2008 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2007 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

The Dahshur World Heritage Site Mobilization for Cultural Heritage for Community Development (EGYPT)
Submitted By: john.apruzzese@undp.org
The MDG Achievement Fund aims to accelerate progress towards attainment of the MDGs in select countries by supporting policies and programmes that promise significant and measurable impact on select MDGs; Financing the testing and/or scaling-up of successful models; Catalysing innovations in development practice and adopting mechanisms that improve the quality of aid as foreseen in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
MDGF-1775: UNDP-Spain MDG Achievement Fund. Publicated: 25-9-2008

UNESCO and World Air League join forces to safeguard World Heritage
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and the World Air League, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, will present an ambitious partnership on 24 September, to promote and safeguard World Heritage. The partnership is born of the realization that skyships can contribute to sustainable tourism, and reduce pollution and environmental stress that is affecting both natural and cultural sites.
UNESCO. Media Advisory N°2008-61. UNESCOPRESS. Publicated: 23-09-2008

Graz - the capital of culture
Graz, capital of Styria located on the Mur river whose historical districts are registered in UNESCO’s World Heritage. Here, in an abundance of creativity, vanguard movements radiate one thousand blazes on the occasion of the first festival of Steirischer Herbst (the Styrian Autumn ). This year, the contemporary art festival turns 40 years old!
Graz Tourismus. News. Publicated: 23-9-2008

Exhibition on the occasion of the classification of the fortress of Mont-Dauphin as UNESCO World Heritage
The Center of national monuments celebrates on July 13 2008, the classification as UNESCO World Heritage of the fortress of Mont-Dauphin. Thus, the Center of national monuments has organized two events to valorise very specially the creative dimension of this Roi Soleil’s great architect:
- a exhibition of photographs by Pascal Lemaître, permanent from now on, displays the main sites of Vauban;
- until September 21st, the exhibition of contemporary art "Arsenal and powder keg. Contemporary approaches to Vauban" groups the facilities, made in situ, by ten artists (sculptors, video producers, photographers, artists…) invited to create a dialogue with the Vauban’s work and with Mont-Dauphin.
Le Centre des monuments nationaux. Publicated: 22-9-2008

<WHTour.org> : Yemen - 3 new sites
World Heritage Tour is a non-profit organization documenting the UNESCO World Heritage List in panographies - interactive 360 x 180 degree imaging. This is for those who are unable to travel for whatever reason, and also a legacy to future generations. Soon documentation and reproduction will be the only ways to see, enjoy and share many past glories that are slowly disappearing because of climate change and natural disasters. Tito Dupret, assisted by Bijuan Chen, is the engine of the organization. <WHTour.org> is alive thanks to the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the donors and the staff.
WHTour.org. Panographies. Publicated: 19-9-2008

Inauguration Ceremony for the Aksum Obelisk
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura has welcomed the reinstallation of the Aksum obelisk in northern Ethiopia: “I am very happy that the re-erection of the Aksum obelisk in its original location was initiated on the eve of the Ethiopian Millennium, as a result of the joint efforts of the Italian and Ethiopian Governments to honour this ancient symbol of Ethiopian identity. Thanks to the generous support of the Italian Government, UNESCO has been implementing the necessary on-site archaeological and technical work.” Commenting the significance of cultural heritage preservation, Mr Matsuura went on to highlight the “potential of culture as a vector of identity and social cohesion and hence an indispensable tool for development. In today's globalized world, it is all the more urgent to reinforce culture's role as a driving force for sustainable development,
social cohesion and peace,” he said.
UNESCO. Press Release. Publicated: 19-9-2008

Jaeger-LeCoultre and International Herald Tribune provide support to World Heritage Marine Programme
With the support of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Swiss luxury watch manufacture, the World Heritage Marine Programme will begin a series of conservation activities aimed at identifying, monitoring and preserving marine sites around the world. This partnership is being promoted through a series of articles published by the International Herald Tribune, also a partner in this initiative, in the printed and online versions of the daily www.iht.com/tidesoftime. The first series of articles was published in september 12, 2008 issue.
World Heritage Centre. News. Publicated: 19-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Great Bassam, Ivory Coast: Technical assistance for the restoration of a conservation policy of the historical city
As a result of the appointment of the historical City of Great Bassam in January 2008, it is important to reinforce the protection measures and to support the restoration of a strong heritage conservation policy. The historical city, formerly called "France district", has preserved its original character of the 19th century colonial period, which continues being very evident in its urban and architectonic structure. However, to ensure the conservation of its integrity and authenticity, it is necessary to define a reinforced policy of heritage conservation.
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

Exhibition: Between Heaven and Earth : Mont-Saint-Michel and sacred mounts around the world
From 2 June to 11 November 2008. Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel, France
According to legend, the archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches in Normandy, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky tidal islet then known as Mont Tombe. The Bishop sent monks to Italy to bring back relics of the archangel from Monte Gargano and, following their return, the church was consecrated in 709. Thirteen centuries later, Mont-Saint-Michel is now a World Heritage Site, justly admired for its spiritual and symbolic importance as well as its historical and architectural significance. Celebrations of the 13th centenary will be staged throughout 2008 and 2009. Photographs of sacred mountain sites now listed as Unesco World Heritage Sites will be on display both inside and outside the abbey church on Mont-Saint-Michel. The photographs have all been taken by Jean-Michel Guillaud, the official photographer of the Photodrame association.
Centre des Monuments Nationaux. News. Publicated: 16-9-2008

World Heritage Expeditions - A Partnership with the American Museum of Natural History
AMNH Expeditions, the educational travel program of the American Museum of Natural History, and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre have launched an exciting partnership aimed at increasing the public’s awareness of the need to protect and preserve the values of World Heritage sites. Together we have created World Heritage Expeditions, a new travel series exploring the ongoing efforts for the conservation and preservation of some of the world’s outstanding cultural and natural sites. Our inaugural program to Turkey (May 2008) received an overwhelming reception and will be repeated in 2010. Upcoming programs feature equally outstanding content designed especially for travelers on World Heritage Expeditions.
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Expeditions. Publicated: 17-9-2008

The “Venice Inner Canals” Project on the Web
Web-based GIS application intended as a Decisional Support System for the urban planning and management of the City of Venice. Since the beginning of the 90’s, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (UNESCO – ROSTE) implemented various research projects in Venice which are concrete examples of its overall commitment for the integrated conservation of the Historic City of Venice and its Lagoon. These facets of UNESCO’s involvement in Venice are complementary and integral to the sustainable development and preservation of this World Heritage city. Quick link: Venice Inner canals : Web-based GIS application.
UNESCO. Office Venice. News. Publicated: 17-9-2008

PDF (1.45 MB) Second phase of the salvage of the tomb of Amenophis III (Egypt)
The Royal tomb of Amenophis III, one of the greatest kings of New Kingdom Egypt, who ruled the Empire around 1500 B.C., is located on the western branch of the Valley of the Kings. The wall paintings in the tomb are a remarkable example of the Eighteenth Dynasty wall paintings in the area of Ancient Thebes and its Necropolis which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. However, the quality of these paintings has been compromised by precarious conditions. As the wall paintings are striking testimony to Egyptian Civilization at its height, the completion of their conservation is essential to properly enhance the site.
UNESCO. Cairo Office. Newsletter June 2008. Publicated: 17-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Tourism and World Heritage: French contribution
As a result of the Workshop on tourism and World Heritage (Salina Real de Arc et Senans, 6 March 2008 - see newsletter n. 9), and in support to the efforts of the World Heritage Center, the CFU was committed in a work of reflection on the practical modalities of tourist management of the World Heritage sites in France, which includes an aspect of deepening in the knowledge on the present situation of the sites, a methodologic aspect and an operative aspect on certain number of sites. A group of French experts in tourism will be formed to control these actions, to serve as a link between the national Association of World Heritage Properties and to produce a "white paper" to the attention of the World Heritage Center: it will be the French contribution for the International Conference on Tourism and World Heritage in 2009.
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Mauritania, Tichitt: Mission from 26 April to 4 May, 2008
At the request of the Mauritanian Authorities and within the framework of the urgent missions (CFU), Mr. Jean-Michel Perignon, Chief inspector of architecture and heritage, visited Tichitt from 26 April to 4 May. Since the Mosque of Tichitt suffered damages in the 2007 floods, the local people suggested to increase the prayer hall, to face disadvantages and risks experienced by the users (water damages during rain; risk of collapse of the support walls; sinking sensation in the building, below the neighboring constructions)…
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Hue, Vietnam : Technical Assistance
(in French) Afin d’assister les autorités locales à répondre aux recommandations du Comité du patrimoine mondial en lien avec le bureau de l’UNESCO de Hanoi, il est proposé de mettre à leur disposition une expertise technique. Cela aidera les autorités locales dans la mise en place d’un schéma directeur et dans l’identification du potentiel patrimonial des environs de Huê, ainsi que dans la préparation du rapport sur l'état de conservation du site pour le prochain Comité du patrimoine mondial. Une mission est prévue en septembre prochain.
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Riga, Latvia: Co-operation Riga, Bordeaux, Lyon
The joint mission World Heritage Center/ city of Bordeaux and City of Lyon took place in Riga from May 18-24 2008. This follow-up and technical assistance mission was made for the Center within the framework of the France-UNESCO Agreement, and thanks to the support of the City of Riga. The objective of the mission consisted of identifying the working lines, common problems and the elements of a program to develop decentralized co-operation between the Cities of Riga, Lyon and Bordeaux associating conservation of Exceptional Universal Value of the site and urban planning in a development context.
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

PDF (65 KB) Saint Louis of Senegal: follow-up of the project
Jury of the Competition on the public spaces: the City of Saint-Louis required the aid of the partners of the decentralized co-operation, Lille Metropolis and Toulouse to start up a rehabilitation and reclassification project of the main urban spaces of the island organizing a Competition of projects in two phases (selection of the teams on file, then selection of projects). As support, two experts - Mr. Alain Coulon and Mr. Mohaman Haman - were chosen by the World Heritage Center to participate in the technical commissions of the first and second phase (Alain Coulon), as well as to represent the World Heritage Center in the jury (Mohaman Haman)
WHC. Convention France-UNESCO. Newsletter N°10. Publicated: 16-9-2008

Safeguard and restoration of selected monuments within the World Heritage site of the Old City of Gjirokaster (Albania)
On 15 December 2006, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, and Ambassador Tatjana Gjonaj, Permanent Delegate of Albania to UNESCO, signed an agreement establishing a self-benefiting Funds-in-Trust in favour of the restoration of the historical centre of Gjirokastra inscribed on the World Heritage List since 2005.
UNESCO. BRESCE/CLT. Publicated: 17-9-2008

Special issue call for papers from Facilities - World Heritage Sites Management - Deadline 20 October 2008
We are currently seeking papers for a Special Issue of Facilities, focused on World Heritage Sites Management. The main aim is to produce an accurate state-of-the-art reviewing the current management practices of World Heritage sites; particularly focused on their changes (e.g. climate, interventions). Authors, from all nationalities, are invited to address: A particular World Heritage site (WHS) case study; The relationship between its international, national, regional and local recognition; The progress and obstacles when comparing management approaches pre- and post- WHS classification; The actors currently involved in its management (e.g. governmental institutions, local authorities, owners, visitors, etc); their regular actions and aims); The management tools (e.g. legislation, master plans, software, etc) used to monitor, develop and evaluate changes; their values (indicators) and priorities (weights); and The sustainability of current changes.
Esmerald. Call for Papers. Publicated: 29-8-2008

Urban Historical center of Camagüey declared UNESCO Cultural heritage of the Humanity
The World Heritage Committee, in its 32nd meeting, approved the inclusion of the Historical Center of the city of Camagüey in the List of the Cultural heritage of the Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A team composed by doctor Lourdes Gómez, and specialists from the Provincial Directorate of Heritage and the Office of the Historian of the City of Camagüey, successor of the Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe villa, founded in 1514, based the proposal on the basis of the universal exceptional values of the oldest nucleus, which includes 54 hectares, defining the remaining 276 of the Camagüeyan historical center as Protection Area.
Oficina del Historiados. Camagüey City. News. Publicated: 29-8-2008

PDF (1.61 BM) Support to the elaboration of the inscription records in the World Heritage List. Cameroun
Although Cameroun has only one property inscribed in the World Heritage list, the fauna reserve of Dja, it has however a tentative list composed of thirteen cultural and mixed properties, susceptible to be inscribed in the World Heritage List. The cultural landscape of the Lobé falls is included in this tentative list. With the purpose of increasing the number of places inscribed in the World Heritage List, Cameroun wishes to register a second cultural landscape site. The Ministry of Culture with the support of UNESCO has just elaborated a request of international support for the proposal of inscription of the cultural landscape of the Lobé Falls.
UNESCO Yaounde. La Lettre de l'UNESCO. Publicated: 27-8-2008

World Heritage List
Translations of the World Heritage List and short descriptions of World Heritage Sites into Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish:
http://whc.unesco.org/ru/list/
http://whc.unesco.org/ar/list/
http://whc.unesco.org/zh/list/
http://whc.unesco.org/es/list/
WHC. News. Publicated: 25-8-2008

Conference-New discoveries in Angkor
The historical research on Cambodia and Angkor are recent - less than 150 years old. The history of this country had then to be discovered, with the help of different documents, mainly the inscriptions engraved in stone and the monuments. The Jemer people, on the other hand, had transformed their own history into legend, as it happens to other towns. For one century, almost exclusively the French tried to elaborate this long history, and thanks to a remarkable work, they could reconstruct it, explain the monuments and believe, sometimes, that their discoveries were definitive. But they were scarce. Currently, and since the beginning of the 1990’s, the works, restoration and archaeological works, became international…
Clio. News. Publicated: 22-8-2008

World Heritage Visitor Management Workshop
The workshop focused on building capacity among participants to understand the issues and opportunities in five areas of visitor and tourism management: managing visitor experiences; managing visitor congestion; managing facilities for visitors; interpretation and education; and managing relationships with stakeholders. Participants presented case studies on each of the topics followed by discussion and debate on management strategies and problem framing...
nps. News. Publicated: 22-8-2008

Article by Cristina Cameron, Chair of the World Heritage Committe for the UNESCO Courrier: A permanent challenge
Twenty-seven new sites have been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in Quebec (Canada). While no changes were made to the List of Heritage in Danger, "reinforced monitoring" was requested for four sites: Bordeaux, (France),Timbuktu (Mali), Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru), Samarkand (Uzbekistan). Under the new mechanism, first introduced in 2007, the Committee will be kept informed of developments affecting the preservation of these sites on a regular basis with a view to deciding on their future status on the World Heritage List...
The UNESCO Courrier. 2008 number 6. Publicated: 18-8-2008

Mission accomplished: Aksum Obelisk successfully reinstalled
The third and last block of the Aksum Obelisk was successfully mounted by the UNESCO teams yesterday 31 July in its original location in Ethiopia. The monument’s reinstallation was greeted with joy by the local people, who spontaneously organized musical concerts yesterday at the site. Weighing 150 tons and 24 meters high, the obelisk is the second largest stela on the Aksum World Heritage site in northern Ethiopia, close to the border with Eritrea. Transported to Rome by the troops of Mussolini in 1937, it was returned in April 2005 by the Italian government. Its dismantling in Rome, transport and reinstallation were funded by the Italian government. The obelisk is around 1,700 years old and has become a symbol of the Ethiopian people's identity.
UNESCO. Press Release No. 66 - 2008. Publicated: 01-08-2008

Saltaire Photography Competition
You are invited to enter the Inspired by World Heritage Photography Competition 2008. Your photographs should be based on one or more of the Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. Ancient, modern, natural and man-made: the World Heritage List an amazingly diverse register of our planet's most important places. Selection of images will be displayed at this year's Saltaire Festival. The competition is sponsored by Jessops, the biggest high street retailer of everything photographic. There a £250 of Jessops vouchers to be won including a £150 first prize!. The closing date for entries is Monday 8th September.