UNESCO Launches Regional Workshops to Enhance World Heritage Conservation Archives in Southeast Asia

A significant outcome of this initiative will be the creation of a Manual on Managing World Heritage Conservation Archives in South-East Asia.

UNESCO Bangkok has initiated a series of workshops aimed at improving the management of conservation-related records at three World Heritage Sites: the Koh Ker Archaeological Site in Cambodia, the Borobudur Temple Compounds in Indonesia, and the Historic City of Ayutthaya in Thailand. These workshops are part of the UNESCO and Japan Funds-In-Trust project, ‘Safeguarding World Heritage Archives in South-East Asia.’

The project focuses on strengthening cross-disciplinary collaboration between archivists and World Heritage site managers. It seeks to improve the management of archival systems related to conservation efforts by conducting needs assessments and supporting capacity-building activities for local site personnel.

A significant outcome of this initiative will be the creation of a Manual on Managing World Heritage Conservation Archives in South-East Asia. This manual, currently in development by UNESCO experts, aims to address the region's specific challenges and will be distributed to additional World Heritage sites in Southeast Asia to promote effective cross-disciplinary management.

The first workshop, held at Borobudur in late July 2024, covered essential archiving concepts and practices, including cataloguing techniques, digitization, conservation, and disaster risk management. Participants also visited key sites such as the Borobudur Conservation Office and Karmawibhangga Museum to gain insights into effective site management and governance.

UNESCO's project underscores the importance of documentary heritage in managing and monitoring World Heritage Sites. By fostering collaborative efforts, UNESCO and its partners aim to enhance the protection and management of valuable conservation records, contributing to more informed World Heritage conservation practices.

The next phase of the ‘Safeguarding’ project will involve an online workshop to introduce the Manual to the public.