Learning from the Climate Narratives of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Climate change including the rise of sea-level, flooding, increase in air and ocean temperature, and drought are major threats to cultural heritage sites globally. Even vernacular heritage–built by the local people as a response to surrounding conditions taking into account the local environment, climate, and culture—is now challenged by the changing climate. The ICOMOS Charter on Built Vernacular Heritage (1999) defines vernacular buildings as “the traditional and natural way by which communities house themselves.” Although vernacular heritage is considered to be climate-resilient due to its sensitivity to the local environment, extreme rainfalls, floods, and landslides are damaging the settlements, particularly in the case of in Fındıklı of Rize in the northeast part of Turkey.