ICOMOS World Heritage Transhumance Initiative

Transhumance—the traditional practice of seasonal livestock migration and human communities—has shaped landscapes, cultures, and ways of life for centuries. However, this practice is increasingly under threat due to economic shifts favouring permanent settlements, diminishing grazing lands, and the impacts of climate change.

To address these challenges and highlight the significance of transhumance as part of humanity’s shared heritage, ICOMOS has launched the World Heritage Transhumance Initiative. Led by ICOMOS in collaboration with the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, this initiative aims to raise awareness of the cultural and historical value of transhumance, engaging heritage professionals, policymakers, and the general public in its preservation and sustainable management.

A key component of the initiative is an international expert conference, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in May 2025. The conference will explore thematic approaches to the recognition, management, and sustainability of transhumance cultural landscapes, resulting in a Conference Declaration on Transhumance Cultural Landscapes recognizing their global significance. A Thematic Approach to Transhumance Cultural Landscapes study, which will provide recommendations for the protection, management, and sustainable future of these landscapes through policy, strategy, and action-oriented measures is also one of the main outcomes of this project.