World Heritage: Thailand continues fight to keep two sites' status

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WORLD HERITAGE
Thailand continues fight to keep two sites' status
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

Ayutthaya Historical Park

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is preparing hard to defend the status of two World Heritage sites in the face of ongoing concerns about conservation and management efforts.

These two sites are the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex and the Ayutthaya Historical Park.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has threatened to downgrade the first site's status as a World Heritage site.

At the last session of Unesco's World Heritage Committee in Doha, Qatar in 2014, the forest complex was identified as facing threats, which could be a reason to downgrade its World Heritage status.

Unesco also has concerns about the repairing of historic sites in Ayutthaya Historical Park after the big flood.

Even though the upcoming World Heritage Committee meeting will not have the forest complex' status review on the agenda, the Thai delegation believes it needs to show that it will be able to maintain the complex as a World Heritage site.

"We have been given one more year to tackle the threats to the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex. But at the upcoming meeting, we will present a road map to show that we can protect and manage it well," Natural Resources and Environment General Dapong Rattanasuwan said yesterday.

The World Heritage Committee meeting will run from June 28 to July 8 in Bonn, Germany.

Dapong yesterday met with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat to discuss the country's preparation for the Bonn meeting.

The World Heritage Committee had earlier requested the Kingdom to tackle the existing problems - illegal Siamese rosewood logging, resource management for forest rangers, law enforcement, forest encroachment, the proposal to build a new highway in forestland and insufficient sustainable tourism development strategies.

Commenting on the Ayutthaya Historical Park post the floods, Dapong said: "We have showed the effort to professionally repair and manage the historic sites in Ayutthaya, so I am sure that Ayutthaya Historical Park's status will not be downgraded."

Vira assured that Thailand was going to present the update plan of restoration of the historic sites by professionals.

In addition, the Thai delegation is preparing to seek World Heritage status for Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-continues-fight-to-keep-two-sites-status-30262861.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-23

[bangon04]

"But at the upcoming meeting, we will present a road map to show that we can protect and manage it well,"

another day, another pesky foreigner fails to understand thainess, another roadmap is unveiled to explain it ...

Thailand - hub of roadmaps? (while everyone else moves on to GPS)

[craigt3365]

Maybe the building of a race track in the park had something to do with this? 5555

[avocadowangnamkeouw]

"But at the upcoming meeting, we will present a road map to show that we can protect and manage it well,"

another day, another pesky foreigner fails to understand thainess, another roadmap is unveiled to explain it ...

Thailand - hub of roadmaps? (while everyone else moves on to GPS)

I agree: Thai Government agencies are the absolute champs in road maps, empty actions plans and meaningless reports.

This has been noticed by several countries and the European Commission.

Look at this, a comment from EU about the Thai Fishery:

" the Thai legal framework, enforcement measures and administrative arrangements, have impact on Thailand's ability to comply with its international obligations.

( http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-4807_en.htm ) "

In other words, if you don't drastically reform, you can not play with the big boys.

It's the same for World Heritage Site's, especially the Natural.

You can not manage a Natural World Heritage Site according international standards without the support of the General Public.

Why should they help if they see Government Officials use protected areas for there own benefit and nobody can do anything about it under Thai Law?

No plan or road map will help you with that.

Thai Government acts like a sick and bored Asian Tiger, the only way to get him back on his feet again is to take it's citizens seriously by stopping to exclude them from the Legal process so all can benefit from this beautiful country and rich resources.

[CantSpell]

"We have a road map, we will create a committee and make an announcement very soon Thank you and see you next year.

We are also considering a crackdown..."

Sounds like the magic recipe for any problem around here..