18 February

• (in Spanish) Patrimonio tangible e intangible dos ópticas, un mismo reto
  El patrimonio inmaterial o intangible habita el universo de las personas, el universo de sus memorias individuales y colectivas. Las personas a su vez habitan el mundo que han ido construyendo y ordenando según la experiencia que han recibido y la que son capaces de crear, y lo pueblan de tradiciones; es decir, los seres humanos van creando su propio mundo, a imagen y semejanza de sus propios deseos, recuerdos y costumbres, en una sabia adaptación al medio natural.
  More information in Spanish: http://urbo.ovpm.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=4&pid=28

• The Pedestrian guidance system of Bamberg (Germany)
  The main aim of the pedestrian guidance system is to provide orientation assistance and information to pedestrians in Bamberg. Additionally the formerly unused and unknown attractions and sites for tourists are meant to be expanded and through this to disperse the stream of visitors from the most famous places of interest and main roads to other equally attractive sights and objects within the city. A comprehensive, integrated and clear construction of signage and guidance system provides a solution. The medieval city of Bamberg in southern Germany is a remarkable example of a European town with a basically early medieval structure. Numerous buildings from the 11th century up to the 18th century form a synthesis of medieval churches and baroque palace-like burgher houses. Some spectacular attractions are the cathedral, the Alte Hofhaltung (former imperial palace), the Böttinger Palace, the Old Town Hall and the old fishermen’s houses of "Little Venice".
  More information: http://urbo.ovpm.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=4&pid=44

• The Royal Route to the year 2013. Warsaw (Poland)
  The City of Warsaw and the Ministry of Culture have concluded an agreement over The Royal Route Project. The project involves 19 institutions along the Royal Route within the Scheduled Monument area. The key document to implement the project is "The Strategy of the National Tourist Product Development for the City of Warsaw The Royal Route to the year 2013".
  More information: http://urbo.ovpm.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=4&pid=23

• The difficult and perpetual conciliation between the residents, the business and the tourist: the case of City of Québec (Canada)
  Most world heritage cities are major tourist attractions. And tourism is expanding rapidly worldwide, even more so in the case of cultural tourism, which generates crowds that are sometimes disproportionate in these heritage environments that are often of limited sizes. Overwhelming tourism then becomes a problem and the detrimental effects are quickly felt not only by the residents, but also impacts the nature and the spirit of the place. This phenomenon has long been documented.
  More information: http://urbo.ovpm.org/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=4&pid=40

17 February

• Technical support to the Workshop on the Application of the Concept of Historic Urban Landscapes. Zanzibar (United Republic of Tanzania)
  This workshop was part of the series of meetings and consultations to each region of the world that were organized by the World Heritage Centre in the framework of the Initiative Historic Urban Landscapes (for the context, see bulletin n. 13). The CFU offered its technical support and took active part in the organization of the African workshop that took place in Zanzibar, from November 30th to December, 3rd 2009.
  More information in French: http://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-47-13.pdf

16 February

• Fire Safety Workshops in the Old City of Damascus
  Damascus - Syria, 15th of February 2010, A series of workshops on “Fire Safety in the Old City of Damascus” began on 14th February 2010 at 9:00 am in the Directorate of the Old City of Damascus located in the Palace of Culture (Maktab Anbar). The workshop series is organized in cooperation between the Damascus Governorate – Directorate of the Old City, the Syrian-German Program for Sustainable Urban Development (UDP) - Rehabilitation of Damascus Old City Project, and the German SES (Senior Experts Service) represented by the international fire safety expert Dr. Christoph Kunze. The idea for the workshop came out of the working experience of the Consultancy Unit of the Directorate of the Old City of Damascus, which discovered that fire is one of the main issues causing suffering to the resident of the old city. Therefore the directorate decided to invite a fire expert who can study the case of Old Damascus (houses, hotels and restaurant) fires, and provide the residents and investors with ways for fire protection and fire risk reduction...
  More information: http://www.udp-syria.org/

15 February

• Reinforcing the Association of French World Heritage Sites
  Since 1st January 2010, the association has had a permanent part-time employee for running the network of sites listed as a UNESCO World Heritage. Chloé Campo de Montauzon (campo@mission-valdeloire.fr) works as the association’s delegate-general for two days a week. For the rest of the week she will continue her duties as a technical advisor for the Val de Loire Mission.
  More information: http://www.valdeloire.org/front.aspx?SectionId=51&publiid=6246

• VITOUR Landscapes European project (2010-2012)
  This INTERREG IVc project (2010-2012) seeks to protect and enhance historic vineyards and involves 14 European vineyards that are listed as World Heritages. This follows on from the first European project (2005-2007). The expected results:
  • 1st stage: Transfer between UNESCO sites of successful initiatives regarding effective protection and innovative improvement of vine-growing cultural landscapes.
  • 2nd stage: Distribution of these good practices to the stakeholders, inhabitants and businesses of the listed sites.

  The Loire Valley is overseeing the “Good Practice Transfer Projects” section. Two of the 11 project seminars are set to take place in the Loire Valley. A steering committee first met from 2nd to 4th February 2010 in Cinqueterre (Italy) to launch the project.
  More information: http://www.valdeloire.org/front.aspx?SectionId=51&publiid=6175

• World Heritage: France recommends including the coal basin of Nord-Pas-de-Calais in the list
  This application concerns a “cultural landscape”, i.e. a key territory still marked by mining activity through the technical facilities (mine dumps, mine shafts, head frames, coal transportation and treatment equipment), residential areas (numerous workers’ estates with schools, community centres, churches and so on) and the lie of the land. With this application, France is asking UNESCO to ensure that this mining heritage is remembered. This now protected memory offers up a wealth of information on the history of techniques, architecture and habitat and on Man’s relationship with his environment.
  More information: http://www.valdeloire.org/front.aspx?SectionId=51&PubliId=6174

• Establishment of Category 2 Centres on World Heritage officially launched
  Two official signatures took place recently at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France to establish new Category 2 Centres dedicated to World Heritage preservation. The African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), to be established respectively in South Africa and Bahrain and operated under the auspices of UNESCO, are both dedicated to reinforcing the effective conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage and to improving the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in their respective States Parties.
  More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/586

• Damage evaluated at Machu Picchu after torrential rains
  In response to the recent impacts of torrential rains at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a technical visit of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre was carried out by Nuria Sanz, Chief of the Latin America and the Caribbean Unit, from 6-10 February in Lima, Peru. World Heritage Centre staff met with Ministers of Environment and Tourism, Directors of the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) and Servicio Nacional de Areas Protegidas de Perú (SERNANP), Civil defense organization INDECI and the National Institute of Geology, Mines and Metals, and Peruvian technicians and engineers working on the reconstruction of access points connecting Aguas Calientes and Santa Teresa.
  More information: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/587

12 February

• (in Italian) M9, nuovo centro culturale a Mestre di Pier Luigi Sacco. Venezia (Italia)
  Quando si pensa a Venezia come città culturale, ci si riferisce sempre e inevitabilmente alla città lagunare. E invece è importante ricordare che Venezia è fatta di tre ‘città’: quella che tutti conosciamo, ma anche Mestre e Marghera.
  Il progetto di M9 rappresenta un passo importantissimo per l’affermazione dell’identità culturale della ‘terraferma’ veneziana, e allo stesso tempo si propone come un esperimento ambizioso di elaborazione di un nuovo standard museale applicato ad un tema difficile e importante qual è quello del raccontare la storia del novecento.
  More information: http://www.tafter.it/2010/02/11/m9-nuovo-centro-culturale-a-mestre-di-pier-luigi-sacco/

10 February

• Construction of the World Heritage Information Centre. Salzstadl, Regensburg (Germany)
  With the goal of providing a contact point to residents, tourists and experts, the World Heritage City of Regensburg is currently constructing a new World Heritage Information Centre. One of Regensburg’s most significant buildings, the ‘Salzstadl’ (Historic Salt Storehouse), will provide the location and therefore be reconstructed and adapted to the Centre’s requirements. The main attraction will be a permanent exhibition; however to provide visitors a wide variety of information about World Heritage, the Centre will additionally offer areas for visitor groups and special presentations as well as an information point. This package will allow all guests to get informed about any topic relevant to World Heritage.
  More information: http://www.ovpm.org/index.php?module=ovpm&func=news&pid=78