View Point (Spotlight Weekly)

Valley World Heritage in Danger

By Koto Kanno

Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List for its outstanding universal value as the heritage of humankind in 1979, only 4 years after the proclamation of the World Heritage Convention. It was thereby recognized that the Kathmandu Valley, more precisely its 7 monument zones, embody the uniquely intricate and yet refined urban fabrics blended with Hindu, Buddhist and indigenous Newari cultures.

However, as we all know, the Kathmandu Valley WH site become the world heritage "In-danger" in 2003. In fact, the conservation status of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property had been debated repeatedly by the World Heritage Committee in its sessions since 1992. UNESCO fielded missions, and sent experts to review and monitor various aspects of the conservation of the seven monument zones, and recommended measures and actions to ameliorate the situation.

However, the speed of urbanization and social and economic transformation in Nepal, in particular Kathmandu and its surrounding areas, was such that it was impossible to property regulate and control the development in and around the monument zones. Kathmandu was transformed from a traditional town into a "modern" and fast growing city and it became one of the world's most popular tourists' destinations. The traditional architectural beauty and unique
structures, together with the skills and materials associated with it fizzled out to be replaced by modern comfort and convenience. Some important features of universal value in the monument zones have been distorted if not lost. Finally in 2003 the World Heritage Committee decided to include the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site on the "In-Danger" list.

The protection and conservation of the Kathmandu Valley world heritage monument zones is primarily the HMG' responsibility. However, we have to remember that Kathmandu Valley monument zones are also the heritage of humankind. Therefore, the responsibility for the conservation of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site should be shared by not only people in Nepal but also every one of us in the world.

As part of global effort to safeguard Kathmandu Valley, DOA and UNESCO both WHC and Kathmandu Office organized the International Technical Workshop in early May this year. The workshop was successfully concluded with concrete recommendations including a 10-year Action Plan. The follow up national workshop held on 18 June produced detailed activity plans on the basis of the 10-year action plan. Three working groups were formulated during the June workshop in order to facilitate the implementation of action plan and other follow up activities under three categories - legal issues (revision of by-laws, etc), conservation and community participation. The groups met regularly, and the group leaders, DOA and UNESCO also meet every month to update each other on the follow-up activities. Also as part of the recommended activity of the May and June workshops to UNESCO and the stakeholders, a number of potential projects have been identified or designed since last May.

Some of them are already being carried out: For example, the UNESCO publication "Conserve: Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site: areas for cooperation" came out in print. Likewise, a joint project has been initiated by Finnmap, the Finnish Embassy and UNESCO, to undertake GIS mapping of the Changu Narayan monument zone. You will find several other projects in the publication "Conserve Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site". We believe that it is of utmost importance to support and implement these key projects. And we do hope that these efforts will open an avenue to future collaboration and partnership for the safeguarding of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site which is now in danger of loosing its original universal value as the cultural heritage of humanity.

UNESCO looks forward to forward-looking and constructive discussions and fruitful results so that the Government, the municipalities concerned, international cooperation partners, local communities and people, and UNESCO, together all of us concerned, will be able to take steps forward towards the long term conservation and protection of the Kathmandu Valley's cultural legacy.

(Kanno is UNESCO's Representative to Nepal)