Challenges and solutions in North and East Africa 

In my view, in 100 years, all these antiquities will be gone because of climate change.

Zahi Hawass

2022 – before COP27 was held at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Climate change is already happening but remains underrepresented as a concern in the heritage sector across north and east Africa. This lack of discussion must be rectified, particularly in these regions where fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and precipitation can have devastating impacts on tangible and intangible heritage as well as regional economic viability and humanitarian issues.

 The Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation project begins with an online conference held in partnership with ARCA. This two-day online conference will feature projects working with or impacted by climate change in the broader North and East Africa region to share their experiences. Discussion sessions will open dialogue across geographical and political borders and help to share the lessons learned by working in these areas.

Register for Day One

Organisers

Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation: Challenges and solutions in North and East Africa forms part of the Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation programme supported by the British Academy. The conference has been organised by the Egypt Exploration Society in partnership with the Alexandria Research Center for Adaptation to Climate Change, Alexandria University (ARCA) and British International Research Institutes.

Sponsors

Schedule and Abstracts

This conference will be held over two days, and each day must be registered separately. Please visit the event page to register for Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation Conference Day Two. 

Live translation will be available during the event (English-Arabic / Arabic-English) by Nouran Ibrahim and colleagues. This can be selected using the options on your screen during the event.

Please note that the main content will be delivered between 10:00-16:00, and all advertised times are UK (BST/UTC+1).

Download the abstract booklet (English)
تحميل كتيب الملخص (عربي)


Day one – Wednesday 18th September 2024

09:45 - Conference opens

10:00-10:15 - Welcome address - John Darlington (World Monuments Fund)

10:15-11:45 - Panel 1

10:15-10:45 - Impact of climate change, urban expansion and other threats: new methods for monitoring heritage sites in Libya, Ahmed Buzaian, Ahmed Mahmoud and Muftah Ahmed
10:45-11:15 - Changing with Climate: Indigenous Knowledge and urban Heritage in Kibera, Mathews Wakhungu
11:15-11:45 - ERTH – Athar Lina Heritage and Climate Project, May al-Ibrashy

11:45-12:30 - Lunch

12:30-14:00 - Panel 2

12:30-13:00 - Cultural and Natural Heritage Adaptation to Sea Level Rise, Njiiri Wallace, Mugwima Njuguna, Ephraim Wahome
13:00-13:30 - New approach to climate risks analysis for rock art and architecture in Africa, Blen Taye
13:30-14:00 - Climate change and urban heritage in the Egyptian Nile Valley: A view from Amarna, Anna Stevens, Kate Spence, Gemma Tully, Paul Docherty, Fathi Awad, Hamada Kellawy

14:00-14:30 - Break

14:30-15:30 - Panel 3

14:30-15:00 - Examining climate, biodiversity, and human interactions in Northeast Africa using Species Distribution Models, Ignacio A. Lazagabaster, Chris Thomas, Juliet V. Spedding, Salima Ikram, Steven Snape, Irene Solano-Regadera, Jakob Bro-Jorgensen
15:00-15:30 - Soil Erosion and Deposition in Geoparks within East African 2 Rift Valley: Case Study of Ngorongoro Lengai (Tanzania) and 3 Baringo (Aspiring, Kenya), George Watene, Thomas Ngigi, Felix Mutua, Xianhu Wei, Thomas Biginagwa, Christognas Ngivingivi, Leka Tingitana

15:30-15:45 - Discussion

15:45-16:00 - Closing remarks
Futureproofing Heritage: Between Cairo and Norfolk
Omniya Abdel Barr (Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation) and Heather Jermy (National Trust, Blickling Estate) for the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) Withstanding Change Project

Booking and information

Register for your place in advance using the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about your booking. If you do not receive your email, then please check your junk folders before contacting the Egypt Exploration Society. The event will be held on our Zoom platform and attendees will be able to interact by asking questions, using the chat and polls. It is not necessary to have a working webcam or microphone for this conference.

Please ensure that you have read our guide to attending EES online events before the event begins.

Register for Day One
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