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Declaration
Declaration
of La Laguna.pdf (46.8 Kb)
Declaration of La Laguna
CONSIDERING THAT:
1 - Language is an essential heritage of man, since it
is the means to know the world as a repository of memory transmitted from
generation to generation. For that reason, the names of places are a cultural
heritage themselves and are inseparable from the places they refer to
and therefore they should be studied, understood and protected.
2 - Today, more than ever, the natural and cultural heritage of towns
is not only threatened by natural catastrophes, but what is worse, by
the lack of suitable management plans for their conservation. In this
sense, universities are essential to promote multidisciplinary research,
workshops and scientific publications. It is emphasized that these management
plans of natural and/or cultural sites should be based on ethical principles.
Thus, ethics, in this context, is the gratitude towards nature and the
founder ancestors of these privileged sites which will provide an ecological,
archaeological, historical and social balance.
3- The means for the conservation of those species in danger of extinction
shall be established, as their disappearance would imply the loss of a
valuable natural heritage. Thus, the protection of land and marine ecosystems,
and the biodiversity of flora and fauna shall be a priority through permanent
controls and environmental impact assessments. The biosphere reserves
should also serve as a crucial element to preserve the cultural and historical
heritage.
4 - In a globalized world, the concept of cultural diversity and creativity
should be the main concern. Universities should closely collaborate through
networks with the civil society and NGOs, by encouraging participation
mechanisms through training in heritage and environment, tending to the
transmission of the values of such heritage for future generations.
5- It is necessary to place special emphasis on the conservation of rural
and vernacular architecture, as the basis to understand a lifestyle, its
adaptation to the land, and traditional technologies. It is recommended
further research, inventory and assessment. It is also recommended to
keep in mind that this heritage should be included in the UNESCO World
Heritage List.
6 - Massive tourism should be controlled in heritage sites. Only through
planning we will manage not to unbalance the environment, which should
preserve intact its integrity.
Therefore, the collaborative work of universities with
tourist operators, entrepreneurs, and hotel managers, can offer services,
and accept conservation studies, plans and projects of the sites. Rural
tourism and ecotourism as a formula of development for local people cannot
be planned without taking into consideration the communities and their
needs to improve their quality of life. The exploitation of the natural
and cultural heritage that trivializes history, minimizes culture, falsifies
emotions and commercializes feelings and traditions, entails a loss of
authenticity and character of the sites.
7.- It is recommended to call the attention of the Member States so that
there is a coherence between the principles underlying their declarations
of heritage and the follow-up of their implementation and institutional
management through regulation plans that do not lose the spirit of the
original declarations.
8 - In the future, during the processes of declaration of a world heritage
property, it is recommended to define the inherent obligations to their
membership and ensure the follow-up and monitoring procedures of the goods
declared as world heritage.
9- University complexes, whether old or ex-novo, should have to establish
in the future a model of environmental management within the conception
of their architectonic, urban and landscape complexes, thus integrating
them within an inseparable unit. Therefore, they will become paradigmatic
models for the whole society, taking into account inherited designs as
well as the most recent creations.
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