Values and Issues

 
 

Through the broader "Living With Heritage" project, APSARA, in partnership with Sydney University, the EFEO and other project partners, is seeking to develop approaches for supporting heritage management.  Both UNESCO and the APSARA Authority believe that this work will help ensure that management of Angkor responds appropriately to all of its heritage values and to significant issues – both within and outside the existing World Heritage Park.  Significant progress has been made. Building on earlier work of the Greater Angkor Project a review of heritage values and issues has identified many more values at Angkor than those noted in the World Heritage citation, including:

•       Additional symbolic, social and intangible values
•       Continuing community values
•       Archaeology -  both more research values and the greater extent of the city of Angkor
•       Contemporary historic values and multiple histories.

The project Steering Committee – chaired by His Excellency Sou Phirin, the Governor Siem Reap Province and including His Excellency Bun Narith, the Director General of the APSARA Authority and other senior APSARA personnel – has recommended that the results of the Heritage Values and Issues review and consultation be published in a summary report. The  purpose of the report is to:

•       Document the findings of the heritage values and issues review.
•       Disseminate this information as widely as possible
•       Provide input into the continuing research relating to the Living With Heritage project
•       Assist APSARA in the areas of heritage management, tourism and community development.
•       Contribute to the proposed ‘Heritage Management Framework'; (a key Implementation Project arising

        from the Angkor Management Plan).

A working draft of the Heritage Values and Issues report has been prepared by heritage consultants Godden Mackay Logan (GML), circulated to interested parties and discussed in a series of workshops held in Siem Reap during October 2007. Additional information provided by the project Technical Committee is being incorporated.  Facilitated workshops have also been held for representatives from foreign missions working in Angkor and community stakeholders. At its most recent meeting the Steering Committee resolved to:

•       Support publication of the Heritage Values and Issues report in Khmer and English
•       Provide a briefing to the ICC for information and seeking final comments on the draft Heritage Values

        and Issues report

•       Adopt the final Heritage Values and Issues report, including the revised values assessment
•       Disseminate this information, once the Heritage Values and Issues report is finalised
•       Make information from the Heritage Values and Issues report available to the local community in an

        accessible way

•       Support the use of the Living With Heritage project outcomes and results in the Heritage Management

        Framework project

•       Support development of ongoing processes for values-based decision making for Angkor
•       Continue and expand the current Living With Heritage Technical Committee program and resources.

Feedback Invited

In accordance with the resolution of the Steering Committee, this update and briefing is being provided to the International Coordination Committee, with the request that interested participants note the proposed publication of the " Heritage Values and Issues Report" and provide any further feedback or comment on the working draft using the facility available on the following website (http://acl.arts.usyd.edu.au/angkor/lwh/ <http://acl.arts.usyd.edu.au/angkor/lwh/> ), no later than 14 December 2007.

photos from workshops held in Siem Reap 16-18 Nov 2007