UNESCO heritage forum calls for using Internet in legacy preservation

Participants in a UNESCO heritage forum, held in Ifrane December 6-8, called for using the Internet in international endeavors to safeguard the world legacy.

In addition to updating the forum website, participants said a permanent working group should be created via e-mail to allow universities member of the network to exchange expertise and cooperate.

The example of a computer program created to safeguard the Moroccan ancient city of Fes was cited as a model which saves archives about some 13,500 buildings, housing, population and environment.

Participants also proposed the creation of a summer school on legacy.

Al Akhawayn University, which hosted the forum, will create a UNESCO chair for legacy education. The forum adopted a statement backing the chair project and calling for the setting up of a network of local, regional and national forums.

In addition to a network of 225 universities which teach special programs on legacy, the forum was attended by delegates from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

The UNESCO had also held in Morocco from Nov.30 to Dec.2 the 23rd session of its world heritage committee which added 48 new historical and natural sites and 4 endangered sites to the 630 sites of the world heritage list.