AGRARIAN LANDSCAPE HERITAGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE TOWARD DYNAMIC CONSERVATION

In cultural heritage, historic agricultural landscapes combine long-lasting features with intangible significance. Landscape is more than the sum of its parts, representing a blend of heritage that is both tangible and intangible (Scazzosi, 2018; ELC, 2000, ICOMOS, 2017). Since the Venice Charter in 1964 and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage in 2003, cultural heritage has expanded beyond tangible elements to include intangibles, i.e. all knowledge derived from human practices, expressions, and associated objects and spaces recognised by communities as part of their heritage. Disasters and climate change, caused by high greenhouse gas levels, threaten historic agricultural landscapes, damaging infrastructure, ecosystems and social systems. ICOMOS (2019) states these are essential to quality of life. However, such landscapes can help with modern challenges, such as droughts and floods. The Venice Charter (Art.10) stresses the use of both ancient and modern integration techniques. However, ancient practices can help to mitigate the effects of climate change and prevent disasters. To conserve and use agricultural heritage effectively, a dynamic approach is needed, along with increased awareness and knowledge among farmers and citizens. This requires going beyond "the conservation of monuments in perpetuity" (Art. 4 of the Venice Charter). The concept of dynamic conservation, borrowed from environmental science, mirrors nature's principles: a resource degenerates if not regenerated, paralleling societal values like trust and inclusivity (Morin, 1990). It addresses climatic exigencies by managing landscape transformations over time to adapt to evolving needs while preserving structural constants (integrity) that underpin the landscape's heritage value. The historical irrigation system in plain and mountain landscapes (intangible heritage list since December 2023) present opportunities to refill groundwater and mitigate climate change effects. In continental climate and irrigated plain (Milan, Italy), the medieval practice of winter flooding is practised in water meadows and rice paddies: well-moistened soil can provide adequate water during spring or summer droughts and absorb excess water during floods, thereby minimizing urban damages (Branduini, 2023). In a semi-arid climate and mountainous region (Granada-Almería, Spain), the Islamic water channel of acequias has been demonstrated to be sustainable and highly resilient for more than one thousand years. Particularly interesting are the water sowing and harvesting practices. The most famous one are the acequias de careo, used for the artificial aquifer recharge in the Sierra Nevada range from the top of the mountains, with channels up to 2.500 ms hight to ensure water supply for crops irrigation and provide water to urban area (Civantos et al, 2023). In both scenarios, the preservation of irrigation structures is coupled with farmer training courses and citizen engagement initiatives aimed at enhancing heritage awareness. The university plays a pivotal role in integrating scientific and empirical knowledge while actively enabling mediation. Heritage communities (Faro, 2003) are crucial in pursuing dynamic conservation. Dynamic conservation preserves the intrinsic identity of heritage while engaging all stakeholders in their future stewardship and should be applied when formulating disaster risk reduction policies and initiatives for local economic and social development (UNDRR 2015).