On 1 December 2022, in Morocco, the Rabat UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage decided to include in the UNESCO Representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity the element of several national heritage “Timber Rafting”, which also includes the value of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Latvia – the skills of the Gauja rafters.
A total of six countries – Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland, Spain and Germany – have set up the multinational submission “Timber rafting”. To date, the UNESCO Representative list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Latvia includes the Tradition and symbolism of songs and dance festivals in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, while the Suiti cultural space is included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The application of the tree floating tradition has received a very positive expert judgement, which highlights the fact that the declared value demonstrates the human close link to the natural use of natural and natural resources, which is fully consistent with the European course on sustainable development. THE UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee has cited the application as an example of successful international cooperation in the preparation of the application and specifically stressed the large involvement of the Communities themselves in the preservation and development of their intangible cultural heritage.
The Rabat also had representatives of the “Gauja rafters” association to be present at this important moment, along with the other representatives of national rafting traditions.
As a result of the joint work of the community, the Community's active activities as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Germany and Latvia, the name of our country is again entered in the UNESCO Representative list of Intangible Cultural He ritage of Humanity. The rafting of trees as a craft existed in many countries of the world. While some elements of this ancient tradition remain in life, the communities continue to strengthen their links with predecessors and do everything they can to keep alive and pass on the skills of the next generations. In the 21 st century, they are still physical resistance, hard work, as well as knowledge of the use of natural forces for human benefit. The UNESCO level recognition confirms the community as a fundamental player in ensuring the diversity and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage. The country respects it by continuing to develop the necessary support instruments, ”emphasizes Latvian Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis.
By highlighting the diversity of cultural traditions in the world and focusing on the need to maintain them, the 17 th session of THE UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage was held in Rabat between 27 November and 3 December 2022.
THE representative list of UNESCO mankind intangible cultural heritage is designed to ensure greater visibility of intangible cultural heritage and to expand awareness of its importance and to promote dialogue on cultural diversity. The list to date includes 640 values from 140 countries of the world, and this year was supplemented by a further 39 values. Four values were included in the list of intangible cultural heritage requiring urgent preservation and four good practices.
In the 19 th century, the raft was a favorite work of Vidzeme peasants in spring, while in the 20 th century the raft was slowed down by the most economically advantageous floating of timber. In 1996, the tradition was restored by launching annual raft sieving and floating along the Gauja to Strench, where it concludes with the festival of the Gauja plosters, the moment of waiting for a special raft, the procession of the Gauja plosters and the performance. In 2018, the skills of the Gauja rafters were included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Latvia.