Developing a novel Climate change Risk Assessment Framework for cultural heritage in Turkey (CRAFT)- Phase II
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
There are clear indications of shifts in climatic patterns all around the world and climate change is considered the greatest threat facing humanity and its cultural heritage. UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 aims to "take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact" where the first target is stated as "Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries". Furthermore, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is an integral part of social and economic development and is essential if development is to be sustainable for the future. The 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development recognises and reaffirms the urgent need to reduce the risk of disasters.
Flooding and landslides are one of the most destructive types of natural disasters in Turkey. Flood impacts in Turkey are felt severely in major cities of the country. Istanbul (the largest city in Turkey with 15 million inhabitants) and its UNESCO World Heritage historical areas have recently suffered from frequent floods as a result of intense rainfalls under a changing climate. The severe floods of August-September 2009 in the Marmara region of Turkey were categorised as an event greater than the 500-year return period. Many parts of the old city centre (Historic Peninsula) of Istanbul were flooded. The Historic peninsula also suffered from several major floods in December 2010, July 2017, February 2018 and August 2019. Heavy rains cause flooding events more frequently in recent years than in the past. The deadly 2019 floods, rainfall-triggered landslides, and the subsequent moisture problems have resulted in significant structural damages to cultural heritage; in particular Small HagiaSofia and Ahi Çelebi Mosque
The first phase of CRAFT addressed the urgent need for flooding and landslide susceptibility mapping of cultural heritage in Istanbul. We have identified 150 cultural heritage places in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul which could be endangered by hazards of floods and landslides. An index for damage assessment has been developed. We have recognised the inevitability of loss, where the impacts of climate and environmental change may lead to the conclusion that the conservation and perpetuation of some monuments are unsustainable. We have identified two issues that need to be addressed in order to develop an effective framework for assessing climate impact on cultural heritage in Istanbul: (1) efficient communication and interaction between the different stakeholders and government agencies (2) human activities magnify the risks of floods in Istanbul and there is a need to raise public awareness on cultural heritage and the associated risks.
Therefore, in the second stage of the project, we focus on two strands of activities: (1) raising public awareness and (2) creating "Istanbul Heritage Forum", a platform for the protection of the heritage aiming at extending the results of the project beyond the project timeline. The IHF will be formed by representatives of the local community, and institutions.
Flooding and landslides are one of the most destructive types of natural disasters in Turkey. Flood impacts in Turkey are felt severely in major cities of the country. Istanbul (the largest city in Turkey with 15 million inhabitants) and its UNESCO World Heritage historical areas have recently suffered from frequent floods as a result of intense rainfalls under a changing climate. The severe floods of August-September 2009 in the Marmara region of Turkey were categorised as an event greater than the 500-year return period. Many parts of the old city centre (Historic Peninsula) of Istanbul were flooded. The Historic peninsula also suffered from several major floods in December 2010, July 2017, February 2018 and August 2019. Heavy rains cause flooding events more frequently in recent years than in the past. The deadly 2019 floods, rainfall-triggered landslides, and the subsequent moisture problems have resulted in significant structural damages to cultural heritage; in particular Small HagiaSofia and Ahi Çelebi Mosque
The first phase of CRAFT addressed the urgent need for flooding and landslide susceptibility mapping of cultural heritage in Istanbul. We have identified 150 cultural heritage places in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul which could be endangered by hazards of floods and landslides. An index for damage assessment has been developed. We have recognised the inevitability of loss, where the impacts of climate and environmental change may lead to the conclusion that the conservation and perpetuation of some monuments are unsustainable. We have identified two issues that need to be addressed in order to develop an effective framework for assessing climate impact on cultural heritage in Istanbul: (1) efficient communication and interaction between the different stakeholders and government agencies (2) human activities magnify the risks of floods in Istanbul and there is a need to raise public awareness on cultural heritage and the associated risks.
Therefore, in the second stage of the project, we focus on two strands of activities: (1) raising public awareness and (2) creating "Istanbul Heritage Forum", a platform for the protection of the heritage aiming at extending the results of the project beyond the project timeline. The IHF will be formed by representatives of the local community, and institutions.
Organisations
- Durham University (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (Collaboration)
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (Collaboration)
- Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (Collaboration)
- Middle East Technical University (Collaboration)
- Autonomous University of Madrid (Collaboration)
| Description | A vulnerability assessment concept has been developed for the cultural and historical assets of Istanbul. The model is built upon a vulnerability index, giving insight into the potential loss that heritage assets can face. This model was developed in a fashion that can be replicated or adapted for other cultural heritage sites in Turkey. CRAFT project has identified 150 cultural heritage places in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul which could be endangered by hazards of floods and landslides. An index for damage assessment has been developed. We will recognise the inevitability of loss, where the impacts of climate and environmental change may lead to the conclusion that the conservation and perpetuation of some monuments are unsustainable. CRAFT project found that there is evidence of the change in rainfall patterns and climatic events. However, there is a disproportional increase in flood events and flood-related damage in Istanbul's cultural heritage sites due to several human-related activities: (1) Continuous re-paving of the pavements and the roads resulted in making several cultural heritage sites fall below the level of the surrounding roads (2) Increasing impervious made-made surfaces surrounding historical sites, Ageing, poorly maintained drainage systems and lack of green infrastructure. (3) There are deficiencies in city planning and enforcement laws related to construction activities in historical sites. CRAFT project has identified a number of issues that need to be addressed in order to develop an effective framework for assessing climate impact on cultural heritage in Istanbul: • There is a difficulty in data collection as government agencies and local authorities have poor data collection and archiving systems. • There is an urgent need to improve communications and interaction between the different stakeholders and government agencies (particularly between National Disaster risk managers and Cultural Heritage managers). • As explained above, human activities magnify the risks of floods in Istanbul and there is a need to raise public awareness on cultural heritage and the associated risks. CRAFT has created a platform, "Istanbul Heritage forum", that involves local actors (communities, NGOs, institutions, cultural and education agencies) to tackle participatory conservation decision-making process, to collectively re-define values of heritage, to develop resilience measures against climate change, and to plan communication awareness-raising actions so as to extend the results of the project beyond the end date of the project. Partners in this forum includes Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage Division Cooperation and the Turkish Disaster Management Presidency (AFAD). |
| Exploitation Route | A vulnerability assessment concept has been developed for the cultural and historical assets of Istanbul. The model is built upon a vulnerability index, giving insight into the potential loss that heritage assets can face. This model was developed in a fashion that can be replicated or adapted for other cultural heritage sites in Turkey. CRAFT project has identified 150 cultural heritage places in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul which could be endangered by hazards of floods and landslides. An index for damage assessment has been developed. We will recognise the inevitability of loss, where the impacts of climate and environmental change may lead to the conclusion that the conservation and perpetuation of some monuments are unsustainable. CRAFT project found that there is evidence of the change in rainfall patterns and climatic events. However, there is a disproportional increase in flood events and flood-related damage in Istanbul's cultural heritage sites due to several human-related activities: (1) Continuous re-paving of the pavements and the roads resulted in making several cultural heritage sites fall below the level of the surrounding roads (2) Increasing impervious made-made surfaces surrounding historical sites, Ageing, poorly maintained drainage systems and lack of green infrastructure. (3) There are deficiencies in city planning and enforcement laws related to construction activities in historical sites. CRAFT project has identified a number of issues that need to be addressed in order to develop an effective framework for assessing climate impact on cultural heritage in Istanbul: • There is a difficulty in data collection as government agencies and local authorities have poor data collection and archiving systems. • There is an urgent need to improve communications and interaction between the different stakeholders and government agencies (particularly between National Disaster risk managers and Cultural Heritage managers). • As explained above, human activities magnify the risks of floods in Istanbul and there is a need to raise public awareness on cultural heritage and the associated risks. CRAFT has created a platform, "Istanbul Heritage forum", that involves local actors (communities, NGOs, institutions, cultural and education agencies) to tackle participatory conservation decision-making process, to collectively re-define values of heritage, to develop resilience measures against climate change, and to plan communication awareness-raising actions so as to extend the results of the project beyond the end date of the project. Partners in this forum include the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage Division Cooperation and the Turkish Disaster Management Presidency (AFAD). |
| Sectors | Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | A vulnerability assessment framework has been devised for Istanbul's cultural and historical assets. This model is founded on a vulnerability index, shedding light on the potential risks faced by heritage assets. The CRAFT project has meticulously identified 150 cultural heritage sites within the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul that are susceptible to hazards like floods and landslides. Additionally, an index for damage assessment has been meticulously crafted. Consequently, the CRAFT project has contributed valuable insights, enabling the formulation of policy documents that acknowledge the concept of potential loss. In collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Heritage Division and AFAD- the Turkish National Disaster Presidency, CRAFT project has established the "Istanbul Heritage Forum", that involves local actors (communities, NGOs, institutions, cultural and education agencies) to tackle participatory conservation decision-making process, to collectively re-define values of heritage, to develop resilience measures against climate change, and to plan communication awareness-raising actions so as to extend the results of the project beyond the end date of the project. CRAFT has organised an influenced training for early career researchers and professionals on assessment of cultural heritage under flood and landslide risk due to climate change. The training has attracted 66 participants from 31 countries across the world (we have participants from Africa, Europe, Asia, South America and North America). Among the participants, there are 25 PhD students. A survey was conducted, and the majority of the attendees reported a change in concepts and awareness of the impact of climate change on cultural heritage. CRAFT has organised a knowledge transfer workshop in Istanbul, which has attracted a wide range of participants from academia, government agencies and NGOs. This workshop has detailed plans for open-source data sharing is crucial for addressing the impact of climate changes on cultural heritage. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Description | CRAFT II online training course |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The majority of the training attendees reported a change of knowledge and gaining new skills to tackle the impact of climate change. |
| URL | https://yildiz-edu-tr.zoom.us/rec/play/uyR_GdlBhMktb2mMLjnmKsQWXXuahVU4XV8i5jNTzd6vzf5hbLGeEBAbDdPAQ... |
| Description | Heritage as Narratives of Climate-Change |
| Organisation | Autonomous University of Madrid |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge exchange and sharing of CRAFT project findings |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge exchange and share of knowledge and findings from research projects led by the partners |
| Impact | The partners formed a consortium that won about 0.9M Euros from Belmont Forum- Climate and Cultural Heritage scheme |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Heritage as Narratives of Climate-Change |
| Organisation | Middle East Technical University |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge exchange and sharing of CRAFT project findings |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge exchange and share of knowledge and findings from research projects led by the partners |
| Impact | The partners formed a consortium that won about 0.9M Euros from Belmont Forum- Climate and Cultural Heritage scheme |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Heritage as Narratives of Climate-Change |
| Organisation | University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge exchange and sharing of CRAFT project findings |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge exchange and share of knowledge and findings from research projects led by the partners |
| Impact | The partners formed a consortium that won about 0.9M Euros from Belmont Forum- Climate and Cultural Heritage scheme |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Istanbul Heritage Forum partners |
| Organisation | Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The CRAF team share knowledge and research results with the partners of the Istanbul Heritage Forum. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators share data and exchange knowledge on current policies and practices. The partners also give the project team the necessary permissions to carry out their research. |
| Impact | Speakers from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality have contributed to the training course and the workshop organised by the project. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Istanbul Heritage Forum partners |
| Organisation | Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The CRAF team share knowledge and research results with the partners of the Istanbul Heritage Forum. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborators share data and exchange knowledge on current policies and practices. The partners also give the project team the necessary permissions to carry out their research. |
| Impact | Speakers from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality have contributed to the training course and the workshop organised by the project. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | CLIMATE CHANGE & CULTURAL HERITAGE WORKSHOP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CRAFT project has organised a workshop on 3 February 2024 at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul. The workshop attracted 52 Participants from government agencies, academia, NGOs, and sectors related to cultural heritage. Question-answer and Discussion sessions were held to develop interaction and communication among the participants and the speakers and to share experiences. The workshop launched the Istanbul Heritage Forum as a platform for data sharing and knowledge transfer on policies and practices of cultural heritage and climate change in Turkey. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Role of Cultural Heritage in Confronting the Climate Crisis and Environmental Disasters |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We have participated in the People's Palace Projects online webinars. These online conversations explored the subject "The Role of Cultural Heritage in Confronting the Climate Crisis and Environmental Disasters". The webinar series was an opportunity to share research methodologies on climate and cultural heritage from different parts of the world. Our webinar (23 May 2023) has attracted 127 participants, mostly from Brazil and South America. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0EcXeKgihA&ab_channel=People%27sPalaceProjects |
| Description | Workshop at the Academy of Sciences-Vienna |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Knowledge and experience of the CRAFT project were shared at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna from 15th-16th December 2023 at an archaeological workshop on "Early Medieval Irrigation Systems in the Kathmandu Valley: Evaluating the Past for the Future". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.oeaw.ac.at/fileadmin/Institute/IKGA/PDF/events/Irrigation_systems_Kathmandu_-_workshop_p... |