Siam Society is holding a lecture titled "World Heritage In Danger" conducted by Etienne Clément, a Belgian international lawyer and former Unesco staff member, on Thursday at 7pm.
Everyone knows the famous Unesco World Heritage List which includes a collection of cultural and natural sites that have in common the "Outstanding Universal Value" label -- Ayutthaya, Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, Rome, the Pyramids, Kilimanjaro, the Great Barrier Reef.
However, there is another, less popular Unesco list -- the "List of World Heritage in Danger" which covers 56 sites threatened by serious and specific dangers such as natural disasters, armed conflict and uncontrolled urban development. Many might not realise that Angkor Wat, a world-famous tourist destination, was once on that endangered list.
How did these 56 sites end up on the danger list and why? Who decides their fate? What are the political and operational consequences of this title? Can these sites leave the endangered list and return to the main one? And can they be excluded from both lists when the danger subsides?
Participants can explore these issues during a presentation given by Clément who will explain the mechanisms of inscription, transfer and exclusion of these lists as detailed in the Unesco 1972 World Heritage Convention. He will also share cases based on his 30 years of experience at Unesco.
The fee is 300 baht (free for members and students).
For booking, email pinthip@thesiamsociety.org#mce_temp_url# or call 02-661-6470--3 ext 203.
