ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Risk Preparedness
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| ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Risk Preparedness | |
|---|---|
| Name | ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Risk Preparedness |
| Formation | 2007 |
| Type | International non-governmental organization committee |
| Headquarters | Paris |
| Parent organization | International Council on Monuments and Sites |
ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Risk Preparedness The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Risk Preparedness (ISCRP) is a specialist committee within International Council on Monuments and Sites focused on hazards, resilience, and preparedness for cultural heritage sites. It coordinates expert knowledge on disaster risk reduction for built heritage across networks that include UNESCO, World Monuments Fund, ICCROM, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and national agencies such as English Heritage and ICOM. The committee brings together professionals from conservation, engineering, urban planning, archaeology, and emergency management to develop guidance used by practitioners at sites like Mont-Saint-Michel, Timbuktu, and Venice.
History
The committee was established in the wake of high-profile disasters that affected heritage, following precedents set by initiatives linked to UNESCO World Heritage Committee, European Cultural Routes, and post-disaster responses in Lisbon and Naples. Early membership included specialists associated with Getty Conservation Institute, University College London, Delft University of Technology, and La Sapienza University of Rome, reflecting cross-disciplinary engagement similar to collaborations seen in responses to the 1992 Erzincan earthquake, the 2003 Bam earthquake, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Throughout its history ISCRP has aligned with policy developments from Hyogo Framework for Action and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, adapting its remit as international heritage risk discourse evolved after events such as the Great Hanshin earthquake and floods in the Veneto.
Mandate and Objectives
ISCRP’s mandate mirrors the aims of International Council on Monuments and Sites and international agreements like the World Heritage Convention to safeguard cultural property from hazards. Objectives include developing risk assessment methodologies inspired by practices in ICOM, promoting capacity building through training modeled on programs from ICCROM and Getty Conservation Institute, and producing operational guidance consonant with standards from ISO and recommendations endorsed by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The committee prioritizes integration of heritage priorities into resilience strategies used by authorities in cities such as Istanbul, L’Aquila, and Kathmandu.
Organizational Structure and Membership
The committee operates under the governance framework of International Council on Monuments and Sites with an elected board, scientific advisers, and working groups similar to structures in ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism and ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Risk Preparedness (technical)-style bodies. Membership comprises conservators from institutions like Smithsonian Institution, engineers affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology and ETH Zurich, archaeologists linked to British Museum and Louvre, and legal scholars associated with Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. National committees such as ICOMOS USA, ICOMOS Australia, and ICOMOS India nominate experts, while partner organizations including UNDRR and European Commission engage in advisory roles.
Activities and Programs
ISCRP runs thematic workshops, emergency preparedness drills, and technical missions modeled after rapid assessment teams deployed by UNESCO and World Monuments Fund. Programs include training courses co-delivered with ICCROM and regional capacity initiatives resembling those by Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO and Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage. The committee develops toolkits for risk mapping used in contexts like Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Old Havana, organizes sessions at conferences such as ICOMOS General Assembly, World Heritage Committee sessions, and collaborates on pilot projects in earthquake-prone areas like San Francisco and flood-prone regions such as Bangkok.
Publications and Guidelines
ISCRP issues technical notes, guidelines, and case-study compilations analogous to publications from Getty Conservation Institute and ICCROM. Outputs include manuals on rapid post-disaster assessment similar in intent to UNESCO Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, risk preparedness frameworks influenced by the National Heritage Protection Plan models, and annotated checklists used in field responses at sites such as Pompeii and Aleppo. These publications are cited by heritage authorities, municipal planners, and emergency services in jurisdictions including Paris, Rome, and Beijing.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The committee maintains formal and informal partnerships with multilateral bodies and NGOs including UNESCO, ICCROM, UNDRR, European Commission, World Monuments Fund, and academic centers like Institute of Archaeology, University College London and École des Ponts ParisTech. Collaborative projects have linked ISCRP with governmental agencies such as Ministry of Culture (France), municipal heritage offices in Florence and Barcelona, and philanthropic funders active in conservation, following models used by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Ford Foundation.
Case Studies and Impact
Notable case studies demonstrating ISCRP influence include preparedness planning for flood risk at the Venice Lagoon informed by collaborations with Magistrato alle Acque di Venezia, seismic retrofitting guidance applied after the L’Aquila earthquake, and emergency response frameworks trialed in the aftermath of conflicts affecting Palmyra and Aleppo. The committee’s guidance has informed recovery strategies for the World Heritage Site of Bam and resilience planning in cities such as Lisbon and Istanbul, shaping policy uptake by entities like UNESCO World Heritage Centre and municipal conservation offices.