International webinar highlights mountain cultural heritage across Europe and the Himalayas

The Montage Partnership, in collaboration with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, will host an international webinar on 5 June dedicated to the cultural heritage of mountain regions. The online event will take place from 09:30 to 11:30 GMT and aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and communities interested in preserving and shaping this heritage.

Under the theme “Cultural Heritage in the Making – sharing perspectives on mountain heritage in the Himalaya and Europe”, the session will explore mountain heritage in a broad sense, going beyond landscapes and monuments. Languages, knowledge systems, traditions, livelihoods, and people’s relationships with the land will be highlighted as key components of a living cultural heritage.

In a context shaped by climate change and ongoing social and economic transformations, mountain cultural heritage is evolving rapidly. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves play a crucial role as spaces where the relationship between cultural heritage and natural systems can be explored, supporting community-led, action-based approaches for sustainable management.

The webinar will also present insights from the Montage Project, a new partnership connecting mountain regions in Scotland, Norway, and Nepal. Speakers will include researchers and practitioners working with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in these regions, sharing field-based experiences and perspectives.

Participation is open to all, with a special invitation extended to biosphere reserves in mountain areas.