Publication: Guatemala Study on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Antigua Guatemala
Date
2019-06-17
ISSN
Published
2019-06-17
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
Natural events are recurrent.
Geophysical hazards such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions
cannot be predicted, but it is known that where they have
happened in the past, they will happen again. In the case of
hydro-meteorological hazards, frequency and intensity are
increased by the action of climate change. Guatemala is
located in one of the most hazard prone regions, threatened
by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, fires,
hurricanes, and floods. Additionally, other hazards such as
fires usually affect ancient structures, becoming one of the
main hazards to specific cultural heritage assets. However,
natural hazards only lead to disasters when its effects
negatively affect human life, and the consequences depend on
the vulnerability of the assets and population exposed to
these hazards. The concept and practice of Disaster Risk
Management (DRM), understood as a safe development strategy,
has evolved during the last decades from an approach focused
almost exclusively on disaster response, towards a broader
approach focused on risk understanding, prevention, and
reduction, without demeriting the importance of having
strong preparation and response systems. However, other
priorities generally relegate cultural heritage in the
agenda of local and national governments, and disaster risk
plans do not include heritage, leaving at risk areas,
buildings or other assets of high historical value. In this
regard, conducting risk assessments and establishing risk
mitigation and emergency preparedness measures is
fundamental. In case of emergency the priority is always to
save lives, but in a second moment, acting quickly on
cultural heritage is essential to preserve legacies that
could otherwise be lost forever.
Citation
“World Bank. 2019. Guatemala Study on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage; Guatemala Study on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage : The Case of Antigua Guatemala. © Washington, DC: World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/32013 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”