When armed conflict destroys a mosque in Aleppo, uproots an olive grove in the West Bank, or silences a woodcarver in Kabul, the wound is more than architectural or agricultural. Cultural heritage, buildings, crafts, land, living tradition, is increasingly weaponized in conflict, targeted deliberately to erase identity, fracture communities, and foreclose peace. Yet a new generation of practitioners is proving that preservation is not passive. It is an act of sovereignty, economic development, and conflict resolution. From planting climate-smart olive groves on contested West Bank land, to restoring a historic city quarter in Kabul, to sending protective crates to Ukrainian museums within 24 hours of invasion, this session discusses heritage protection with the on-the-ground actors that are outpacing policy.
