Areas of high social or cultural value are restored

Cultural heritage has increasingly been seen as an instrument for peace and reconciliation. Its restoration can help to rebuild communities and overcome a sense of loss in the wake of conflict. Here we consider actions which contribute to this.

View the Positive Pursuits Guide (v2.3) View online

About this Positive Pursuit

Cultural heritage has increasingly been seen as an instrument for peace and reconciliation. Its restoration can help to rebuild communities and overcome a sense of loss in the wake of conflict. A legal precedent has also been established in recent years where land has been returned to those with traditional or customary rights.

Areas of high social or cultural value are restored when:

Areas of cultural or social value are reconstructed or rebuilt; or
Land which has been acquired in a contentious way is returned to those with traditional or customary rights.

This Positive Pursuit encompasses any action which achieves such an outcome.

Why it’s needed

Increasingly, cultural heritage is seen as an instrument for peace and reconciliation.
Its protection and conservation can play a key role in rebuilding societies and overcoming the sense of loss and displacement caused by conflict.
Land grabbing puts the livelihoods of locals at risk.
A 2014 study estimated that land grabbing practices had the potential to affect incomes of 12 million people, with implications for both food security and livelihoods. Returning such land could begin to remedy this.

SDGs this will contribute to

11. Sustainable cities and communities
Half of humanity now lives in cities, and the number is increasing. For cities to thrive we must address the pressures that rapid urbanization is placing on freshwater, infrastructure, air quality and people’s health.
Learn more about SDG 11
15. Life on land
Land degradation, deforestation and desertification - caused by human activities and climate change - pose big challenges to sustainable development and undermine the livelihoods of millions of people.
Learn more about SDG 15