On the Brink of Cultural Catastrophe: Why Plan for Cultural Heritage in the Context of Disaster Risk?

Cultural heritage holds both tangible and intangible irreplaceable historic value and significance of place attachment, however, with the exacerbating impact of climate change induced and other disasters, culture heritage is under threat. This literature review paper synthesizes key findings on the intersection of cultural heritage preservation and disaster risk reduction (DRR), emphasizing the need for proactive planning. The study identifies critical themes, including vulnerability assessment, policy gaps, and resilience-building strategies. Research reveals that cultural heritage is highly vulnerable to disasters, often overlooked during recovery efforts in favor of essential infrastructure. Preservation efforts are further hampered by institutional and procedural barriers, such as conflicting priorities between local, state, and federal agencies. These challenges are compounded by the limited flexibility for long-term resilience planning, as alterations to heritage sites often compromise the historic value of cultural heritage.

A seminal research question addressed in this literature review paper is: How can urban planners balance the urgent demands of disaster recovery with the need to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of heritage sites? Preliminary findings indicate that while technological tools such as GIS are invaluable for mapping vulnerability, their effectiveness is limited by gaps in policy and interagency coordination. Barriers at institutional and procedural levels often overshadowed need for recovery of heritage against critical infrastructure. The research also indicates lack of comprehensive guidelines that cater to the unique requirements of heritage sites, particularly in terms of adapting to long-term climate threats. The literature review also posits that enhancing early warning systems and fostering stronger cross-sector collaboration are essential to safeguard cultural assets. By bridging the current gaps in policy and practice, this paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how urban planning can better integrate cultural heritage into disaster resilience frameworks, ultimately to aid preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage.