Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Human resources
- Interpretative and visitation facilities
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Urban Pressure; Tourism Pressure; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of presentation and interpretation.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 13,000 USD
| 1999 | Preparation of the nomination dossier for Vat Phu ... (Approved) | 13,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
The State Party submitted a state of conservation report to the World Heritage Centre, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 27th session.
Following decision 27 COM 7B.51, the State Party informed the Secretariat that a consultation meeting with the Ministry of Communications, Transport, Posts and Construction has been organized to decide on the road construction within the World Heritage property. Once the full documentation on the project is received by the Ministry of Information and Culture, a consultation meeting will be convened with UNESCO. The Secretariat was also informed that the transfer of the visitor centre and its parking lot was under study, and the project would be re-examined by the consultant who recommended its relocation out of the buffer zone.
To improve the management and regular monitoring of the property, the Vat Phou Site Management Authority has recruited a new site manager and qualified staff (1 architect, 1 archaeologist, 1 art historian, 1 engineer, etc.), totalling 29 people. The State Party has also reported the coexistence of two committees, the National Inter-ministerial Coordinating Committee (NIMCC) and the Champasak local Committee for Cultural and Natural Heritage, with similar roles, responsibilities and members.
As a follow-up to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) bilateral grant to improve the state of conservation of the World Heritage property, the maintenance of the fully functioning hydraulic system is ensured by the local staff with the assistance of a Japanese expert, dispatched to the site on a regular basis.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
28 COM 15B.65
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Congratulates the State Party on the actions undertaken to comply with the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee adopted at its 27th session in July 2003;
2. Reiterates the importance of adherence to the government-approved management plan for the property;
3. Encourages the State Party to clarify the distribution of tasks among the different national and provincial authorities involved in the protection and management of the World Heritage property, so as to avoid overlapping of their responsibilities and roles.
Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.65
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Congratulates the State Party on the actions undertaken to comply with the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee adopted at its 27th session in July 2003;
2. Reiterates the importance of adherence to the government-approved management plan for the property;
3. Encourages the State Party to clarify the distribution of tasks among the different national and provincial authorities involved in the protection and management of the World Heritage property, so as to avoid overlapping of their responsibilities and roles.
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
