Atousa Momeni: Five Regional Projects to Safeguard Intangible Heritage on the Agenda

The Head of the Regional Research and Safeguarding Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia announced five regional projects in water resource management, food traditions, climate change, educational capacity-building, and traditional medical knowledge. He said Iran, chairing the center with the cooperation of 24 countries, is playing a role in strengthening intangible heritage safeguarding and the intergenerational transmission of indigenous knowledge.

According to Aria's Heritage Reporter, Atusa Momeni, explaining the status of intangible cultural heritage and the programs of the Regional Center for Research and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia, stated: Intangible heritage is the living manifestations of cultural heritage that is present in people's daily lives, from beliefs and beliefs to rituals, traditions, knowledge and ways of life.

Referring to the five main areas of intangible cultural heritage, he added: oral expressions and linguistic traditions, performing arts, social actions and rituals, knowledge and practices related to nature and the cosmos, as well as knowledge and skills related to traditional arts and crafts, constitute the five main areas of this heritage.

The head of the Regional Center for Research and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia continued: Social rituals and traditions are one of the most important manifestations of intangible heritage that flow in the daily life of societies and form an integral part of their cultural identity. Knowledge related to agriculture, stargazing, architecture and traditional medicine are also considered as other manifestations of this valuable heritage.

Iran; The axis of regional cooperation in the field of intangible heritage

Referring to the activity of eight regional centers in the field of intangible cultural heritage in the world, Momeni said: The Regional Center for Research and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Western and Central Asia, located in Tehran, is one of these centers that operates in the geographical area of 24 countries.

He added: In addition to being a member of this group, Iran is also its chairman, and this position provides an important capacity for expanding regional cooperation, protecting intangible heritage, and strengthening the intergenerational transfer of knowledge and cultural traditions.

The head of this center stated that out of the 24 countries covered, 12 are official members and have the right to vote, and stated that other countries also participate in the activities of the center and benefit from its services. Cooperation between these countries is pursued with the aim of strengthening regional capacities in the field of protecting intangible heritage.

Empowering nomadic women and dealing with climate change

Describing the programs implemented last year, Momeni said: despite international crises and difficulties, several measures were taken with the cooperation of member countries and under the leadership of Iran, some of which were implemented in person and the other online.

He considered the project of empowering nomadic women in the West and Central Asia region as one of the most important measures and said: This project led to the compilation of a set of strategies and experiences in the field of empowering nomadic women. As carriers and transmitters of indigenous knowledge, these women play an important role in realizing sustainable development and continuing the intergenerational transfer of intangible heritage.

Momeni also pointed to the implementation of a project in the field of climate change and added: In this program, the capacity of traditional knowledge to increase the resilience and adaptability of societies against climate change was examined. Indigenous knowledge can be effective in facing the consequences of this global crisis and strengthening the ability of local communities to adapt to new conditions.

Referring to the review of these projects in the recent meetings of the Executive Council, he stated: These programs have been approved by the relevant members and will be followed up in the continuation of regional cooperation.

Unveiling the digital platform of non-governmental organizations

The head of the Regional Center for Research and Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia announced the launch of a digital platform for the networking of non-governmental organizations active in the field of intangible heritage and said: This platform is designed with the aim of creating an international network of non-governmental organizations in 24 countries covered by the center and will be unveiled at the current meeting.

He continued: providing a platform for interaction, exchange of experience and sharing the achievements of non-governmental organizations in the field of protecting intangible heritage and transferring it to future generations is one of the main goals of this plan.

Stating that membership in this network requires the introduction of capacities and activity records and checking the qualifications of organizations, Momeni added: Qualified organizations can join this network and participate in regional programs after approval.

He also announced the anticipation of Iran's material and moral support for the advancement of this network and said: member countries, especially the 12 countries with voting rights, can provide a platform for exchanging experiences and strengthening joint cooperation by holding regional meetings in person, online or combined.

Five new projects in the operational program of the center

Describing the planned plans for this year, Momeni stated: Five important projects in the field of intangible heritage of the West and Central Asia region are on the agenda, which include various topics from water resource management to traditional healing knowledge.

He considered the first project to be related to the methods of extraction, storage and management of water resources and said: Considering the global water crisis, the use of traditional knowledge in this field is particularly important. Aqueducts and reservoirs, especially in the southern provinces of Iran, are examples of the valuable capacities of indigenous knowledge in the field of water resources management. In this project, the issue of fair and sustainable water management is also considered.

The head of the Regional Center for Intangible Heritage of West and Central Asia introduced the knowledge and traditions related to food and food systems as the second axis of the programs and added: In this project, the role of ancestral wisdom and indigenous knowledge in preserving and transmitting the food traditions of the region is investigated.

He considered the continuation of programs related to climate change and the investigation of the role of traditional knowledge in increasing the resilience of societies as the third project.

Momeni also said about the fourth project: Capacity building and training in the field of intangible heritage is pursued with the participation of countries including Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This program is designed with the aim of strengthening specialized capabilities and expanding regional cooperation in the field of intangible heritage protection.

He dedicated the fifth project to the knowledge and methods of traditional treatment in the West Asian region and stated: In this plan, the creation of a regional network for the introduction, documentation and exchange of experience in the field of traditional knowledge of treatment is pursued in order to protect this heritage and transfer it to future generations.

In the end, Momeni emphasized: These programs are designed with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation, safeguarding local and traditional knowledge, intergenerational transmission of intangible heritage and utilizing cultural capacities in the path of sustainable development.