Central America strengthens the resilience of cultural heritage to disasters

In a context of increasing exposure to natural hazards and the effects of climate change, the countries of the Central American Integration System (SICA) region are strengthening their capacities to protect cultural heritage from disasters, through the application of innovative technical tools and the promotion of regional cooperation.

In this context, UNESCO, in coordination with the Central American Cultural and Educational Coordination of SICA (CECC/SICA) and with the support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), has developed a virtual training of trainers workshop on March 24 and 26, 2026, focused on the application of the Scorecard for City Resilience: Cultural Heritage Annex , a valuable tool to strengthen the integration of culture in disaster risk management.

The Cultural Heritage Annex of the Scorecard, developed by UNDRR in partnership with UNESCO, enables governments to identify gaps, assess capacities and plan actions that incorporate the value of cultural heritage into disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery in urban contexts, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction .

The workshop bought together about 60 representatives from ministries of culture, local governments and civil society organizations from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and the Dominican Republic, who receive practical training for the application of this tool in key cities of the region.

This initiative is part of the regional program "Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in Relation to Cultural Heritage in the SICA Region," promoted by UNESCO since 2024, together with the CECC/SICA and the Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America (CEPREDENAC). The program aims to integrate cultural heritage-both tangible and intangible-into public policies, information systems, and institutional risk management processes, promoting a preventive, inclusive, and knowledge-based approach.

Central America boasts a wealth of cultural heritage, with 19 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List and 16 elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This heritage not only constitutes a legacy of outstanding universal value, but also a strategic resource for sustainable development, social cohesion, and community resilience.

However, the region faces recurring threats from natural phenomena such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions, whose impacts are intensified by factors such as climate change, unplanned urbanization, and environmental degradation. In this context, integrating cultural heritage into disaster risk reduction strategies is essential to protect cultural assets, livelihoods, and community identities.

Through this program, UNESCO and its regional partners have promoted a broad process of inter-institutional collaboration, including mapping key stakeholders, technical consultations, and regional dialogue forums. In August 2025, an in-person meeting was held in San José, Costa Rica, to identify regional needs and priorities in this area.

The Scorecard workshop represents a decisive step towards consolidating technical capacities in the region, by providing countries with practical tools and harmonized criteria to strengthen the resilience of their cities and communities to disasters.

With this initiative, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to supporting Member States in implementing integrated approaches that recognize the central role of culture in disaster risk reduction, thus contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the building of more resilient, inclusive and sustainable societies.