Culture and sustainable development A/RES/70/214 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; 1 (f) To preserve and maintain local and indigenous traditional knowledge and community practices of environmental management, which are valuable examples of culture as a vehicle for sustainable development, and to foster synergies between modern science and technology and local and indigenous knowledge, practices and innovation; (g) To promote global awareness of the linkages between cultural and biological diversity, including through the protection and encouragement of the customary use of biological resources, in accordance with traditional cultural practices, as a key element of a comprehensive approach to sustainable development; (h) To support national legal frameworks and policies for the protection a nd preservation of cultural heritage and cultural property, 5 encouraging initiatives to fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property and the return of cultural property, in accordance with national legislation and applicable international legal frameworks, including by promoting international cooperation to prevent the misappropriation of cultural heritage and products, recognizing the importance of intellectual property rights in sustaining those involved in cultural creativity; (i) To note that, in achieving these objectives, innovative mechanisms of financing can make a positive contribution in assisting developing countries in mobilizing additional resources for development on a stable, predictable and voluntary basis, and to reiterate that such voluntary mechanisms should be effective, should aim to mobilize resources that are stable and predictable, should supplement and not be a substitute for traditional sources of financing, should be disbursed in accordance with the priorities of developing countries and should not unduly burden such countries; (j) To mobilize culture as a vehicle to foster tolerance, mutual understanding, peace and reconciliation in the context of conflict -prevention, conflict-resolution and peacebuilding processes; 11. Expresses deep concern that cultural property, including religious sites and objects, is increasingly targeted by terrorist attacks, often resulting in its damage, theft or complete destruction, and condemns such attacks; 12. Encourages all countries, intergovernmental bodies, organizations of the United Nations system, relevant non-governmental organizations and all other relevant stakeholders to enhance international cooperation in supporting the efforts of developing countries towards the development, strengthening and consolidation of cultural industries, cultural tourism and culture-related microenterprises and to assist those countries in developing the necessary infrastructure and skills , as well as in mastering information and communications technologies and in gaining access to new technologies on mutually agreed terms; 13. Encourages initiatives to foster cultural cooperation agreements and networks at the regional level for knowledge - and information-sharing for sustainable development; _______________ 5 As defined in article 1 of the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 823, No. 11806). 5/6