- The initiative, implemented during 2023 with a budget of $97,000, focused on assessing the damage caused by the severe fire in Rapa Nui National Park (in the territory known as Easter Island), a site recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since 1995. The project also included the development of a management plan and training for the community and local organizations
On November 30, the UNESCO Office in Chile presented the results of the Emergency Fund to the Government of Chile, represented by the Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage, Carolina Pérez Dattari. The international initiative titled 'Damage Assessment from Fires in Rapa Nui National Park and Development of a Risk Management Plan for the World Heritage Site' was launched in response to the fire on October 4, 2022, which affected over 100 hectares, including the crater of the Rano Raraku volcano, a site of spiritual and heritage significance, known for its quarries where the moai, the famous monolithic statues scattered around the World Heritage Site, were made.
During the presentation of these results, Claudia Uribe, director of UNESCO Santiago, emphasized that the risk management plan 'will be a tool that will help in prevention and response to the threats faced by the site. However, we all must make more efforts to raise awareness and create consciousness about the value of cultural heritage, and the state of fragility in which it finds itself. This way we can strengthen the protection of heritage as well as move towards sustainable development that starts from the value of memory and the cultural diversity of communities and indigenous peoples.'
The Culture team of the UNESCO Office in Chile supervised the project, which involved collaboration with the indigenous Ma'u Henua community, who manage the Rapa Nui National Park, and the support of various local actors, ensuring their involvement in the different aspects of the project. This joint effort was funded with $97,000 from the HEF, which exists thanks to contributions from various international donors, including the Qatar Fund for Development, the Government of Canada, the Kingdom of Norway, the French Republic, the Principality of Monaco, ANA Holdings INC., the Republic of Estonia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Principality of Andorra, and the Republic of Serbia.
'From the state, we appreciate the collaborative work carried out with UNESCO, which allows us to meet today and know the results of the impact of the October 2022 fire in Rano Raraku, as well as the learnings and future challenges for the protection and safeguarding of this World Heritage Site,' expressed the Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage of Chile, Carolina Pérez Dattari
Evaluación de daños: Un equipo multidisciplinario realizó un análisis exhaustivo de los daños causados por el incendio en el Parque Nacional Rapa Nui, particularmente en el cráter de Rano Raraku. Esta evaluación abarcó no solo los efectos inmediatos del incendio, sino también otros factores de deterioro, como influencias antrópicas y geoclimáticas.
Plan de gestión de riesgos: Se estableció un plan integral de gestión de riesgos, colaborando con actores locales y la comunidad indígena Ma'u Henua. Este plan incluyó la mejora de la coordinación entre entidades y el establecimiento de protocolos claros para la protección del patrimonio ante emergencias.
Capacitación local: Se llevaron a cabo talleres de formación para la comunidad y organizaciones locales, dirigidos por expertos en gestión de patrimonio. Estos talleres se enfocaron en mejorar las habilidades locales en la conservación y gestión de riesgos del patrimonio.
Materiales de sensibilización: Se crearon productos audiovisuales educativos para sensibilizar a la comunidad y a los visitantes sobre la importancia de proteger el patrimonio mundial, destacando las especificidades y riesgos que existen en sitio de Rapa Nui.
