Experts attend 'Facing Change: Jordan 2024' to protect cultural heritage

AMMAN — The MENA region faces several challenges that directly impact its rich cultural heritage, from the ongoing military conflicts and climate change to the urban development and vandalism.

The Petra National Trust (PNT) collaborated with the British Council, the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) and the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) to organise an international conference titled "Facing Change: Jordan 2024", held in Amman this week. 

The goal of the conference is to promote partnership and knowledge dissemination about the cultural sites between Jordanian and international experts and stakeholders. 

Around 130 experts from 20 countries are taking part in the conference, which provides an opportunity for a constructive dialogue about the best practices in the preservation and protection of the cultural and natural heritage, and to address many current questions.

In her opening speech HRH Princess Dana Firas, president of the PNT and UNESCO Jordan ambassador for cultural heritage, said: "We, at the Petra National Trust, are excited to host 'Facing Change' in Jordan this year."

Princess Dana added: "It is an opportunity to showcase the work that we have been doing to build community resilience and preserve heritage sites facing climate risks. We meet during a difficult time in our region, where the war on Gaza has devastated Palestinian heritage and taken numerous innocent lives."

"We hope to learn and share experiences with participants from throughout the world and are grateful to our partners the INTO, the CPF and the British Council for their support,” she noted. 

This conference is "significant" for the INTO because it connects everyone working at the interface between heritage and learning, networking and gaining inspiration from like-minded people, underlined Secretary General of the INTO Catherina Leonard, noting that together they can become a movement of people who care about nature and culture, and are inspired to celebrate and protect it.

On behalf of the CPF, Stephanie Grant said, "The Facing Change Conference will be an excellent opportunity for our Cultural Protection Fund grantees to meet with INTO members and other heritage professionals to exchange ideas and expertise. It is a privilege to work in partnership with the INTO and the PNT as we have the same mission to protect and celebrate heritage and make it accessible to all."

"We must work collaboratively to save the cultural heritage that is important to communities all over the world," Grant underscored.

The conference includes discussion panels and workshops as well as touring the PNT's headquarter Bait Yaish Cultural Club in Jabel Luweibdeh. Also, delegates will have the opportunity to visit Bait Jaghbeer in Salt as well as Petra.