The newly-published document lays out the details of how the internationally significant landscape will be cared for and how the World Heritage Site will work to deliver wide-reaching benefits throughout the region’s communities.
It is, however, information regarding the implementation of critical environmental and sustainability agendas that has led to the Plan being lauded by the UK arm of UNESCO.
“The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Management Plan is a world-leading example of an innovative sustainable development approach,” notes Kate Pugh OBE, non-executive director at UNESCO UK.
“Others in World Heritage Sites and elsewhere can learn from how it translates international agreements into coordinated leadership at the local level to enable partners and stakeholders across its ten Areas to undertake concrete action on sustainable development issues. We look forward to seeing how the Plan is translated into practice to make the Site more sustainable for present communities and future generations in the coming years.”
The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Partnership Board and team have devised an approach which links the environmental agendas of local partner authorities – Cornwall, Devon County, and West Devon Borough Councils – with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“All of the World Heritage Site partner councils have declared an ambition to work towards reducing carbon emissions to zero over the next 10-20 years,” explains Julian German, chair of the Partnership Board.
“The World Heritage Site Management Plan has pioneered a new, cross-cutting response to managing the mining landscapes in ways that support this shared ambition, and wider sustainable development that looks after the needs of both people and the planet.”
Not only has the scheme been praised by UNESCO, but will also be included in the organisation’s international report as a case study on how UNESCO designated sites can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The World Heritage Site Management Plan 2020-2025 is available to read in full here.
