Preserving and Sustainably Governing Cultural Heritage and Landscapes in European Coastal and Maritime Regions (PERICLES)

Abstract

PERICLES is an ongoing H2020 EU research project on European coastal and maritime cultural heritage and landscapes. PERICLES is only one of the most recent projects which has arisen from the European Union's recent focus-at all levels of institutions including the European Commission, and the European Parliament, in collaboration with such outside groups as UNESCO and the Council of Europe on cultural heritage, culminating in the European Year of Cultural Heritage-on cultural heritage. PERICLES is unique not only for its focus on coastal and maritime cultural heritage (CMCH), but also due to its focus on intangible as well as tangible heritage. Historically , the focus on heritage in Europe has been on tangible heritage-structures, buildings, boats, etc.-without much work conducted on the intangible. With that in mind, PERICLES researchers have put special emphasis on "the intangible," on coastal and maritime related skills and knowledge, such as stone fence building on islands, traditional boat building for unique coastal environments , language and songs, etc., to go hand in hand with our work on tangible heritage (ports, boats, etc.). The aim of PERICLES is to promote sustainable, par-ticipatory governance of cultural heritage in European coastal and maritime regions through its unique inter-disciplinary and geographically wide-ranging approach. The project combines expertise from the arts, humanities , social and natural sciences, as well as from heritage practitioners. The case regions are spread throughout Europe-from Estonia to Denmark and the Netherlands, to Scotland and Ireland, to France and Portugal, to Malta and the Aegean Sea. The project aims to develop a comprehensive framework to understand, preserve and utilize maritime cultural heritage for societal good. The PERICLES view is that cultural heritage provides a sense of place, unity, and belonging. Rooted in specific landscapes, seascapes, buildings, stories, traditions, language, and cultural practices, cultural heritage is a fundamental part of every society. It connects people to each other and to the past and helps guide the future. Like culture, cultural heritage is not static, but rather, is constantly evolving. Protection and advocacy for cultural heritage can strengthen identity and local society, thereby improving overall quality of life. Culture and heritage are essential in maintaining and building Europe's economic , social, cultural and natural capital. Realising the potential of cultural heritage in these terms can generate prosperity, bring new jobs, enhance communities and improve environments in ways comparable to Blue Growth initiatives. Yet coastal cultural landscapes face risks from climate change, pollution, urbanisation, mass tourism, demographic challenges in remote regions, the fundamental transformation of the European fishing industry, neglect, and inconsistent policies of sea and shore conservation across governance scales and between regions. We can see that great challenges are faced in the ongoing effort to sustainably govern cultural heritage in European coastal and maritime regions. In order to meet these challenges, PERICLES is: 1. developing an in-depth, situated understanding of the cultural heritage of marine and coastal land/seas-capes, including knowledge across local, spatial, environmental , social and economic aspects, the results of which are in press; 2. developing practical tools, based on stakeholder involvement and participatory governance, for mapping, assessing and mitigating risks to cultural heritage and to enhance sustainable growth and increase employment by harnessing cultural heritage assets; 3. providing policy advice to improve integration of cultural heritage in key marine and environmental poli