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Environmental and Social Standard (ESS 9): Cultural heritage

Framework for Environmental and Social Management guidance note

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 22 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4785en

Synopsis (short abstract) Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 9 focuses on the protection and preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in FAO-supported programmes and projects. This guidance note provides detailed instructions on how to meet the requirements of ESS 9, ensuring that cultural heritage is safeguarded from damage or inappropriate alteration. It outlines the importance of equitable benefit-sharing when cultural heritage is utilized in FAO initiatives and promotes meaningful consultation with stakeholders to address potential risks. The note also offers tools and suggestions for implementing mitigation measures and management plans to protect cultural heritage during project design and implementation.ESS 9 recognizes the vital role that cultural heritage plays in shaping individual and collective identities, and its importance in sustainable development. Tangible cultural heritage includes physical objects, sites, and landscapes, while intangible heritage encompasses traditions, knowledge, and practices passed down through generations. The standard is grounded in international frameworks like UNESCO’s conventions and aims to protect cultural heritage in line with these agreements. It ensures that communities have a central role in identifying and addressing risks to their heritage, fostering the preservation, transmission, and revitalization of cultural practices and expressions in FAO projects.

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2025. Environmental and Social Standard (ESS 9): Cultural heritage – Framework for Environmental and Social Management guidance note. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd4785en

Language English

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