As part of the Indian Historic Cities Series 2025, Our Cities Speak featured a keynote on Busan, South Korea, examining how civil society participates in heritage-making and World Heritage nomination processes. The lecture highlights why community involvement is critical to shaping credible narratives and sustaining long-term heritage protection.

Proceedings of a public event held in Florence in November 2022, bringing together local authorities, civil society, and heritage experts to reflect on governance, community engagement, and challenges facing the World Heritage Convention.

People travel great distances to experience historic places—while enjoying the comforts that make a true holiday. And in turn, countless livelihoods depend on tourism. But what happens when tourism begins to reshape the very values and history of a place? What if it goes so far that it affects the core of its being?

In 2023, Future for Religious Heritage (FRH) established the Young Professionals and Researchers Working Group (YPWG) to give emerging experts a stronger voice and better opportunities. Meetalie Gupta, one of the YPWG members, reflects on what the group has accomplished so far and where it is heading next.

The conference “A Future for Whose Past?” at Monte Verità explored how World Heritage can better represent minorities, communities, and overlooked groups. Organized by ETH Zurich, EPFL, ICOMOS Switzerland, and partners, it called for more inclusive heritage policies, community consultation, and recognition of diverse identities in global conservation practices.

Following the adoption of UNESCO’s 2023 Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage, German experts, site managers, and institutional partners explored concrete actions for safeguarding cultural and natural World Heritage in the face of the climate crisis.

Amid the construction of yet another airport in central Crete, a large and unique archaeological site was uncovered at the very top of Papoura Hill, in Pediada region. Now, the Citizens’ Committee for the Protection of Papoura is fighting to preserve both the monument and the centuries-long relationship between people and their lands.