The School of Landscape Architecture of the Beijing Forestry University (BFU) and the ICCROM-IUCN World Heritage Leadership programme announce the “Linking Culture and Nature:ICCROM-BFU HERITAGE & LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION CONFERENCE 2024” that will take place at BFU campus in Beijing, China from 19 to 21 October 2024.

The “Heritage & Landscape Conservation Conference” will bring together researchers from around the world working on heritage places, in particular cultural landscapes and mixed sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, to exchange about common challenges, opportunities and exploring how the collaboration between research institutes, universities, site management teams and practitioners can work together to establish practice-oriented research collaborations to strengthen and improve the management and conservation of these heritage places through nature-culture integrated, place-based and people-centred approaches.

The conference will showcase collaborative approaches adopted at World Heritage sites and heritage places focusing on how the collaboration between research institutions and heritage management offices to solve management and conservation challenges. The conversation on research-practice collaboration will start from the experiences made by the World heritage properties that joined the first edition of the World Heritage Leadership’s Heritage Place Lab 2022-2023.

Additionally, there will be a symposium during which researchers, scholars and heritage professionals and managers from around the world will have the chance to share their work and research in relation to heritage management and landscape conservation.

Finally, the conference will offer a space to take stock of the global state of the art on heritage and landscape conservation and inform officially the establishment of ICCROM-BFU Joint Lab of Heritage & Landscape Conservation of the BFU School of Landscape Architecture that has been launched through the collaboration between BFU and ICCROM.

There are 4 topics of the keynote speeches of the conference:

1. World Heritage Management in China and around the world

2. Heritage Place Approach to Management

3. Research-Practice collaborations at Chinese World Heritage sites

4. Research-Practice collaborations at World Heritage sites from around the world

Organizers: 

ICCROM(International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)；

Beijing Forestry University

Host:

School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing Forestry University, China；

BFU-ICCROM Joint Lab of Heritage and Landscape Conservation

Venue: Beijing Forestry University, China

Dates: 19 – 21 October 2024

Language: The first and second days of the conference will be in English (with simultaneous interpretation), and the third day of the conference will be in both Chinese and English. 

Partners: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature); Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks; Summer Palace; Yuan Ming Yuan Ruins Park; World Heritage lnstitute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO (Suzhou); Suzhou Conservation And Monitoring Centre For The Classical Gardens Of World Cultural Heritage; World Heritage lnstitute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO (Shanghai); Mount Huangshan; Songshan Global Geopark; Beijing Forestry University Institute of Culture and Natural Heritage

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

On 21 October 2024, the Conference will host a symposium where interested researchers, scholars, site managers and heritage specialists will have the chance to share their work and research through oral or poster presentations.

The aim of this session is to explore and discuss global practices, knowledge and research around landscapes and heritage places in looking at research-practice collaborations established around three key themes:

1. Heritage management and sustainability

2. Culture and nature linkages for effective heritage and landscape management

3. Innovative heritage communication and dissemination of knowledge on heritage values

Abstract submission:  24:00 (GMT+8), 31 July 2024

【Submission Guidelines】

On 21 October 2024, the Conference will host a symposium where interested researchers, scholars, site managers and heritage specialists will have the chance to share their work and research through oral or poster presentations.

1.Proposed Sub-Themes for the Symposium

The aim of this session is to explore and discuss global practices, knowledge and research around landscapes and heritage places in looking at research-practice collaborations established around three key themes: 

① Heritage management and sustainability

Sustainability is a widely used word in the context of heritage and heritage places are often referred to as drivers for sustainable and economic development. Heritage places around the world are facing increased challenges due to natural and man-made hazards as well as development pressures. Under this theme, authors should explore what sustainability and sustainable development and resilience means in relation to specific heritage places focusing on the benefits heritage places and their management can provide to people and communities. 

② Culture and nature linkages for effective heritage and landscape management

The recognition of nature-culture linkages and the adoption of integrated approaches for a more holistic view of heritage management and conservation has brought to improved management systems for heritage and it has highlighted the potential of heritage to deliver social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits to people and communities.

Authors should explore integrated approaches to the management of heritage places showcasing a range of different examples from traditional stewardship to overcoming institutional silos to enhance collaborative and integrated governance arrangements. 

③ Innovative heritage communication and dissemination of knowledge on heritage values

Communication plays an important role in the management and conservation of heritage places, from raising awareness on the importance of these places for communities and our planet, to finding innovative ways to engage the youth and wider public, to strengthening support for the heritage sector. Authors should explore ways, e.g., digital solutions, in which communication and dissemination of knowledge about heritage values can enable heritage managers, specialists and researchers enhancing management, conservation and interpretation efforts. 

2.Submission

Interested authors are encouraged to submit a short proposal using the proposal template, and the submission link is available below.The proposal should include an abstract of minimum 300 and maximum 500 English words.  

3.Abstract Acceptance

Proposals will be evaluated by the Conference Scientific Committee, made of representatives and invited specialists of BFU and the WHL programme and their networks, on the base of the following criteria:

● Relevance of the abstract to the theme of the Conference and the themes of the symposium;

● Originality and innovation of the approach/work presented;

● Solutions or approaches presented in the abstract and potential application to the wider heritage sector;

● Quality of the abstract and relevance of the team in relation to the work presented in the abstract (the abstract should present your original work/research). 

The selection process will furthermore ensure a fair representation of regions, cultures, and gender. 

4. Important Dates

The deadline for abstract submission is extended to 24:00 (GMT+8), 31 July 2024.

Selected presenters will be informed via email after 20 August 2024 to be oral presenters or a poster. Subsequently, they can submit the final documents through the conference website as guided.

Conference Registration and Payment Instructions

Participants of the conference need to create a personal account before  logging in and then complete conference registration.

Payment Instructions:

The conference registration fee can be paid offline or online. Domestic participants are required to pay the registration fee online using WeChat Pay, while overseas participants can pay the registration fee on-site via card.

The registration fee is as follows:

Conference Fee: ¥2000RMB

Student Rate: ¥1200RMB (Participants need to bring relevant proof such as student ID for on-site verification)

Note:

Early bird registration fee of ¥1500RMB is available for registrations and payments made before September 19, 2024.

Invoicing Instructions:

If you require an invoice, please provide the invoice-related information. Invoices will be issued by "Wilmax (Beijing) International Convention and Exhibition Co., LTD." with the billing content as  "conference fee" and will be sent within 7 days after the conference ends.

Friendly Reminder:

If you have any questions, please contact the conference service company, Mr. Song Xinyu, email:   mobile: +86 17606808761.

IUCN（International Union for Conservation of Nature）	Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks	Summer Palace
Yuan Ming Yuan Ruins Park	World Heritage lnstitute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO (Suzhou)	Suzhou Conservation And Monitoring Centre For The Classical Gardens Of World Cultural Heritage
World Heritage lnstitute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO (Shanghai)	Mount Huangshan	Songshan Global Geopark
Beijing Forestry University Institute of Culture and Natural Heritage	World Heritage lnstitute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the Auspices of UNESCO (Beijing)

We sincerely invite relevant institutions as partners and sponsors to support the important event, Linking Culture and Nature: ICCROM-BFU Heritage & Landscape Conservation Conference 2024.

For cooperation, please contact Prof. Zeng, mobile: +86 13911784568.

We sincerely invite relevant institutions as partners and sponsors to support the important event, Linking Culture and Nature: ICCROM-BFU Heritage & Landscape Conservation Conference 2024.

For cooperation, please contact Prof. Zeng, mobile: +86 13911784568.

Conference Exhibition: Heritage Site Exhibition, Paper Poster Exhibition

Yuanmingyuan Ruins Park: During the conference, free visit with the representative card. 

BFU International College: heritage fair 

Central Axis garden and park heritage sites: free on-site investigation

Mount Huangshan: Visit Mount Huangshan for free with the representative card before New Year's Day. 

Others coming soon…