Peru Teams Up with Brazil as UNESCO El Niño Heritage Campaign to Aware Tourists on Climate Threats

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Peru teams up with Brazil as UNESCO’s El Niño heritage campaign raises awareness among tourists about climate threats, protecting iconic sites, cultural landscapes and communities before disaster strikes.

Peru teams up with Brazil as UNESCO’s El Niño heritage campaign turns the spotlight on climate threats facing tourism and culture. Across vulnerable destinations, extreme weather can damage monuments, archaeological sites, museums and cultural landscapes. Therefore, UNESCO is pushing countries to prepare before disasters strike.

The campaign combines scientific warnings, heritage protection and community action. At the same time, it seeks to make tourists more aware of how climate change and El Niño can affect the places they visit. Peru’s archaeological treasures and Brazil’s natural and cultural landscapes demonstrate why stronger preparedness matters. Together, these efforts place heritage resilience firmly on the tourism agenda.

UNESCO has launched its Culture x El Niño campaign to help countries prepare for the potentially severe effects of the 2026–2027 El Niño event on cultural heritage, museums, cultural institutions, cultural practices and communities. The initiative combines emergency preparedness, scientific information, technical assistance and funding through UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund.

The campaign comes as El Niño-related weather disruption threatens destinations already exposed to floods, drought, storms, landslides and wildfires. For the global travel industry, the issue extends beyond monuments and museums: heritage damage can affect destination identity, cultural tourism, local livelihoods and the communities responsible for safeguarding living traditions.

UNESCO says it is working with national cultural authorities, heritage-site managers, museums, cultural practitioners, Indigenous and local communities, schools and young people. The organisation has also brought together the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), ICCROM, ICOM and the Smithsonian Institution.

Which Countries Are Currently Identified In UNESCO’s El Niño Culture Campaign?

UNESCO’s public campaign material does not currently provide a definitive master list of every participating country. However, country-specific UNESCO material and programme references identify several countries connected with preparedness, capacity-building or cultural outreach activities. These include Peru, Brazil, São Tomé and Príncipe and Sudan.

It is important to distinguish these identified activities from a formal list of countries that have joined the entire campaign. UNESCO describes the initiative as a preparedness and anticipatory-action programme, with support tailored to countries facing acute risks.

Peru: Protecting Archaeological Heritage From Climate-Related Hazards

Peru is among the countries specifically identified in UNESCO’s El Niño preparedness activities, reflecting the country’s exposure to weather events that can threaten its extensive archaeological and built heritage. UNESCO’s work includes support for heritage professionals and authorities dealing with risks to cultural assets, particularly in areas affected by extreme rainfall, flooding and related hazards.

The programme has focused on regions including Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertad, where archaeological sites and historic structures can face serious physical damage during severe weather. For Peru’s tourism industry, safeguarding these assets is particularly important because archaeological heritage forms a major part of the country’s international destination appeal. UNESCO’s approach combines risk assessment, preparedness planning and technical capacity so that authorities can act before damage becomes irreversible.

Brazil: Pantanal Heritage Faces Wider Environmental Pressure

Brazil is another country appearing in UNESCO’s preparedness and heritage-related material, including references to the Pantanal and the Serra do Amolar area. The Pantanal is a vast wetland landscape where environmental conditions, biodiversity, local communities and tourism are closely interconnected.

El Niño can alter rainfall patterns and contribute to conditions that increase the risk of drought, wildfire and other environmental hazards. Such events can affect natural and cultural landscapes simultaneously, creating challenges for conservation authorities and communities. UNESCO’s broader approach recognises that heritage protection is not limited to individual buildings or monuments. In landscapes such as the Pantanal, safeguarding cultural values also involves understanding ecosystems, communities, livelihoods and the relationship between people and their environment.

São Tomé and Príncipe: Building Local Capacity Before Disaster Strikes

São Tomé and Príncipe has been referenced in UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund activities, including capacity-building connected with disaster preparedness. The island nation is particularly relevant to UNESCO’s wider climate-risk strategy because cultural heritage can be vulnerable to extreme weather, while limited resources can make emergency preparation and recovery more challenging.

Capacity development enables cultural authorities and heritage professionals to identify risks, strengthen emergency procedures and improve coordination before a disaster occurs. UNESCO’s model places emphasis on preparedness rather than waiting until heritage has already been damaged. For tourism, this can help protect the historic buildings, cultural traditions and community assets that contribute to São Tomé and Príncipe’s destination identity, while strengthening local ability to respond to climate-related emergencies.

Sudan: Museums And Collections Included In The Preparedness Response

Sudan is identified in UNESCO’s museum-focused El Niño programme, which is designed to strengthen cultural institutions’ ability to communicate climate risks and prepare for emergencies. The Sudan National Museum is specifically referenced in UNESCO’s material concerning museum exhibitions, education and outreach.

Museums can face multiple climate-related threats, including water damage, extreme temperatures, humidity fluctuations and disruption to electricity or building infrastructure. Protecting collections therefore requires planning that goes beyond the museum building itself. UNESCO’s initiative also highlights the importance of public education, helping communities understand how climate hazards can affect cultural heritage. In Sudan, such measures form part of a wider effort to maintain cultural institutions and their collections amid complex environmental and humanitarian pressures.

What Other Countries Could Receive UNESCO Support?

UNESCO says its campaign will provide bespoke technical assistance to countries located in high-risk zones, meaning the programme is expected to extend beyond the countries already publicly identified in specific activities. Assistance may include rapid risk assessments, disaster-management planning, emergency contact reviews and measures to protect collections, archives and movable heritage.

The organisation has also said it will support preparations for floods, storms, drought, wildfires and secondary hazards. Because El Niño affects weather patterns differently from one region to another, UNESCO’s approach is based on risk exposure and national requirements rather than applying an identical programme everywhere. Consequently, additional countries may become publicly associated with the initiative as preparedness projects develop.

UNESCO Heritage Sites Connected to El Niño Preparedness

Why Does El Niño Matter To Global Tourism?

The consequences of El Niño extend directly into the tourism economy because cultural heritage is one of the principal reasons travellers choose particular destinations. Historic centres, archaeological sites, museums, cultural landscapes, festivals and traditional practices all contribute to destination competitiveness and visitor experiences.

Damage caused by floods, fires, storms or prolonged drought can force attractions to close, disrupt tourism infrastructure and reduce income for guides, artisans, hospitality businesses and local communities. Living heritage can also be weakened when communities are displaced or livelihoods connected with cultural activities are disrupted.

For destination management organisations, UNESCO’s emphasis on anticipatory action therefore has implications beyond conservation. Emergency planning can help destinations protect their tourism assets while improving resilience among the communities that depend on them.

How Much Is UNESCO Investing In The Campaign?

UNESCO has allocated US$150,000 from its Heritage Emergency Fund for the first phase of the Culture x El Niño campaign. The initial funding is intended to support risk analysis, technical guidance, capacity development and urgent preparedness activities in priority countries.

UNESCO expects that additional resources will be needed as the event develops and impacts become clearer. The organisation has indicated that future support could include specialist expertise, emergency documentation, stabilisation work, equipment and materials, particularly if several regions experience significant damage simultaneously.

The funding is therefore designed as an initial preparedness investment rather than a complete global disaster-response budget.

What Will UNESCO’s Country Support Include?

The practical assistance available to high-risk countries covers several stages of disaster preparedness. UNESCO may help authorities conduct rapid assessments of cultural sites and institutions, update contingency plans, improve emergency communication arrangements and establish procedures for evacuation and temporary storage.

Collections and archives require particular attention because water, heat, smoke and humidity can cause permanent damage. UNESCO’s guidance can also cover emergency stabilisation and documentation, allowing damaged objects and structures to be recorded and protected quickly.

Another important element is coordination. UNESCO wants cultural authorities, civil-protection agencies, humanitarian organisations and local communities to be incorporated into broader disaster-risk management systems.

Why Is Indigenous And Local Knowledge Important?

UNESCO’s campaign also recognises that scientific forecasts are not the only resource available to communities facing environmental hazards. Indigenous Peoples and local communities possess knowledge of environmental signals, landscapes and traditional practices that can contribute to disaster preparedness.

Combining this knowledge with modern forecasting and early-warning systems can improve the ability of communities to anticipate hazards. It also ensures that cultural protection strategies reflect the people who actively maintain living heritage.

This is particularly significant for destinations where cultural traditions, landscapes and community livelihoods are closely connected. Protecting heritage in such settings requires more than preserving physical structures; it requires supporting the social systems that keep cultural knowledge alive.

What Happens Next For UNESCO’s El Niño Campaign?

UNESCO’s immediate priority is preparedness. Regional webinars are being organised for cultural authorities, heritage professionals, museum representatives, site managers and emergency-management partners, while countries facing acute risks can receive targeted technical assistance.

The organisation will also promote exhibitions, educational programmes and public outreach explaining the relationship between El Niño and culture. These activities are intended to turn scientific information into practical preparedness measures.

The wider message is clear: cultural heritage should be incorporated into climate and disaster planning before an emergency occurs. As the 2026–2027 El Niño event develops, UNESCO’s country-focused approach provides a framework for protecting monuments, museums, cultural landscapes, collections and living traditions while helping tourism destinations strengthen their resilience.

For the travel industry, that preparation could prove significant. Heritage is not simply an attraction on a visitor itinerary; in many destinations, it is part of the economic, social and cultural infrastructure that makes tourism possible.

The cause is growing exposure to El Niño and its disruptive weather patterns. El Niño can intensify droughts, floods, storms, landslides and wildfires across vulnerable regions. As a result, heritage sites, museums, cultural landscapes and living traditions can face sudden or cumulative damage. UNESCO’s answer is early preparation rather than waiting for disasters to happen.

The organisation is providing technical assistance, risk assessments, emergency planning and funding through its Heritage Emergency Fund. The reason is straightforward: protecting heritage before a crisis can reduce losses and help communities recover faster. For tourism, this approach also protects the attractions, identities and livelihoods that sustain destinations.

“UNESCO’s El Niño heritage campaign sends an important and positive message to the global tourism community. Peru and Brazil demonstrate why protecting cultural and natural heritage must remain central to destination development. By investing in preparedness, awareness and community resilience, UNESCO is helping destinations safeguard the experiences that inspire travellers worldwide. This initiative also gives tourism stakeholders an opportunity to educate visitors about responsible travel and the realities of climate vulnerability. Heritage is not simply an attraction; it is a living connection between communities, history, identity and tourism. Stronger cooperation between governments, UNESCO, local communities and the travel industry can create more resilient destinations. The campaign is therefore a valuable step towards ensuring that future generations can continue to discover, appreciate and responsibly experience the world’s remarkable cultural and natural heritage.”, says Vidwat Keshan, Associate Editor, TTW

Why Are Peru And Brazil Central To The Heritage Response?

Peru and Brazil illustrate two different dimensions of the climate challenge. In Peru, UNESCO is strengthening preparedness for archaeological and built heritage, particularly in vulnerable northern regions. The country’s historic sites can face serious consequences from intense rainfall, flooding and related hazards associated with El Niño. Brazil, meanwhile, has received UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund support for fire resilience in areas including the Pantanal. Extreme drought can increase wildfire risks, threatening natural landscapes and communities. Consequently, the campaign highlights how El Niño can affect both cultural and natural heritage. For tourists, the message is increasingly important: responsible travel also means understanding the environmental pressures facing destinations.

Peru teams up with Brazil in a wider UNESCO effort that places El Niño, heritage and tourism resilience under the global spotlight. The campaign responds to a clear climate threat: changing weather patterns can trigger floods, droughts, wildfires, storms and landslides that damage cultural and natural heritage. UNESCO’s answer is early action, backed by risk assessments, technical expertise, emergency planning and Heritage Emergency Fund support.

The reason is equally clear: preparing before a disaster can limit physical damage, protect cultural identity and reduce disruption to tourism-dependent communities. Meanwhile, greater tourist awareness can strengthen responsible travel and encourage visitors to respect vulnerable sites. Peru’s archaeological heritage and Brazil’s landscapes show why preparation must extend beyond individual monuments. As the 2026–2027 El Niño event develops, UNESCO’s campaign offers a practical framework for governments, heritage managers, communities and tourism stakeholders to protect destinations while keeping culture and climate resilience at the centre of travel.

Image: UNESCO