Water & Heritage … tells the story of water heritage in all its diversity. It reveals the technical ingenuity that water heritage has always inspired, and it presents the challenges that this heritage faces, along with possible solutions. Reflecting the depth of cooperation between UNESCO and ICOMOS, this book was launched … as a showcase of cooperation to increase dialogue on water heritage. – Irina Bokova (Director-General of UNESCO).

The book “Water & Heritage” (edited by Willem J.H. Willems and Henk van Schaik) deals with the heritage of water management and the use that was made of water, as well as the impact of water management on heritage. This book was initiated by ICOMOS Netherlands and contains 26 articles (including contributions by Corinne Hofman, Menno Hoogland, and Willem Willems) from members of ICOMOS worldwide and prominent international scholars.

This publication follows up on a Heritage and Water conference in Amsterdam, the first of its kind. Its main purpose is to credibly present the importance and value of heritage and historical experience for water and sustainable development, and vice versa, present the importance of water management for the protection of heritage. It presents evolving insights and concepts about Water and about Heritage from a variety of disciplines, policy and public perspectives illustrated with cases studies and aims to connect decision makers with experts such as engineers, archaeologists, historians, geographers, ecologist and landscape architects.

Book abstract:
Water is vital for life, and its availability has been a concern for mankind throughout the ages. Its presence has always been ascertained in a variety of ways and the development of human society everywhere is connected with various forms of water management. Man also needed to manage water to find protection from its dangers and the need for that is increasing. In the coming decades, the impact of climate change is expected to intensify floods and droughts, affect groundwater resources, raise sea levels, increase pollution and enhance the frequency and magnitude of disasters. Societies around the world are challenged to adapt to these threats to ensure water security, economic prosperity and environmental and cultural sustainability.

This publication is for sale in the Sidestone Press bookstore for €49.95 and has been officially presented on April 13th at the World Water Forum in Korea.