Setting a Positive Tone for renewed partnership and bringing synergies in action
KATHMANDU, APRIL 26
The International Scientific Committee for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property (ISC-KV) held its first meeting in Kathmandu. Organised in collaboration with the municipal authorities and the Department of Archaeology with the support of UNESCO Nepal, the meeting took place on 23-24 March 2023.
The aim of the ISC-KV is to provide support to the Government of Nepal in protecting the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property by proactively engaging with Nepali authorities, local government municipalities, and site managers to maintain and protect the property while working in partnership with the community that uses, values, and maintains the sites, according to the statement issued by the UNESCO.
Six recommendations were developed during the meeting. The first recommendation focused on finalising the post-disaster recovery phase, while the second recommendation involved reviewing and revising the Integrated Management Plan. The third recommendation centred on reviewing and revising the effectiveness of essential management procedures and tools, while the fourth recommendation was about establishing a comprehensive information management system. The fifth recommendation called for providing capacity strengthening and training, and the sixth recommendation sought to establish regular meetings of the International Scientific Committee for the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property (ISC-KV) and reconvene the Coordinative Working Committee of site managers from the seven monument zones of the property.
The meeting consisted of site visits, an opening session, and a committee meeting. During the opening ceremony, Prof. Roland Lin from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre put forth his expectations towards the Committee regarding the transition from post-disaster recovery to the standard site management procedures. "However, it is not simple, we must plan it carefully", he said.
Likewise, the Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, expressed her gratitude towards the ancestors who built the heritage. "Now it is our responsibility to safeguard them and handover to the future generation. Let us work today for tomorrow in an innovative way for the next generation", she stated.
The meeting discussed challenges faced during the rebuilding process and presented exemplary practices of community ownership in rebuilding heritage. Mr Ram Govinda Shrestha shared how the Bhaktapur Municipality utilised indigenous technologies, knowledge, and skills in rebuilding. "We believe that this is a good approach to ensure quality in heritage rebuilding", he stated.
The property has experienced an increase in tourism activities, and it is essential to manage change at site-levels to avoid impact on heritage and ensure that intangible heritage is maintained alongside the tangible, and adequate protection is in place in relation to the new development in and around the property.
The recommendations made at the meeting aimed to support transition from the post-disaster recovery of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property to standard management procedures. The meeting ended with renewed partnership and commitment to bringing synergies in actions.
The meeting was convened by the Government of Nepal's Department of Archaeology with technical assistance from UNESCO and generous contributions from the Oriental Cultural Heritage Sites Protection Alliance, Paris.
