Session

The UNESCO approach to the Historic Urban Landscape provides a conceptual tool to understand and preserve cultural heritage, particularly applicable to rural villages in mountainous regions. In these areas, a single technical term cannot fully capture the entire landscape. As a type of cultural heritage within a mountainous setting, mountain villages are deeply rooted in the integration of cultural and natural landscapes. This integration is often more visible than in metropolitan heritage. As such, the regeneration of mountain villages presents distinct challenges, including the management of water and forest systems, the development of up-down transportation networks, economic revitalization, and the preservation of local intangible heritage. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary research to develop strategies that help rural mountain areas adapt to modern life. This session envisions cases of rural regeneration across different geographic zones, including the mountain village of Songyang in the hinterland of Shanghai, China; Nyamira in the hinterland of Nairobi, Kenya; and a mountain village in the Alps. Songyang and Nyamira are partner counties working on the development of value-added tea plantations, an integral component of both the cultural and natural landscapes. The session will explore how cultural and natural landscapes are conserved, adapted, and transformed in various parts of the world while maintaining heritage, local traditions, and the well-being of local communities.