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27 October

• Asia-Pacific region shines in World Heritage List Nominations
  The 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2008 in Quebec, Canada once again put the World Heritage List in the spotlight, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, where a total of ten cultural and three natural sites were up for consideration this year. After nine days of deliberation, the World Heritage Committee inscribed 27 new sites, including 19 cultural and eight natural sites. This included eight new attractions in the Asia-Pacific region, of which six are cultural sites: Preah Vihear Temple (Cambodia); Fujian Tulou (China); Armenian Monastic Ensembles (Iran); Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia); Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Papua New Guinea); Chief Roi Mata’s Domain (Vanuatu).
  UNESCO BANGKOK NEWSLETTER 16

24 October

• Ministry of Culture of Colombia submitts two manifestations to the World Heritage list
  The Holy week processions of Popayán and the Carnival of Blacks and Whites of Pasto to enter UNESCO’s List of the Intangible heritage. Within the framework of the Meeting “Turismo Compite” organized by the Viceministry of Tourism, the director of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Maria Claudia Lopez, announced the candidacy of two cultural manifestations to UNESCO’s Tentative List of world Intangible heritage.

• Popayán and Pasto about to enter the World heritage list (Colombia)
  Within the framework of the Meeting “Turismo Compite”, organized by the Viceministry of Tourism, the director of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Maria Claudia Lopez, announced the candicacy of two cultural manifestations to UNESCO’s tentative List of Intangible heritage. The nominees are the Carnival of Blacks and Whites of Pasto, declared National Cultural heritage in 2002, and the Holy Week Procesions of Popayán, two expressions from the departments of Nariño and Cauca, whose candidacies will arrive on Tuesday 30 September at the UNESCO’s headquaters in Paris.

• Third UNESCO-Vocations Patrimoine grant-giving ceremony
  Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO and the President of the Association Vocations Patrimoine, Yves Coppens, on October 22nd, 2008 awarded five scholarships that will allow young professional people to continue with their postgraduate research within the scope of world heritage management.

• UNESCO - Vocations Patrimoine fellowships awarded to young preservation professionals from around the world
  Five young heritage professionals from Canada, Egypt, Hungary, Peru, and Zimbabwe, received UNESCO-Vocations Patrimoine fellowships to pursue post graduate research at University College Dublin (Ireland) and at the Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus (Germany) in a ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters on the evening of 22 October.

• <WHTour.org> : China - villages in Anhui
  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.

22 October

• UNESCO Executive Board adopts by consensus two decisions on the Old City of Jerusalem
  The Director General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, has welcomed warmly the adoption by consensus of two decisions concerning respectively the Old City of Jerusalem and the Mughbrabi ascent in the Old City of Jerusalem by the Executive Board during its 180th session.

21 October

• Iphan e UNESCO debatem, no Rio, Patrimônio Mundial
  Reuniões técnicas discutirão criação de Centro de Formação e Lista Indicativa. O tema do patrimônio mundial estará no centro das atenções no Rio de Janeiro, de 20 a 24 de outubro, quando acontecerão duas reuniões técnicas promovidas pelo Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan) e pelo Centro do Patrimônio Mundial da UNESCO, no Palácio Gustavo Capanema.

20 October

• Australian Funds-in-Trust Agreement created to support World Heritage activities
  A Funds-in-Trust Agreement to support World Heritage activities was established in August 2008 between UNESCO and the Australian Government, thanks to the latter’s generous contribution of 2.5 million Australian Dollars. The objective of this Fund-in-Trust is to support, through UNESCO, activities related to the World Heritage Convention in the Asia-Pacific region. These include the identification, conservation and presentation of World Heritage properties, with a particular priority to projects in the Pacific region, still one of the least represented on the World Heritage List, on which it is anticipated that at least 1 million Australian Dollars will be invested.

• Spain Honors the UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the ‘Association of World Heritage Cities of Spain’, celebrated in the city of Avila on 17 September, the World Heritage Centre was awarded Spain’s first ever ‘Patrimonio’ prize for its ‘exemplary efforts in safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage.’ Her Majesty Infanta Cristina presented the award to World Heritage Centre Director Francesco Bandarin at the San Francisco auditorium in Avila, in the presence of the mayors of 13 Spanish World Heritage cities and the President of the Castilla-Leon Regional Government. Avila is now the home of the new Center of the Association of World Heritage Cities of Spain. The city has donated the recently restored and renovated sixteenth century Verdugo Palace to the Association as the permanent headquarters of its secretariat.

• World Heritage Centre Receives World Tourism Award
  The World Heritage Centre has been awarded the 2008 World Tourism Award in recognition of its ‘outstanding guidance, support and encouragement to 185 countries around the world by establishing and monitoring 878 World Heritage sites’ and its ‘outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry.’ Dr Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council on Antiquities also won the tourism award for ‘his dynamic and committed leadership, in developing and implementing innovative management plans to care for and protect Egypt’s world famous ancient attractions, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites’.

16 October

• PDF (1.42 MB) Recommended Competencies for Managing Visitors and Tourism at World Heritage Sites: A Report from a Workshop at Yellowstone National Park
  This report summarizes discussions held at Yellowstone National Park, 12-16 May 2008 concerning technical proficiencies recommended for managing visitors and tourism at World Heritage Sites. This discussion was held as part of the workshop “Alternative Models of Visitor Management” which included managers from eight World Heritage Sites, the National Park Service Washington, DC office, non-governmental organizations and academics. The workshop was convened and organized by The University of Montana under contract with the National Park Service.

• Director-General expresses concern following clashes around Preah Vihear
  The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura – following the lead of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon - has expressed grave concern at news of an armed clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers outside the Preah Vihear temple.

13 October

• Violent clashes in southern sector of Virunga National Park
  Over the last few days, Virunga National Park has been the scene of violent fighting between the Congolese Army and Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP) rebels. On Thursday 9 October, the Managing Director of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (or ICCN, the body in charge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo protected areas management), Mr. Cosma Wilungula Balongelwa, launched a call for help to the institute’s partners after the rebels took control of the military base of Rumangabo. This military base is located in the vicinity of ICCN Headquarters from which all ICCN guards and their families were evacuated for security reasons...

Management Plans for World Heritage Sites A practical guide
Author: Birgitta Ringbeck
ISBN: 978-3-940785-02-2
Year: 2008
German Commission for UNESCO
There is a comprehensive instrument applicable to the responsibilities set out in the World Heritage Convention, concerning both the legal bases, procedures and the technical principles. A management plan for a World Heritage site is an integrated planning and action concept that lays down goals and measures for the protection, conservation, use and development of World Heritage sites.

------------------------ Newsletter Nº 33

3 October

• The UNESCO Courier - "Ethiopia: three millennia of legend and history"
  In honour of the recent reinstallation of the Aksum Obelisk in its original location in northern Ethiopia, the UNESCO Courier revisits a few of the country’s cultural sites. Along this off-the-beaten path itinerary, another treasure is unveiled, less monumental than the castles of Gondar, less visible than the Lalibela rock-hewn churches, but just as impressive: Ethiopia’s intangible heritage.

2 October

• <WHTour.org> : Kaiping Diaolou - China
  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.

• Meeting of the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee
  A meeting of the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee took place at ICCROM in Rome from 10 -12 September. Representatives from the three Advisory Bodies attended (World Conservation Union (IUCN), International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and ICCROM) including the Director General of ICCROM, Mounir Bouchenaki, and the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Francesco Bandarin. Advisory Bodies meet twice a year. The state of conservation of sites was discussed, including those on the List of World Heritage in Danger, as well as topics such as training and capacity building, and international assistance under the World Heritage Fund.

• Now available Online: World Heritage List by chronology of inscription
  You can now search sites by year inscribed. Use "," coma to separate years. When it is available, the map links are now displayed into the location map tab on a property or nomination web page.

• TURQUANT - VAL OF LOIRE - FRANCE: town art craftsmen, through the subject “art, fire and stone”
  For five years, the commune wishes to accompany the creation and installation by the art craftsmen. 5 craftsmen have already established in different activities: jewel mosaic, design, wood turning, leather shop and the preparation of dried apples. Discover in this same section of the Internet site information on these craftsmen. This aim for support at the same time allows to affirm a know-to do, but also to maintain traditions. We propose a unique project of art craftsmen town, through the subject “art, fire and stone”; the challenges are twofold: to rehabilitate the houses excavated in the earth to develop a permanent activity and be a pilot site on an international scale in the valuation of the houses excavated in the Earth.

• The new features of Val de Loire world heritage, at a glance
  Thanks to this new Internet portal, you can access the new features at a glance and quickly find all the information of your interest (trademark and communication, education, training and research, culture, landscapes, tourism, cooperation).

• La Loire a velo - An itinerary through World Heritage
  Part of "La Loire à Vélo" goes through the heart of the Loire Valley (280 km), listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, between Sully-sur-Loire (Loiret) and Chalonnes-sur-Loire (Anjou), in the domain of cultural landscapes. Historic towns and villages in which the local "tuffeau" stone dominates, châteaux overlooking the river, gardens and vineyards, landscapes and light effects: all these things will delight you. Gulls, sterns, beavers and salmon will accompany you along your way...