China Water Heritage and Traditional Knowledge Action for SDG 6

Initiative overview

The China Water Heritage and Traditional Knowledge Action for SDG 6 is a public-interest initiative led by the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Federation (WICHF). The initiative documents, interprets and disseminates selected examples of China's water-related cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, and connects them with education, public awareness and sustainable development.

Through bilingual digital publication, curated case development and public-facing educational content, the initiative aims to build a clearer bridge between water action, cultural heritage, community knowledge and long-term sustainability.

• Geographic scope China, with open bilingual access for international audiences
• Primary beneficiaries Youth, educators, heritage practitioners, local communities, cultural institutions, and the wider public
• Submission support Prepared as a stable public project route for Water Action Agenda use

Why this initiative matters

Water is not only a natural resource and a development issue. It is also closely connected with cultural memory, local knowledge, traditional practices, ecological understanding and community life.

In many parts of China, water-related knowledge is embedded in traditional irrigation practices, community customs, river-based cultural life, wetland memory, local craftsmanship and long-standing relationships between people and their environments. These dimensions are often underrepresented in contemporary water discussions, despite their educational and public value.

WICHF proposes this initiative to make these links more visible, more accessible and more useful for public understanding, sustainable development education and future collaboration.

Objectives

To document selected examples of China's water-related cultural heritage and traditional knowledge.

To build a bilingual public knowledge page that connects water, culture, heritage and sustainable development.

To produce accessible educational and editorial content for youth, educators and the broader public.

To encourage dialogue among cultural practitioners, researchers, educators and community knowledge holders.

What WICHF will deliver

A bilingual online knowledge page on water heritage and traditional knowledge in China.

Twenty curated case profiles linking water, culture, heritage and community knowledge in China.

An open educational toolkit for youth and public awareness on water heritage and sustainable development.

At least three online public dialogues or webinars on water, culture and community knowledge.

Geographic scope and beneficiaries

Geographic scope: China, with open bilingual access for international audiences.

The initiative is rooted in Chinese cases while remaining accessible to readers, collaborators and observers from other regions.

Primary beneficiaries: youth, educators, heritage practitioners, local communities, cultural institutions and the wider public.

Method and governance

The initiative will combine desk research, editorial development, bilingual publication, public communication and invited expert input.

WICHF will coordinate the overall project structure, content planning, editorial review and digital publication.

The initial implementation capacity will rely on WICHF's in-house project coordination, bilingual editorial work, research synthesis, design support, translation support and website management.

Additional support may include contributed expert time, volunteer review and institutional dialogue as the initiative develops.

Expected impact

This initiative is designed to strengthen public awareness of the links between water, culture, heritage and sustainable development.

It is expected to contribute to SDG 6 through public water awareness and community-oriented knowledge-sharing, while also supporting education, heritage safeguarding and cross-sector dialogue.

In the medium term, the initiative aims to create a replicable bilingual model for presenting water-related heritage and traditional knowledge in a clear, educational and publicly accessible way.

Timeline

1. May 2026 Project preparation and editorial framework
2. September 2026 Launch of the bilingual initiative page
3. December 2026 Publication of the first curated case profiles
4. March 2027 Release of the educational toolkit
5. June 2027 Completion of the first three public dialogues or webinars

Who this initiative serves and what it offers

This initiative introduces China's water heritage and traditional knowledge in a public-facing format that connects case material, education, and sustainable development themes.

Visitors can use this page to understand the initiative's background, focus areas, and collaboration outlook, while following future case-based and thematic content.

About the lead entity

The World Intangible Cultural Heritage Federation (WICHF) is the lead entity of this initiative. WICHF works on cultural heritage communication, knowledge organization and international-facing public-interest projects related to intangible cultural heritage and broader heritage-linked development themes.

For institutional dialogue, research exchange, or educational collaboration related to this initiative, visitors are welcome to contact WICHF through the official website channel.

Follow this route for future case updates, thematic content, and public collaboration information.