Climate change, conflict drive stronger heritage protection efforts in Qatar

Climate change, coastal pressures, and regional conflicts are increasingly threatening Qatar's cultural heritage, prompting Qatar Museums (QM) to enhance its protection systems. QM's Director of Cultural Heritage Protection, Abdullatif Mohammed al-Jasmi, emphasized proactive risk management, identifying potential crises before they worsen due to extreme weather, environmental changes, or armed conflict.

Risks could be physical, such as structural damage, or intellectual, like the loss of historical memory and disconnection from heritage. Qatar faces significant threats, including extreme heat and coastal concerns, alongside active regional conflicts. In February 2023, QM, in collaboration with UNESCO, the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law in Qatar, and its Moroccan counterpart, hosted a high-level seminar on safeguarding cultural property during armed conflicts.

The event highlighted global threats to cultural heritage, such as intentional destruction, illicit trafficking, and military-caused damage, stressing the shared responsibility to preserve this legacy. QM released a 2022 guide with 10 steps to protect Qatar's heritage, including staying on marked trails, avoiding physical contact with archaeological structures, and respecting the environment.

Public awareness of heritage conservation has evolved, with increased documentation through mobile phones and digital devices. Balancing development with heritage preservation in Qatar remains a constant challenge, requiring constant attention and defining heritage by its societal value rather than age alone. Heritage protection extends beyond physical preservation to safeguarding the stories and connections that sustain collective memory.