The Head of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Environment highlighted the wealth of this African nation in terms of monuments, folk traditions and natural spaces, which he stressed must be preserved for future generations.
The promotion and care of relevant movable and immovable property is a priority for the government, Zau said after attending the official declaration of the government palace in the city of Luanda on the national historical-cultural heritage this Monday.
President João Lourenço unveiled the accreditation plaque at the facility in light of the International Day of Monuments and Sites celebrations.
In a statement on the date, Zau recognized the initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), this day of reflection on the impact of global climate change in the world to dedicate heritage of humanity.
Within Angolan territory, numerous sites of cultural, historical and archaeological value, some already classified and others to be catalogued, could be at risk due to problems related to climatic variability, he said.
As dangers, he named the possible loss of archaeological evidence due to changed soil and subsoil conditions, damage to historical buildings due to the ingress of groundwater and salt water, spoilage of organic building materials due to pest infestation, and structural damage due to salt spray and flooding.
Therefore, he stressed, we must welcome and support the proposal by UNESCO and Icomos to analyze the problem and raise awareness in society to preserve Angola’s diverse heritage and rich traditions.
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