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Tinley Nangai
Over the next five years, the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) will strengthen local capacity to ensure better management of four important heritage sites: Jambay Lhakhang and Tamzhing Lhakhang in Bumthang, Trong village in Zhemgang and one of the sacred temples.
The sites were selected by DCDD for their historical and cultural significance. The UNESCO/Korea Funds-in-Trust project will assist with the project.
DCDD, in collaboration with UNESCO/Korea Funds-in-Trust, launched the UNESCO/Korea Funds-in-Trust project “Initiative on Heritage Site Management in South Asia” yesterday in Thimphu.
The project aims to strengthen heritage management in South Asia, with a particular focus on Bhutan and Nepal.
In addition to technical assistance, $600,000 was allocated to Bhutan and Nepal over a five-year period.
In addition to preserving cultural heritage, it is also expected to promote sustainable development in the region.
Expected outcomes include improved documentation, conservation and management of heritage, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to heritage conservation and sustainable economic growth.
UNESCO will assist in the development and implementation of management plans for key sites.
Yeshi Samdrup, chief architect of the DCDD Heritage Sites and Archaeology Division, said one of the features of the project will be community involvement, ensuring local voices and perspectives are an integral part of the heritage management plan.
He said that by empowering local authorities and communities, the project seeks to integrate cultural heritage management into wider development plans, promote sustainable tourism and create jobs.
“This inclusive approach not only enriches our understanding of these sites, but also empowers communities to take pride in their cultural heritage and actively participate in its conservation,” said Yeshi Sandrup.
This approach is seen as a key step in fostering a sense of ownership and ensuring the long-term sustainability of heritage conservation efforts.
The management plan will be developed in accordance with the national guidelines outlined in the Cultural Heritage Act 2016 and the World Heritage Guidelines.
The project will hold workshops to ensure effective conservation and management of the site. In the final year of the project, DCDD will organize a sub-regional workshop on management initiatives.
Minister of Home and Cultural Affairs Sonam Wangyal, who was the guest of honour yesterday, said Bhutan has been working with UNESCO to protect and create awareness about cultural sites since 2014. “UNESCO also supported the formulation of the Cultural Heritage Bill 2016.”
Lee Ji-baek of the Korea-UNESCO Funds-in-Trust Cooperation Project at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre said the project will promote international cooperation and Bhutan’s heritage sites will receive global attention.
The project is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11.4, which emphasizes the protection of World Cultural Heritage, and SDG 8.9, which aims to promote sustainable tourism.
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