Mainstreaming cultural heritage in disaster risk governance

Disaster risk management for cultural heritage is needed in the light of increasing vulnerability of cultural heritage to disasters due to natural as well as human induced hazards. However, this requires robust governance mechanisms at national as well as local levels both in the sectors of disaster risk management and cultural heritage conservation. The chapter will elaborate on the essential pre-requisites for achieving this, which include greater collaboration between agencies responsible for disaster risk management, cultural heritage conservation and development. It also calls for not just formalized institutional systems but also traditional governance systems that are rooted in local communities, necessitating community engagement in disaster risk management of cultural heritage. The chapter concludes by enumerating on the importance of good governance achieved through collaboration, transparency, accountability and social justice.