A policy forum on development and environmental challenges and policies to “bridge the gap” and “connect the dots” to create one big picture for better understanding and decision-making in the society
Following the Extended 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held online during July 16-31, the world’s community has learned one critical fact that several World Heritage Sites across the globe as well as the region_including Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, Luang Prabang Town, to the Great Barrier Reef, or even those on a nomination list like Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex_have been facing increasing needs for their resources from development or utilization, which over time have become more and more complex and cannot be judged with one particular reason.
While Khao Yai and Luang Prabang or the Great Barrier Reef have been encountering large-scale development projects like dam development projects or impacts from coal mining and industries, Kaeng Krachan, on a contrary, has been embattling with subsistent living that is dependent on its resources.
All these reflect the increasing challenge against conservation and preservation of the sites. This, in turn, has prompted a critical question on “management” of sites or properties with “universal values” amid pressure from all sides; how this should proceed so that the properties can deal with those needs well and win a consensus from all concerned.
And this could mean further questions back to the definition of the World Heritage itself, valuing and assessing the properties, to the balance between conservation and sustainable utilization of properties’ resources, or in other words, the quests for sound policies and mechanisms in “managing” properties of outstanding universal values as well as the challenges from the outside at all levels_international, national, and local.
The Dialogue Forum, which opens a space for such critical discussion, recently invited the public to look through the challenges concerning our properties with outstanding universal values together at its online dialogue series on the World Heritage sites.
Watch the second episode of the series@the video recording.
The forum was organised by Bangkok Tribune, in collaboration with its partners; SEA-Junction, Thai SEJ, Decode.plus of Thai PBS.
Indie • in-depth online news agency
to “bridge the gap” and “connect the dots” with critical and constructive minds on development and environmental policies in Thailand and the Mekong region; to deliver meaningful messages and create the big picture critical to public understanding and decision-making, thus truly being the public’s critical voice