KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 15

The Kathmandu Office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation has officially marked the 50th anniversary of establishment of the 1972 World Heritage Convention with resolutions unique to Nepal to work under 'the Next 50' plan devised to enhance the future of heritage sites around the world in the coming 50 years. In Nepal, UNESCO held 20 separate dialogues this year to mark the anniversary and forwarded plans under 'The Next 50' plan especially in four of the current World Heritage Sites - Chitwan, Kathmandu valley, Lumbini, and Sagarmatha.

The discussions involved a wide range of stakeholders, including students, youth, indigenous communities, teachers and journalists as well as subject matter experts. Discussions were held on broad topics, including the role played by the UNESCO to support communities in building the relationship between tangible and intangible heritage and the ways to protect its authenticity and originality along with the essence of the sites and culture.

The discussion programme also focused on the extent to which the UNESCO had helped manage various problems such as monkey population and proper drainage and sanitation in the World Heritage Sites. Likewise, it has prioritised and further enhanced the use of authentic materials and construction methods.

The UNESCO also held sessions with the stakeholders pertaining to disseminating right information, and educating students and people about the importance of heritage sites.

The role played by the UNESCO in environmental protection through its effort in Chitwan and Sagarmatha national parks has also been exemplary.

The involvement of indigenous people in conservation of linkage between heritage tourism, sustainability, and biodiversity has been one of the key achievements of the UNE- SCO Kathmandu Office in Nepal.

Providing support to government agencies in different levels through various processes such as policy making have also set a benchmark in Nepal's conservation.

The discussions were centred around the issues of how to tackle in the coming fifty years, climate change and heritage conservation, sustainable tourism, and digital transformation.

The UNESCO Kathmandu Office said that learning from these important exchanges would be compiled digitally to envisage specific policy recommendations.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 16, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.