- 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
Damage Assessment: A multidisciplinary team carried out a comprehensive analysis of the damage caused by the fire in Rapa Nui National Park, particularly in the Rano Raraku crater. This assessment covered not only the immediate effects of the fire but also other factors of deterioration, such as anthropic and geoclimatic influences.
Risk Management Plan: A comprehensive risk management plan was established, in collaboration with local actors and the Ma'u Henua indigenous community. This plan included improving coordination among entities and establishing clear protocols for the protection of heritage in emergencies.
Local Training: Training workshops for the community and local organizations were conducted by heritage management experts. These workshops focused on improving local skills in the conservation and risk management of heritage.
Awareness Materials: Educational audiovisual products were created to raise awareness among the community and visitors about the importance of protecting world heritage, highlighting the specificities and risks that exist in the Rapa Nui site.
