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Phnom Penh, 22 September 2021 – UNESCO Phnom Penh office and the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO organized an online consultation meeting on the 22nd of September 2021 to discuss UNESCO’s International Assistance for “Updating the Tentative List of Natural and Mixed Properties in Cambodia Suitable for Inclusion on the World Heritage List”. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Cambodia, through the International Assistance project for Cambodia, approved by the World Heritage Committee. The International Assistance project aims to develop the capacity of stakeholders in Cambodia to identify natural and mixed heritage sites with potential Outstanding Universal Value, and to update the tentative list of natural and mixed heritage sites for inclusion of the World Heritage List, in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by over 35 participants from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS, IUCN and UNESCO Phnom Penh office. During the meeting, the Secretariat of the World Heritage Convention explained the process and timelines for updating the Tentative List of Natural and Mixed sites in Cambodia, for inclusion on the World Heritage List, and the objectives of the International Assistance project. The Ministry of Environment shared the progress on updating the national inventory for natural heritage sites. The representatives from ICOMOS and IUCN appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and provided guidance and recommendations on the way-forward. The dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss and agree on the next steps and timeframe of the activities for the implementation of the International Assistance project among different stakeholders.   

H.E. Mom Thany, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment noted during the meeting that the Ministry of Environment is keen to update the Tentative List of Natural World Heritage Sites in Cambodia, and called on all stakeholders to work closely with the Ministry of Environment to take this important initiative forward. The Ministry of Environment has established a Technical Working group in 2020, chaired by H.E. Mom Thany, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, which is working on developing the national inventory of sites for potential inclusion in the UNESCO’s Tentative List of Natural World Heritage Sites from Cambodia.  

During the meeting, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative in Cambodia, highly appreciated the efforts and commitment of the Ministry of Environment, to update the tentative list of World Natural and Mixed Heritage sites in Cambodia. He noted that this endeavor is an opportunity to strengthen environmental conservation, sustainable livelihoods development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation in Cambodia. Mr. Alam highlighted that, under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Cambodia is acknowledged internationally for the conservation of cultural heritage, best illustrated through the ICC-Angkor and its unique mechanism, and this experience will contribute significantly to update the tentative list of natural and mixed world heritage sites in Cambodia. He noted that this joint endeavor between the Royal Government of Cambodia and UNESCO to update the tentative list for natural and mixed heritage sites will play an instrumental role in promoting sustainable development in Cambodia.

Submitted by the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO in October 2020, the International Assistance Request obtained the approval of the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee in May 2021 from the World Heritage Fund. On the basis of the Tentative List including 8 cultural sites - there are currently no natural or mixed heritage properties on the Tentative List in Cambodia - revised in March 2020, the project will seek to support the authorities in identifying natural and mixed heritage properties. The updating of the World Natural and Mixed Heritage Tentative List in Cambodia will be an enabler to build quality nominations for the inclusion of natural and mixed properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

International Assistance under the World Heritage Convention is a financial and technical assistance granted to the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, in order to help them protect the cultural or natural heritage sites, including through preparatory assistance for potential inscription of sites on the World Heritage List.