HIA Guidebook for Bangladesh

HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (HIA) GUIDEBOOK FOR BANGLADESH A SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW OF HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (HIA) IN THE CONTEXT OF BANGLADESH UNESCO O ce in Dhaka

Published in 2020 by UNESCO Office in Dhaka Printed in Dhaka, Bangladesh © UNESCO 2020 Acknowledgments The UNESCO Office in Dhaka acknowledges the valuable contributions of the Department of Archaeology under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs as well as of national and international experts, including Richard A Engelhardt, Sharif Shams Imon, and Ayesha Pamela Rogers, who have contributed to the development of this Guidebook. Production Peter Prix Eunbin Lim TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 Messages 4 1 Introduction 5 2 Type of Impact Assessments 6 3 Why conduct an HIA: Rational and Purpose 4 HIA Process Photos: © UNESCO Disclaimer This publication is available in Open Access under the Attribution–ShareAlike 3.0 IGO (CC–BY–SA 3.0 IGO) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/). By using the content of this publication, the users accept to be bound by the terms of use of the UNESCO Open Access Repository (https://en.unesco. org/open-access/terms-use-ccbysa-en).

MESSAGES Bangladesh joined the 1972 Convention Concerning impact of proposed developments the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural in the vicinity of heritage sites and Heritage in 1983 and thereby demonstrating its protected areas. commitment to enrich and safeguard her rich cultural I appreciate the support of the and natural heritage. UNESCO Dhaka Office in preparing this Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) Our government is committed to adopt measures Guidebook for Bangladesh. in safeguarding and protecting heritage sites of Bangladesh, including the three World Heritage Md. Hannan Mia sites- the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat (1985), the Director General (Additional Secretary) Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (1985) and Department of Archaeology the Sundarbans (1997) - as well as the more than 500 Ministry of Cultural Affairs other protected heritage sites in Bangladesh. This Heritage Impact Assessment Guidebook for Bangladesh provides timely guidance and hands-on tools to heritage stakeholders to best determine the Recognizing the importance of safeguarding tangible document for participants, as well and intangible cultural heritage, the Government of as a comprehensive overview Bangladesh ratified the UNESCO 1972 World Heritage and concrete guidance on HIA in Convention as well as the UNESCO 2003 Convention Bangladesh to a wider audience. for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, thereby demonstrating its commitment to On behalf of UNESCO, I would safeguarding all natural and cultural, tangible and like to thank the Department of intangible heritage and traditions in Bangladesh. Archaeology as well as all other national and international experts Over past years, through continuous stakeholder who generously contributed to this capacity-building training, including on the application Guidebook. I sincerely hope that and implementation of the World Heritage Convention, this HIA Guidebook will be helpful the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention, and for all those in Bangladesh who are the management of World Heritage sites, UNESCO committed to the safeguarding of has supported stakeholders in Bangladesh in the Bangladesh’s heritage. management of the country’s rich heritage. Beatrice Kaldun Following expressed demand in 2019, the UNESCO Head of Office and Office in Dhaka, in close collaboration with the UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Department of Archaeology, conducted a five-day capacity-building workshop on heritage management with a special focus on Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) for key heritage stakeholders. In place of workshop proceedings, this HIA Guidebook is a summary of HIA training materials and conducted group work. It intends to serve as a reference 1

1 Introduction As of 2020, Bangladesh has three (3) heritage sites UNESCO's Operational Guidelines for the inscribed on the World Heritage List, five (5) properties Implementation of the World Heritage Convention on the Tentative World Heritage List, as well as more indicate the importance of conducting Heritage Impact than 509 heritage sites across the country that are Assessment (HIA) studies: \"States Parties shall ensure under protection of the Department of Archaeology that Environmental Impact Assessments, Heritage under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Impact Assessments, and/or Strategic Environmental Assessments be carried out as a pre-requisite for Just as in any other country, these heritage sites require development projects and activities that are planned protection and safeguarding. Different threats can for implementation within or around a World Heritage yield pressure on heritage sites with the potential to property.\" (Version July 2019, Para 118bis)2 damage or destroy heritage values. These threats can derive from development and infrastructure projects, Background for this Guidebook such as roads, bridges, buildings, factories, renewals, demolitions, from inappropriate or excessive use In line with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, (e.g. picnicking within vicinity of heritage site), from the UNESCO Dhaka Office supports the Government of archaeological excavations, as well as from changes Bangladesh and heritage stakeholders in Bangladesh in land-use policies, or excessive and/or inappropriate in the safeguarding of the country’s rich cultural and tourism. natural heritage through continued capacity-building training on the application of the World Heritage A tool to analyze possible effects and consequences Convention, World Heritage Management, as well as of such threats on heritage sites are Heritage Impact through technical assistance, awareness raising, and Assessment (HIA) studies. HIA studies allow to identify, policy support. to quantify, and to express considerations about the impacts of particular changes in relation to the In 2019, stakeholders in Bangladesh expressed their protection of heritage properties. need for further guidance and capacity-strengthening training on conducting Heritage Impact Assessment HIA as a requirement (HIA) studies in Bangladesh. In response, the UNESCO Dhaka Office, in close collaboration with the A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is often required by Department of Archaeology under the Ministry of statutory authorities to inform decisions as to whether Cultural Affairs, conducted a five-day capacity-building to allow development proposals at heritage properties workshop on World Heritage Management and HIA for to take place, especially if the development activity key heritage stakeholders in Bangladesh in November/ implies changes which risk to irreversibly damage the December 2019. significance of the heritage of the heritage site. In place of workshop proceedings, this Guidebook Due to its preventive nature, a HIA can assist statutory intends to serve as a reference document for authorities in identifying impacts and thus prevent participants, as well as provide access and guidance the approval of development projects that have a to heritage stakeholders in Bangladesh who are negative impact on the significance of the heritage of interested in conducting heritage impact assessments. a heritage property. Further, a HIA allows to structure The Guidebook draws on information and learning an evaluation of potential damages or benefits that materials from UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM, as well may accrue to the significance of the cultural heritage as engaged national and international trainers and assets.1 experts. HIA and World Heritage The website of the UNESCO World Heritage Center offers access to additional learning materials The UNESCO World Heritage Convention has the and guidance tools at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/ key objective to identify and protect heritage. To this activities/907/ end, HIA studies are an important tool to ensure that development projects at World Heritage properties do not affect the values for which the heritage property has been inscribed (= Outstanding Universal Value). 1 Pereira Roders, Ana & Oers, Ron. (2012). Guidance on heritage impact assessments: Learning from its application on World Heritage site management. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 2. 10.1108/20441261211273671 2 UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, WHC. 19/01 - July 2019, https://whc. unesco.org/document/178167 2

What Why is an HIA? conduct an HIA? A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is a study to determine potential and ascertained impacts To protect the long-term sustainability of cultural of a proposed development project on heritage assets from destruction or irreversible damage by resources and the cultural heritage value of a avoiding or mitigating adverse impacts resulting heritage property. from competition for space and resources with proposed excavation, development, infrastructure, A HIA can assist statutory authorities in identifying resettlement, or other development projects. impacts and thus prevent the approval of development projects that would have a negative Many development and infrastructure projects have impact on the significance of the heritage of a the potential to adversely impact the appearance, heritage property. skyline, key views and other different attributes that contribute to the value of heritage properties. In the context of World Heritage (WH) properties, an HIA effectively evaluates the impact of potential HIA studies help States Parties and key stakeholders development activities on the Outstanding to better understand the potential impact of Universal Value (OUV) of a heritage site. development projects as well as how to cope with related potential threats and challenges to the Who value of heritage properties. conducts an HIA? Three Fundamental Aims of HIA studies: Most commonly, an HIA is initiated by the officially- 1. To safeguard the integrity of heritage designated heritage authority of a country, region, resources in the face of development, or territory. threats or other scenarios of external change. The HIA can be carried out by the heritage authority directly or a team of experts can be contracted to 2. To negotiate a sustainable balance conduct the assessment, often referred to as the between progress and conservation in assessor. ways that maintain the authenticity of the threatened heritage. Due to the conflict of interest, it is never appropriate that the development project proponent undertakes 3. To mitigate the adverse impacts of the HIA directly. development and change, enhancing and adding value to the heritage as a result. When How to conduct an HIA? to use this Guidebook The timing of HIA studies varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and from framework to framework. In Heritage Impact Assessment is an assessment most cases it is carried out during the project design concept that is constantly evolving. Therefore, and project approval phase. it is recommended to use this Guidebook in conjunction with guidelines from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), both of which are advisory bodies to UNESCO. 3

2 Types of Impact Assessments IMPACT ASSESSMENTS ARE According to the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), impact A TOOL THAT CAN assessments (IA) are a structured process \"for considering the implications, for people and their environment, of proposed actions while there is still an HELP IMPROVE opportunity to modify (or even, if appropriate, abandon) the proposals. It is THE PLANNING applied at all levels of decision-making, from policies to specific projects.\"1 PROCESS Impact assessments are a tool that can help improve the planning process as well as a tool to help support better decision-making. As a pre-requisite for IMPACT development plans and projects that affect a heritage property, depending ASSESSMENTS ARE on the type of heritage and other specificities, different types of impact A TOOL TO HELP assessments are undertaken, including: 2 SUPPORT BETTER DECISION-MAKING • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which is a systematic process for evaluating the environmental implications of a proposed policy, plan or programme. • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is a systematic process of examining the anticipated environmental effects of a proposed project. • Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), which is a systematic process of examining the impact of a proposed development on the cultural heritage value of a heritage property. As a method to predict both the positive and negative effects of development projects or proposed policy changes, impact assessments can provide advice on how to enhance the positive effects and to avoid, limit, or compensate the negative effects. Impact assessments further allow to identify development alternatives, as well as recommend mitigation measures against possible degradation and/or other negative impacts on the cultural or natural heritage within a heritage property or its wider setting. Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) studies are applied to specific project and development proposals that potentially threaten resources of cultural significance. HIA studies focus specifically on development projects or proposed policy changes of a particular asset or area of significant heritage. The impact evaluation, which is conducted as part of the HIA exercise (see page 9, Step 3.2), focuses on impacts of significance to the heritage and its communities. 1 International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), 2021. IMPACT ASSESSMENT, https://www.iaia. org/wiki-details.php?ID=4 2 UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, WHC. 19/01 - July 2019, https://whc.unesco.org/document/178167 4

3 Why conduct an HIA: Rational and Purpose Change inevitably brings pressure which has the Important potential to damage or destroy heritage values. An HIA allows to manage change by identifying threats It is important to note that not only physical to heritage values and by recommending solutions. development projects at heritage properties require an impact assessment. HIA studies are applied to specific project proposals that threaten resources of cultural significance. Heritage properties are also vulnerable to When applied, an HIA identifies potential and other changes and activities, for example: ascertained impacts on heritage resources that will • Policy changes, for example changes in result from a proposed development project. An HIA can be conducted for various types of heritage land use and urban planning policies including cultural and natural heritage. • Tourism infrastructure and As part of the HIA process, the assessment seeks increased visitor numbers answers to the following questions: • Major archaeological excavations, • Which heritage attributes are at risk? although they might possibly compensate by gaining new knowledge. • How do these attributes contribute to the heritage significance? For such changes and activities, an HIA shall also be conducted. • How will the change/development project impact the heritage significance? • How can these impacts be avoided, reduced, rehabilitated or compensated (mitigation)? • What is the overall threat to the heritage significance and possibly to World Heritage status? Below graphic shows areas in which HIA studies can identify impacts: Cultural Practices Traditional Rituals and Use Festivals Built Heritage HIA studies can Historic identify the impact Landscapes of a development project on: Material Spatial Culture Morphology Buried Archeology 5

4 HIA Process The HIA process essentially is quite simple and follows a basic framework. During the Capacity-Building Workshop seven (7) primary steps were introduced which are commonly used even so with some variations based on national approaches. Importantly, the seven (7) primary steps can overlap in terms of timing Step 7 and, at times, it is required to go back to an earlier step Step 6 Final HIA Report in order to ensure the relevance of the HIA Step 5 Mitigation exercise. Step 4 Report Review, Implementation, Step 3 Mitigation Public Compliance Strategy Consultation, Monitoring Step 2 3.1 Threat Approval Identification Licensing 2.1 Desk-based Step 1 Study 3.2 Impact Evaluation 1.1 Screening 2.2 Significance 1.2 Scoping Mapping 3.3 Change De- 1.3 Commis- termination sioning 01 Step 1: Screening, Scoping, Commissioning Step 1.1: SCREENING A Scoping Report (or HIA Brief) should be agreed with all relevant stakeholders, including the State Screening is the process of deciding which projects Party, regional or local governments, heritage require an HIA. advisors or managers, local communities or others as necessary. The Scoping Report makes clear what Screening involves the review of project proposals is to be done including why, how, when, and what by the designated Heritage Authority to identify are the expected outputs. It is important to include projects which may impact heritage resources and an agreed calendar between all stakeholders and therefore require an impact assessment as well the development programme. as the screening of the study area for relevant cultural resources. Project proposals for planned The Scoping Report should have an outline of the development activities can be from external proposed change or development, a summary of entities as well as from Government authorities. the conditions present on the site and its environs, details of any alternative development being Ideally the screening process starts at the planning considered, an outline methodology and terms of stage, but it can also take place during investigation, reference for the HIA. design, construction, operation, decommissioning stages. The methodology should include organizations or people to be consulted, thus determining Step 1.2: SCOPING the stakeholders who are a part of the heritage community related to the site, details of the baseline Scoping determines the nature and scale of the HIA information to be collected including methods and appropriate study areas, likely sensitive heritage The starting point for any heritage assessment receptors, and a proposed survey and assessment is to define the scope of work necessary for methodology. the assessment. The scoping exercise identifies the range of heritage assets to be considered It is also important to identify whether the proposed and hence defines the terms of reference. Early development is within a World Heritage property, consultations with relevant parties, including its buffer zone, or outside both. affected communities, are important to engage all stakeholders in the process from the very beginning. The Scoping Report should: At the scoping stage the Heritage Authority decides: 1. Flag large or critical impacts – the full HIA Report at the end of the process (see Step 7) can • The study area for the HIA then assess any positive reactions in terms of the altered development. • The methodology for the HIA 2. Outline the anticipated major detrimental • Expertise needed on the impact assessment 6 team

impact on the heritage site and on other heritage Step 1.3: COMMISSIONING assets of national and local significance. Commissioning is the act of contracting a team of 3. Give (as far as is practicable) a clear indication of experts to conduct the HIA. what knowledge exists about the site and where gaps exist – including how good the information For the sake of credibility and transparency, it is base is and what level of confidence may be recommended that a team of independent experts placed on the assessment. is contracted to carry out the HIA. While the Heritage Authority supervises the HIA process, in In short, the Scoping Report includes: most cases, the HIA itself is not undertaken by staff of the Heritage Authority but by contracted experts. • Description of the development project (from the developer) It is NEVER appropriate that an agent of the development project proponent is contracted to • The heritage resources that may be effected by undertake an HIA due to the conflict of interest. the development • The potential impacts that may occur from the project GROUP WORK Step 1: Preparing HIA Commissioning Briefs for potential development projects in the historical city Panam Nagar Group work sessions conducted during the HIA Workshop provided participants with opportunities to gain hands-on experience. During a group work on Step 1, participants developed and presented HIA Commissioning Briefs on self-identified potential development projects in the historical city of Panam Nagar: ƹ Restoration of water bodies of Panam Nagar to overcome security and heritage trail by past water-based landscape ƹ Water-based tourism projects around Panam Nagar using the moat ƹ Reusing the colonial Kashinath Bhaban building as a guest house ƹ Revitalizing Panam Nagar: Introducing retail shopping centers in Panam Nagar Street 02 Step 2: Baseline Study (Desk-based Study, Additional Data Collection) and Significance Mapping Step 2.1: BASELINE STUDY The process, often referred to as generating the baseline (= baseline study), can involve a desk- “Baseline Studies – What is the heritage that could based study, as well as additional data acquisition be impacted?” methods including surface surveys, archaeological samplings, built condition assessments, local In order to establish a comprehensive understanding interviews, community-based cultural mappings, of the baseline situation, including the type, or consultations with relevant academics, experts, number, and distribution of heritage resources, the practitioners, communities, and other stakeholders. HIA team, in a baseline study, gathers, collects and collates required data and documentation of all The desk-based study looks at historical documents heritage assets present at the site. Heritage assets and secondary work, including environmental, can include individual archaeological sites and ecological, geological, and geo-morphological fields, historic buildings, village cores, individual information, map collections and studies, historic farms, fish-traps, fishing harbors, natural fresh photos, archival documents, published papers, water springs, religious gathering places such as catalogs, inventories, project reports, and previous mosques and shrines, as well as sites associated or related assessment reports. with other intangible heritage expressions, such as a weaving mill for example. 7

It is important that the baseline: conducted, all stakeholders who will experience an impact on their heritage by the development, have • Is detailed enough to provide a pre-project the right to input into the process of the cultural baseline against which monitoring results can mapping. be compared What is a cultural mapping? A cultural mapping is • Identifies the protected status of heritage the process of collecting, recording, synthesizing and analyzing information in order to describe • Specifies gaps in the data and why those gaps the cultural resources and patterns of their use could not be filled (funds, time, access) in a given place or by a specific community. • Identifies where negative results occurred While in some cases national or local heritage have a pre-determined significance value assessment, Another important aspect of the baseline study is often the significance of a national or local the documentation of vulnerabilities such as (a) heritage site is \"assumed\" but not defined. Such an degradation of built fabric, (b) land erosion, (c) assumption is not of much use to the HIA assessor, water and wind erosion, (d) agricultural disturbance who must move beyond assumption to definition. of archaeological site, (e) Intense visitation pressures, (g) modern intrusions in historic areas, or In such cases, a significance assessment needs (h) environmental degradation. to be carried out in the process of the impact assessment. During the significance assessment, Questions to ask in the baseline study include: individual physical attributes in which significance What actions have already affected the heritage is embedded (and therefore, which need to be resource? In what ways? To what extent and protected through the HIA process), need to be level? Where can existing impacts be seen? How identified. The significance assessment draws up are they reflected by the resource? an inventory and maps physical attributes of a site that carry the site’s significance. Step 2.2: SIGNIFICANCE MAPPING Significance Mapping: Significance mapping, What are the attributes that carry values of the as defined by ICOMOS, is the collection and heritage that we need to safeguard? collation of information on all aspects and attributes of the cultural heritage within The next step is the significance mapping which the agreed study area, so that the historical identifies attributes that convey the significance development of the property, its context, of a heritage object and evaluates and defines its setting and where appropriate other values significance based on baseline data and through (for example national and local) can be fully the implementation of a cultural mapping. understood. (ICOMOS 2011). In some cases, the significance of a heritage site may already be known and well-defined either as a statement of significance adopted by the Heritage Authority or as a statement of “Outstanding Universal Value”, for example if the property is a World Heritage site. If a cultural mapping is 03 Step 3: Threat Identification, Impact Evaluation, Change Determination Step 3.1: THREAT IDENTIFICATION pose proven imminent danger. Potential threats are threats which could have damaging effects on What are the potential sources of impact on these its inherent characteristics. values? Internal and external threats? A so-called threat matrix pulls together all relevant The threat analysis identifies the sources information in a consistent manner by cross- of ascertained and potential threats on the tabulating: significance of the heritage site, including what the impacts are and how permanent the impact will be. • All heritage resources and their individual Ascertained threats are threats that are specific and attributes 8

• The significance (importance, value) of these attributes • Details of the kind and extent of proposed works/plans • Existing vulnerabilities • Identification of source of threats • Definition of impact range associated with each threat • Types of predicted impacts of each threat on heritage attributes of significance • Duration of potential impacts and possibility of reversibility The HIA threat matrix further reveals the threats that proposed works and/or changes would result in impacts. The HIA threat matrix correlates the identified impacts with specific attributes of significance that would be affected, and provides insight into what heritage attributes (a) are threated, (b) how they will be impacted, and (c) for how long will they be at risk? Sample HIA threat matrix: Phase / Proposed Attribute Contribution Type of Duration Reversibility Spatial Works affected of Attribute to Impact: of Impact: of Impact: Extent of Significance: Indirect Temporary Reversible / Impact: Preparation phase Insignificant / / Direct / Irreversible Limited / Construction phase Medium / High Residual / Extended Operational phase Permanent When it comes to the timing of the impact, different phases should be considered. These include, for example, the preparation phase, the construction phase, and the operations phase. Step 3.2: IMPACT EVALUATION What will be the likely nature, extent, and resulting degree of these impacts (both on individual attributes and the heritage site as a whole)? The ICOMOS Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) studies for World Heritage Properties states that an HIA must provide “the evidence on which decisions can be made in a clear, transparent and practicable way”. This is achieved by considering the impact of any proposed project or change on the heritage site's key attributes, both individually and collectively. Below table explains different types of impacts. Types of Impacts: DIRECT IMPACTS INDIRECT IMPACTS Impacts which cause measurable change to the Impacts which don’t directly affect a heritage fabric or material of a resource. resource, but alter its environment, setting or context in ways that ultimately affect the resource For example: Destruction of archaeological itself. Many indirect impacts are visual impacts. remains and ancient monuments through road works For example: The 61 meter tall Nan Myint Viewing Tower in Bagan (Myanmar) having a visual impact to the heritage site and landscape. RESIDUAL IMPACTS CUMULATIVE IMPACTS The impact that remains following the application Cumulative impacts occur over time and are the of mitigation and management measures. Thus result of combinations of impacts that individually the final level of impact associated with the may not cause significant damages, but over time development project. the multiplication of these impacts are a threat to heritage significance For example: Visual impact of mass transit railway on Tsui Sing Lau Tang Clan Pagoda (Hong Kong) For example: Pressures on the walls of a historic which was constructed above ground to avoid fort resulting from a poorly designed, executed, or deep excavations near pagoda which could maintained road surrounding a fort. have endangered the stability of the pagoda's foundation. 9

Step 3.3: CHANGE DETERMINATION Impacts can be grouped into beneficial, acceptable, acceptable with mitigation, and unacceptable impacts. Beneficial Beneficial impact: An impact is BENEFICIAL if the project will complement the setting of a heritage resource, stabilize or enhance its function and environment or Acceptable improve its maintenance and management. Acceptable with Acceptable impact: An impact is ACCEPTABLE if the assessment indicates that there Mitigation will be no significant effects on the fabric, setting or values of a heritage place Not Acceptable Impact acceptable with Mitigation: An impact is ACCEPTABLE WITH MITIGATION if, in spite of the fact that there will be some adverse effects, these can be eliminated, reduced or offset to a large extent by specific mitigation measures. Not Acceptable impact: An impact is NOT ACCEPTABLE if the adverse effects are considered too excessive and are unable to mitigate practically. In a consecutive step, the color-coded impact type (green, orange, red) is applied to the previously discussed threat matrix. This allows to show the significance of a heritage asset as well as the severity of a threat at one glance. HIA Sample Threat Matrix with Impact Evaluation Stage / Pro- Attribute Contri- Type of Im- Duration Reversibility Spatial posed Works affected bution of pact: Indirect of Impact: of impact: Extent of Im- attribute to Temporary / Reversible / pact: Limited Preparation Significance: / Direct / Permanent Irreversible / Extended phase Insignificant Residual Construction / Medium phase Operational / High phase Medium Direct Temporary Irreversible Extended High Residual Permanent Reversible Limited Medium Residual Temporary Reversible Extended GROUP WORK Step 3: Identifying, Mapping, and Evaluating Threats to Significance During the field visit of the historical city Panam Nagar, participants identified the historic landscape and assessed the significance of impacts on selected subjects by using the HIA threat matrix (see Step 3.3) as well as by using example heritage impact statements1. During the impact evaluation, working groups evaluated proposed changes, the significance of affected elements and attributes, and the severity of negative impacts. 1 Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales, Welsh Government, 2017, page 14-15, https://cadw.gov.wales/sites/ default/files/2019-05/20170531Heritage%20Impact%20Assessment%20in%20Wales%2026917%20EN.pdf 10

04 Step 4: Mitigation Strategy Mitigation is a mechanism to change the negative of (a) the property as a whole and (b) individual impacts of a project from unacceptable to attributes. acceptable. Thus, mitigation is required for all impacts defined as “Acceptable with Mitigation”. The Hierarchy of Mitigation is: Mitigation measures are applicable at all scales and 1. Enhance positive impacts for all stages of the proposed project and measures 2. Avoid negative impacts to the greatest extent should be recommended with the immediate and long term safeguarding of the heritage resources in possible mind. It is important that mitigation measures must 3. Minimize (or reduce) what cannot be avoided be realistically achievable, viable alternatives. 4. Remedy (or restore) what cannot be reduced 5. Compensate for what cannot be remedied The Mitigation Strategy is not a “shopping list” of pick-and-choose mitigation measures, but a Important: Before discussing possible strategy that helps to identify the most appropriate approaches to mitigating the impacts that mitigation scenarios to address impacts on the may arise from the project, it is necessary in significance of the heritage site. It is a package of the impact assessment process to evaluate the integrated mitigation measures designed to deal option of “No Development”. with predicted impacts on the heritage significance 05 Step 5: Report Review, Public Consultation, Approval Licensing Following the conduct of the HIA Study (Step 1-4) Commonly Accepted HIA Report Structure: and once the mitigation proposals have been agreed upon, a preliminary HIA Report for review 1. Executive Summary and approval by the Heritage Authority is prepared. 2. Table of Contents 3. Glossary The HIA Report is a comprehensive report that 4. Introduction presents all steps and information of the HIA Study, 5. Methodology including how the HIA was conducted, HIA Study 6. Legislation, Guidelines and Standards findings, and HIA Study recommendations. 7. Desk-based Study and Site Visit and Survey The HIA Report consists of the following parts (1) Results Definition of heritage significance, (2) Identification 8. Identification of Threats of threats to significance, (3) Evaluation of the 9. Evaluation of Impacts effects of the identified threats to the defined 10. Mitigation Recommendations heritage significance, and (4) Recommendation of 11. Heritage Monitoring Plan action, including mitigation measures. 12. Summary and Conclusions The HIA Report also includes the determination if a A Public Consultation during which the draft HIA project can proceed as planned or if steps will need Study findings are presented and discussed can to be taken for protection of the affected heritage give stakeholders the opportunity to be involved values. In cases where the project needs to be in every step of the process as well can provide all modified for the protection of heritage – the report stakeholders with an opportunity to inject ideas at must clearly state the measures that must be taken. the planning stage. A public consultation can also serve as a conflict resolution tool and platform. Note: There is a commonly accepted format and structure for an HIA report, recommended by the Approval Licensing: Once the HIA Report is International Association of Impact Assessment reviewed and officially approved by authorities, (IAIA). The IAIA format is required to be used for the proposed development activities can start. If HIA studies at World Heritage properties. the HIA Report is not approved by authorities, the proposed development activities cannot take place as planned. 11

06 Step 6: Mitigation Implementation, Compliance Monitoring Throughout the implementation phase of the Through regular monitoring of the project site development project, monitoring is necessary to during regular and/or random visits the compliance ensure compliance with measures agreed upon with measures outlined in the mitigation strategy is in the Mitigation Strategy (Step 4) as well as to monitored, recorded, and reported. assess how effective the Mitigation Strategy is in protecting the values and significance of the heritage resources. 07 Step 7: Final HIA Report At the end of the implementation phase, once Upon consideration/acceptance of the Final HIA all agreed-upon mitigation measures have been Report, and including any follow-up monitoring or carried out, a concluding Final HIA Report is other corrective or legal action that the heritage submitted to the heritage authority. authority deems appropriate and lawful, the final HIA Report is filed and archived as a matter of the The Final HIA Report is a comprehensive report that public record. presents all steps and information of the HIA Study, including how the HIA was conducted, HIA Study Filing of the Final HIA Report is the duty of the findings, HIA Study recommendations, conducted commissioning heritage authority. mitigation implementation and compliance monitoring results. GROUP WORK Step 7: Conducting a HIA case study in the context of a World Heritage site in Bangladesh On the last day of the workshop, as a case study, working groups gathered inputs for an HIA report in the context of the Ruins of Buddhist Vihara, Paharpur, World Heritage site in Bangladesh, focusing on the impact of adding a wooden staircase to the World Heritage Site. The case study allowed participants to combine all steps of a HIA Study and to organize and present information in a clear and easily understandable manner. Heritage Impact Assessment is an assessment concept that is constantly evolving. Therefore, it is recommended to use this Guidebook in conjunction with guidelines from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), both of which are advisory bodies to UNESCO. 12

States Parties shall ensure that Environmental Impact Assessments, Heritage Impact Assessments, and/or Strategic Environmental Assessments be carried out as a pre-requisite for development projects and activities that are planned for implementation within or around a World Heritage property. UNESCO's Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (Version July 2019, Para 118bis)

House 122, Road 1, Block F Banani, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh Tel. +88 (0)2 22 22 714 82 Fax. +88 (0)2 22 22 711 50 [email protected] www.unesco.org/dhaka