The World Heritage Committee did not list the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex and required updated information about its adjusted boundary and local communities' participation, the Foreign Ministry stated late Sunday night, but Phnom Rung and Sri Thep were accepted for consideration as World Heritage sites.
The ministry announced on its website at about 10pm on Sunday that the committee noted that Thailand had reduced the proposed boundary of the forest complex in response to concerns from Myanmar, and wanted Thailand to review the technical aspects of the remaining territory, especially with regard to its outstanding universal value.
The committee also wanted Thailand to report participation by local communities in its request for the World Heritage listing in the next meeting of the committee, the Foreign Ministry stated.
Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thai ambassador to France and head of the Thai delegation at the World Heritage Committee's ongoing 43rd Session in Azerbaijan, said Thailand had resolved the issues concerning demarcation disputes with Myanmar and the human rights of ethnic people in the forest complex, but updates on the issues did not reach the committee by Feb 1 as required for the listing.
The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex covers about 2.9 million rai in Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.
The World Heritage Committee first considered the listing request for the area in 2015, the ministry said.
Thailand has five World Heritage sites: the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, the Historic City of Ayutthaya, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, and the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex.
Mr Sihasak said that the World Heritage Committee accepted the Phanom Rung-Muang Tam-Plai Bat temple ruin complex in Buri Ram province and the Sri Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province in its tentative list for consideration as World Heritage sites.