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Swiss representatives rejoice together!
Traditional irrigation is Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The extensive knowledge surrounding traditional irrigation has become part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage - the multinational nomination from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland was inscribed on the ‘Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ on 5 December at the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Kasane, Botswana.
Irrigated meadows along the Suonen and ‘bisses’ in Valais, water mats in Oberaargau
The representatives of traditional irrigation in Switzerland are delighted that this intangible cultural heritage has been inscribed on UNESCO's international list. Whether irrigated meadows along the Suonen in the Upper Valais, along the ‘bisses’ in the French-speaking Valais, or along the water streams and ditches of the idyllic Wässermatten in the Bernese Oberaargau and neighbouring Lucerne region: this distinction under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage demonstrates the value of this centuries-old tradition. The focus is on the traditional knowledge of the people, their use of local resources and conditions, as well as the tradition, which in this case is lived in a very vivid and varied way, also within the framework of local communities such as ‘consortages’, Water mat association, co-operatives, etc. These have often contributed for centuries to the fertilisation of meadowland, higher groundwater levels, flood protection, the promotion of local landscape diversity, biodiversity, etc. Since 2022, those involved in the UNESCO candidacy have also been formally networked and integrated internationally via the International Centre for Traditional Irrigation in Europe IZTB (www.iztb.org) - based in the monastery complex of St. Urban LU. Those responsible at the IZTB are also delighted and expect many positive effects.
Initiator lived to see the Evaluation Body's recommendation, ‘exemplary!’
At the beginning of November 2023, IZTB co-initiator Prof. Dr Christian Leibundgut was able to witness that the application ‘Traditional Irrigation’ was recommended as exemplary by the Evaluation Body for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in preparation for the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in Kasane, Botswana. Christian Leibundgut died on 20 November 2023 in Ehrenkirchen, Germany.
Typical regional visual material available: Traditional irrigation in the regions has its own typical regional characteristics due to the natural conditions alone. Are you interested in characteristic image material? Take a look at the media or contact the IZTB.