, we disrupt the natural balance of an ecosystem. This leads to habitat fragmentation, which has severe consequences on biodiversity by reducing the contact between populations of species. This makes it more difficult for the different species to survive in an environment that feels alien to them. These kinds of threats to biodiversity also come from the exploitation of natural resources—mining and gas and oil extraction.

Plastic pollution: Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of the marine environment. We’ve all seen images of plastics washed out on the shore, and fish swimming among plastics, and we are sure many of us have seen that heartbreaking video of the turtle with the plastic straw stuck in its nose. How sad is that?! And that’s not all! The damages continue when the plastic breaks down into microplastics, threatening the lives of the sea creatures ingesting those particles. Not only this, bioaccumulation of metals is also a threat to marine species, killing them because of them being present in toxic amounts.

Threats to heritage can also include physical deterioration of historic buildings and sites due to neglect or lack of maintenance, development, and urbanization pressures that lead to the destruction or alteration of heritage sites, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and storms, looting and theft of artefacts and cultural objects, and changes in social and cultural values that lead to the devaluation or disregard of heritage sites. Additionally, there are also threats related to climate change such as rising sea levels, increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, and changes in temperature and precipitation patterns that can have negative impacts on heritage sites. Furthermore, political and economic factors can also contribute to the destruction or alteration of heritage sites, such as war and conflict, and economic development projects that prioritize short-term gain over long-term preservation.

There is a whole organization dedicated by UNESCO's World Heritage Convention (WHC). The List of World Heritage in Danger is designed to inform the international community of conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to encourage corrective action.

At its 43rd session (in Baku, 2019), the World Heritage Committee recalled that the inscription of a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, aims to marshal international support to help the State Party effectively address the challenges faced by the property by engaging with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to develop a programme of corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the property, as provided for under Paragraph 183 of the Operational Guidelines. For this, they analysed the Ascertained and Potential Dangers for:

• Cultural Properties
• Natural Properties

Some cases of sites that are inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger include:

• Iranian city of Bam
  
  
  
  

  

  Bam and its Cultural Landscape: The property is located on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau, in Kerman Province, in south-eastern Iran, close to the Pakistan border. The origins of Bam can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries BC). Its heyday was from the 7th to 11th centuries, being at the crossroads of important trade routes and known for the production of silk and cotton garments.

  
  
• Historic Town of Zabid in Yemen
  
  
  
  

  

  Historic Town of Zabid: Zabid's domestic and military architecture and its urban plan make it an outstanding archaeological and historical site. Besides being the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century, the city played an important role in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university.

  
  
• The National Parks of Garamba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga, Virunga and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Since 1994, all five World Heritage sites of the DRC were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as a result of the impact of the war and civil conflicts in the Great Lakes region. In 1999, an international safeguarding campaign was launched by UNESCO together with a number of international conservation NGOs to protect the habitat of endangered species such as the mountain gorilla, the northern white rhino and the okapi. This resulted in a 4-year US$3.5 million emergency programme to save the five sites, funded by the United Nations Foundation and the Government of Belgium. In 2004, international donors, non-governmental organizations and the governments of Belgium and Japan pledged an additional US$50 million to help the Democratic Republic of the Congo rehabilitate these World Heritage parks.

So, What are the threats to heritage in the UAE. What is talked about below is from News articles and what the UAE has publicly talked about.

Some main threats to heritage in the UAE include:

• Urban development: As the country continues to modernize and grow, there is a risk that historic sites and buildings may be destroyed or demolished to make way for new development.
  
  
• Climate change: The UAE's hot and arid climate can cause damage to heritage sites and buildings over time, particularly if they are not properly maintained or protected.
  
  
• Neglect and lack of maintenance: Many historic sites and buildings in the UAE are not well-maintained and are at risk of falling into disrepair.
  
  
• Vandalism and looting: Some heritage sites and buildings may be at risk of vandalism or looting, particularly if they are not well-protected or monitored.
  
  
• Lack of awareness and understanding: Many people in the UAE may not fully understand the value and importance of heritage, which can lead to neglect or lack of protection.
  
  
• Preservation and restoration: The lack of qualified personnel and financial resources, along with the absence of a clear strategy to preserve and restore heritage sites, can lead to neglect or loss of heritage sites and buildings.
  
  
  

  

  Two Main Organisation involved in the preservation of heritage

  
  

In addition to the common threats to heritage such as development pressure, natural disasters, and lack of funding, the UAE also faces challenges related to rapid urbanization and modernizing the country to keep up with changing times. The pressure to build taller and more modern buildings can result in the demolition of historic sites and districts. The challenge lies in balancing the need for modernization with the importance of preserving the country's cultural heritage. The UAE government has been proactive in creating laws and regulations to protect heritage sites, but there still needs to be a concerted effort from both the government and society to ensure that the country's rich heritage is passed on to future generations.

The challenges to the natural environment today are immense. The UAE faces the impact of rapid development and the effects of climate change and global warming. Protection of environment and sustainable development are key topics which receive great attention from the UAE Government.

The UAE's rapid economic development made the country face serious environmental challenges that arise from the high pace of population growth, the increase in the demand for energy and water and the fast-paced urban development accompanied with high level of GHG and other emissions in the UAE.

According to the Living Planet Report 2010 by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the UAE was rated number one in the world for having the biggest ecological footprint. The ecological footprint is a measure of a country's sustainability that compares the use of natural resources per person per capita, which is expressed by a unit of bio-productive land called the 'global hectare' (gha).

Key environment threats in UAE include:

• Invasive species - are a key factor with negative effects on the UAE's biodiversity. Many species enter the region as a result of increase in commercial activity and through illicit trade in wild species. Some plants that can bear the high temperature and salinity have been admitted to the country to be used in the cultivation of forests and landscaping within cities, while other species have been admitted as personal possessions.
  
  Foreign species expect to cause serious consequences on wildlife, in particular, and the environment in general. There are many migratory species and wild animals that use certain areas of the country to spread from. These species include sea turtles, dugongs, birds of prey and sharks. These species, just like other wild animals, are exposed to various risks that threaten their existence.
  
  
  
  

  

  Bank myna, common myna, rock pigeon, house crow, alexandrine parakeet and rose ringed parakeet are listed as ‘invasive’ in the United Arab Emirates, indicating priority status in their management.

  
  
• Carbon footprints - On a per-capita basis, the UAE's energy, water and carbon footprints are amongst the highest in the world as the hot and dry climate requires a high amount of energy and import of many goods that cannot be produced in the country.
  
  
  

  

  CO2 Emissions in the United Arab Emirates averaged 75020 KT from 1960 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 201080 KT in 2016 and a record low of 11 KT in 1961. The chart is from Tradingeconomics.com

  
  
• Limited water sources - The UAE's natural freshwater sources are rare and limited to groundwater. The government is increasingly resorting to desalinated water, which has been produced using excess heat from electricity generation. This has caused impact on the marine environment from discharging highly concentrated seawater to the Arabian Gulf, etc.
  
  
• Overfishing - Marine life faces a number of threats such as over-fishing. Marine species including fish and coral are also increasingly affected by climate change. The UAE has been reliant on fisheries as main sources of diet but the stress on marine habitat is increasing. The UAE aquaculture Guide is great for more information.
  
  
  

  

  At least 13 species of fish have been harvested beyond sustainable levels and key species of fish like hamour (orange-spotted grouper), shaari (spangled emperor), farsh (painted sweetlips) and kanaad (Spanish mackerel) have been overexploited up to five times the sustainable limit.

  
  
• Waste generation - The UAE has one of the highest waste generation per capita globally, with much of it going to landfills. This has prompted the government to implement effective policies and create coordinated strategies to minimize negative environmental impact and protect biodiversity and ecosystems.
  
  
• Air pollution - Keeping the ambient air quality within required standards has been one of the main challenges to the environment authorities in the country. Pollution is largely affected by human activities, the emissions from fuel combustion for energy, water and transport and industrial activities.
  
  
• Land degradation and desertification - The rise in population and human activities that harm the quality of soil and land utilization systems contribute greatly to the increase in land degradation and desertification. The primary causes of desertification are drought and the over-utilization of natural resources. The growing pressure on natural resources, water supplies, and the takeover of arable land by urban development, combined with the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers and overgrazing, are causing the soil to deteriorate. Desertification, land degradation, and drought are global issues that affect the lives of millions and pose significant challenges to sustainable development. These problems exacerbate economic, social, and environmental issues such as poverty, poor health, food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, decreased resilience to climate change, and forced migration.
  

This marks the end of this Section but as this is getting pretty long, but it's important as it showcases what the UAE identifies the threats of heritage in the UAE. This was the report relased in April, 2022. It's name is 'Assessment of Natural Hazards Impact on Heritage Sites in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using Geographic Information System (GIS) done by Abdulla Salem Ahmed Saeed AlYammahi. You can read it here.

As we move on from Section 3, which was pretty large, let's move onto more stuff related with the UAE and heritag ein general. These two sections are very much interlinked thus will talked about together. Now we are going to be talking about Section 4.

How does tourism affect heritage?

Image from Wikimedia Commons

The general answer that we would give is:-

Tourism has a complex impact on heritage. On one hand, it provides a source of income and can help to preserve cultural heritage sites and buildings by creating a demand for their protection. This is particularly true in the case of designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are protected under international law and are a major draw for tourists. In some cases, tourism can provide funding for the preservation and maintenance of these sites, and can also bring jobs and economic benefits to the local community.

However, tourism can also have negative effects on heritage. Mass tourism can lead to overcrowding and overuse of heritage sites, leading to damage and degradation of the sites and their surroundings. In some cases, it can lead to the commercialization of cultural heritage sites, where their primary function is to attract tourists rather than serve as cultural or spiritual spaces. This can lead to the destruction of the unique cultural and historical elements that make these sites important.

Another problem is that tourists may not always be culturally sensitive or knowledgeable about the history and significance of the sites they visit, and may cause unintentional damage to the sites. This can lead to changes to the physical appearance of the sites, as well as erosion of their cultural and historical significance.

Moreover, uncontrolled or poorly managed tourism can lead to increased pollution, waste and traffic, as well as rising living costs for local residents, which can result in displacement of communities and a loss of heritage. This can also result in a loss of authenticity, which is an important aspect of cultural heritage sites.

Therefore, it is important to balance the benefits of tourism with the need to protect and preserve cultural heritage sites. This requires careful planning and management, as well as policies and strategies that prioritize the long-term protection of heritage and the sustainable development of tourism. The involvement of local communities and the development of eco-tourism are important steps in this direction.

We wuld like to showcse examples of this is in one place where we can see this problem with plastic pollution in Easter Island. A small island in the middle of the Pacific, far off the coast of Chile, Easter Island is the home of the famous moai statues. But because it is so famous and so many tourists visit the island to admire the moai, the island is now battling severe plastic pollution left behind by tourists visiting the island. If we create these problems, we also need to work on creating solutions for them.

So, what are effects of UAE's heritage is affected by tourism. What we talk about is mostly subjective, pointing our point of view on this situation.

Tourism can both positively and negatively affect heritage in the UAE. On one hand, tourism can help to preserve and promote heritage by providing financial resources and support for preservation efforts. For example, the revenue generated by tourism can be used to restore and maintain historic buildings, cultural sites, and other heritage landmarks. This can help to ensure that these important cultural and historical sites are preserved for future generations.

On the other hand, tourism can also have a negative impact on heritage in the UAE. For example, the growth of tourism can lead to overcrowding, which can cause damage to historic buildings and sites. Additionally, tourism can also lead to the commercialization of heritage sites, as they are turned into tourist attractions to generate revenue. This can result in the loss of authenticity and the erosion of cultural heritage, as the focus shifts from preserving cultural and historical sites to exploiting them for financial gain.

Furthermore, tourism can also have an impact on the local community, as the growth of tourism can result in gentrification and displacement, as well as increased pressure on local resources and services. This can lead to a loss of traditional lifestyles and cultural practices, as the focus shifts from preserving local heritage to serving the needs of tourists.

Overall, it is important to strike a balance between promoting tourism and preserving heritage in the UAE. This can be achieved by ensuring that tourism development is sustainable and respectful of cultural and historical sites, and by providing financial and institutional support for heritage preservation efforts. Additionally, it is important to engage the local community in the tourism development process and to provide them with benefits and opportunities that help to sustain their traditional lifestyles and cultural practices.

Small Task for you Readers! This graphic shows names of Dubai in UAE. Or we could say it is a map of Dubai, showcases places where you can live, spend leisure time such as adventuring or shopping. So our question is, what are the pros and cons of this?

There are a few more points that can be added to this as well. These points include:-

• Firstly, tourism can also lead to the homogenization of cultural heritage, as tourist-oriented developments often prioritize generic and universal experiences, rather than the unique cultural and historical character of the UAE. This can result in the loss of the authenticity and individuality of UAE's heritage, and can also lead to a decline in the overall cultural diversity of the region.
  
  
• Secondly, there is also a risk of exploitation and commercialization of traditional cultural practices and beliefs, as they are turned into tourist attractions or marketed as commodities to generate revenue. This can result in a loss of respect and appreciation for these cultural practices and beliefs, and can also lead to the commodification of cultural heritage.
  
  
• Additionally, the growth of tourism can also result in the displacement of traditional communities and the loss of their cultural heritage and identity. This can occur when communities are forced to move to make way for tourist developments, or when they are required to change their traditional lifestyles and cultural practices to accommodate tourists.

In conclusion, it is important to carefully manage and regulate tourism development in the UAE, to ensure that it supports and promotes the preservation of UAE's heritage, rather than threatening or erasing it. This can be achieved through the development of sustainable tourism policies and regulations, as well as through collaboration between tourism development and heritage preservation stakeholders.

There have been instances of UAE's heritage being negatively affected by tourism. They are direct incidents more like consequences of them.

For example, in recent years, there have been concerns about the rapid pace of development and modernization in the UAE, and its impact on the preservation of cultural and historical sites. In many cases, historic buildings and traditional neighborhoods have been demolished to make way for modern developments, leading to the loss of valuable cultural heritage.

Another example of UAE's heritage being affected by tourism is the commercialization of cultural practices and beliefs. This can be seen in the proliferation of traditional souks and markets that have been transformed into tourist-oriented shopping centers, and the exploitation of cultural festivals and events for commercial purposes.

Furthermore, the growth of tourism has also led to increased pressure on local resources and services, which can negatively impact the quality of life for residents, particularly those in traditional communities. This can result in the displacement of local residents and the loss of traditional lifestyles and cultural practices, which are an important part of UAE's heritage.

Overall, these examples demonstrate the importance of carefully managing and regulating tourism development in the UAE, to ensure that it supports and promotes the preservation of the country's heritage, rather than threatening or erasing it.

One of the main disadvantages of tourism is that culture gets mixed and/ or is not respected according to the cultural or religious standards that the host country follows. The above image is an example of that where respectful clothing is not worn as suggested by the dress code of UAE.

Although this is only one case. There are so many more that can be found oline, not only happening in the UAE but in every single country. Though, throughout the years, both the tourists and the government have come terms with tourists more respectful & the UAE more keen on displaying their Heritage and Culture more than ever. Examples of this are the efforts done by the UAE Government to preserve their heritage, which is further discussed in the next Section and as well as that in Section 2 as well.

The Abu Dhabi Register of Artisans and Abu Dhabi Crafts platform are helping Emirati craftspeople promote their works and develop skills. While the House of Artisans at Qasr Al Hosn has reopened. There are so many museums as well that showcase UAE's heritage as well.

I would like to end this section off, with a quote from Late H. H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan:-

"Our Ancestors left us a legacy of traditionn we are proud of. Our mission is to maintain and develop them as assets of the nation for future generations"

This marks the end of this secyion and the end of 'Two Birds with One Stone'. Although before we do end, a poster is attached below, made by Nahiyan, one of our members about these two topics. We hope it is informative. Now we have reached the end of this ssection, It marks the beginning of the final Section of this blogpost. See you there! If you did enjoy, don't forget to like, comment and share these posts.

The '(PDF, 3MB) was a mistake made by Nahiyan and unfortunately he has lost the orignal file, thus this mistake will live here forever on the Internet, till the end of time.

-NG