How to strengthen HUC Network for safeguarding Hill Heritage?

Brief about IDRiM 2023 conference

Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management (CoEDMM), IIT Roorkee is
organizing the IDRiM 2023, the 13th International Conference of the International Society for the
INTEGRATED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (IDRiM) from 28 - 30 September 2023.
IDRiM Society promotes knowledge sharing, interdisciplinary research, and the development of
integrated disaster risk management. The IDRiM Secretariat is located at the Disaster Prevention
Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan. IIT Roorkee was qualified to host the IDRiM
2023 conference through an international open call for proposals by the IDRiM Society.
The IDRiM 2023 is titled Integrated DRR for Inclusive Sustainable Development: Science, Policy,
and Practice Dialogues (InSPIRE-Dialogue). IDRiM 2023 - ‘InSPIRE-Dialogue’ - aims to create
channels and provide a platform for the communication and exchange of ideas and information
among and between the makers of science policy (such as government agencies and legislators)
and the practitioners of science (such as researchers and engineers). The session on ‘How to
strengthen HUC Network for safeguarding Hill Heritage?’ will be hosted during the IDRiM 2023
at IIT Roorkee with participation from a wide range of stakeholders.
Background
Heritage is our inherited traditions, structures, possessions, and culture which give us a sense of
who we are. The things we have inherited from the past and will now pass on to subsequent
generations make up our heritage. The progressive loss of these properties because of floods,
landslides, fires, earthquakes, man-made activities, and other dangers has become a serious issue
because of the vital role that heritage plays in encouraging societal cohesion and sustainable
development. Due to several causes, including natural disasters, human activity, and insufficient
conservation measures, heritage places are at risk of disaster. There are several ways that
cultural and natural heritage can be used to mitigate or lessen the effects of disasters. One of
the most important aspects of the historical conservation activity is encouraging local
communities to take ownership of and take part in the creation and upkeep of their history.
Disaster preparedness and response in India is a relatively new subject, especially for museums
and other cultural heritage sites. The relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts following a
disaster were the main objectives of disaster management. Museums in Delhi, Srinagar, Jaipur,
and other towns have sustained serious and irreparable damage because of disasters. To deal
with these disasters, it is essential to equip young professionals working in museum and historic
site management with the skills necessary to establish their own disaster management strategies.
Objective of the Session:
This session aims to bring together different stakeholders, young researchers, academicians,
policymakers, practitioners working in or interested to work in the field of DRR initiatives,
especially in the context of Hill Heritage at Risk.
The session intends to develop a roadmap on how and in what ways we can strengthen the HUC
Network that can enable the partnering institutions and associated partners and stakeholders to
come together and work for safeguarding hill heritage.
Programme schedule (150 minutes)

10:00-10:30 am Briefing session:

(30min) 1. Introduction: Hill Heritage at Risk
2. Introduction to Himalayan University Consortium (HUC)

10:30-10:45 am Key issues and challenges w.r.t to the role of HUC in safeguarding Hill
(15 min) heritage
Identifying key questions and thematic clusters for discussion
Tentative thematic clusters include:
● Hill museums safety and disaster management
● Planning for safe pilgrimage routes in hilly areas
● Integrating traditional knowledge systems in DRR
● Safeguarding intangible heritage for DRR
● Protection of cultural and religious buildings in hilly areas
● Climate change risks on cultural heritage

10:45-11:15am & Guided deliberation across different participant groups

11:15-11:35 am 1. How to identify risks
(30+20 min) 2. How to mitigate and manage disaster risks
3. How to develop effective risk communication

Presentation by each group (3 min)

11:35-12:20 pm Guided deliberation
(45 min) - What is the role of HUC in (1), (2), (3)
- How to strengthen HUC Network for safeguarding Hill Heritage
- Preparing a roadmap for strengthening HUC- Hill Heritage
Network

12:20-12:30 pm Concluding remarks

(10 min)
HUC Members

1. Tribhuvan University
2. Mizoram University

Target audience/ participants

● Young researchers and academicians who are involved in research related to hill safety
● Policymakers responsible for creating policies related to hill safety
● Practitioners individuals who work in fields related to hill safety, such as engineers,
architects, and geologists.
● Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are often involved in activities related to hill
safety, such as promoting awareness and aiding, and
● Local authorities: Local authorities are responsible for managing the safety of hilly areas,
such as maintaining roads and providing emergency services
Deliverable:

● Roadmap for future HUC network with focus on safeguarding Hill Heritage.
● Strengthening the collaboration within the HUC network (in India and Nepal, Bangladesh,
Bhutan)