hidden europe 67

Conflicts of interest: Mining and World Heritage

by Nicky Gardner

Picture above: Degradation versus conservation: the hills around Roşia Montană have a two thousand year history of gold mining (photo © Ocskay Mark / dreamstime.com).

Summary

UNESCO's World Heritage List includes many citations which showcase former mining activities. The extractive industries have led to the development of some of Europe's most distinctive cultural landscapes. But the recent addition of a gold mining site in Romania to the list sparks tensions between conservation and economic interests.

Any mention of mining in the hallowed precincts of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee is guaranteed to elicit a mixed reaction. Some will be quick to point out that the extractive industries pose a significant threat to some of the sites featured on the World Heritage List. Others will counter with the argument that those same industries have over the centuries created some of the world’s most distinctive cultural landscapes, a number of which have provided wonderful additions to the World Heritage List.

A case in point is the World Heritage designation in 2006 of the former mining landscapes of the Tamar Valley and Cornwall in south-west England. Within a relatively brief period from the mid 18th century, this region developed a huge share in the world’s copper, tin and arsenic trade. The creative ingenuity which underpinned the Cornish mining industry had profound effects on global trade and has left a very distinctive landscape. The last mine closed only in 1998, and those who worked at South Crofty could surely never have imagined that within a very few years the remains of Cornish mining and the landscapes they shaped would sit alongside the Acropolis in Athens and the Taj Mahal in India on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

As it happens, Britain’s most recent World Heritage listing also relates to the extractive industries. It focuses on the slate landscapes of north-west Wales with their monumental quarries and mines. That citation comprises six separate spots across the county of Gwynedd which were added to the World Heritage List in 2021.

Related articleFull text online

At the water's edge: Germany's Wadden Sea

Within just a few centuries, the geography of the Frisian region has been reshaped by storms and tides. Paul Scraton is a regular writer for hidden europe; here he explores Germany’s Wadden Sea coastline. It’s a tale that shows the power of the sea.

Related articleFull text online

Lakeside Tradition: Exploring the Lavaux Vineyards

The Lavaux area in Switzerland is one of Europe's oldest winegrowing regions, a distinction which has earned for Lavaux a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Lavaux vineyards drape the north shore of Lake Geneva at the western end of the Montreux Riviera. It is an area of immense charm, a perfect region to linger and enjoy the local Chasselas wines which take so much of their character from the local soil.

Related blog post

Cultural border zones

Laurence Mitchell has been writing for hidden europe for many years and we are proud to present the full text of four of his articles on cultural border zones on our website. Enjoy reports from Georgia, Bulgaria and Tatarstan. All four pieces were originally published in print in hidden europe magazine.