Lumbini and Stonehenge Under UNESCO Review for Heritage Conservation

Nepal's Lumbini and the UK's ancient Stonehenge, both UNESCO heritage sites, are under review by the World Heritage Committee (WHC) due to concerns that may impact their values, a senior UNESCO official stated on Monday. The 46th WHC session, hosted in India for the first time, will also address the conservation status of UNESCO heritage sites listed as endangered, including three in Ukraine.

India is hosting this significant UNESCO event from July 21 to July 31 at Bharat Mandapam. On Monday, discussions focused on the conservation status of world heritage properties, according to sources. At a press interaction during the event, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of UNESCO World Heritage, mentioned that the Committee will examine Lumbini and Stonehenge specifically.

Potential Inclusion in Danger List

Assomo suggested that these two sites might be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger. He explained that both sites are currently on the World Heritage List but not on the endangered list. "When it comes to Lumbini... and Lumbini is a very important site for the Committee, and for the entire world, it a very sacred site, its very important, there are a number of issues, some related to development pressure that has seen over the past time," he said.

He stressed the importance of collaborating with Nepal's government to address these issues. "Because, the government of Nepal shouldn’t be left alone, and there is need to work together," he added. Similarly, for Stonehenge, ongoing development projects could affect its values. The aim is to find the best solution through discussions among committee members.

Heritage Sites Under Threat

The WHC session will also discuss three endangered sites in Ukraine: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings in Kyiv; The Ensemble of the Historic Centre in Lviv; and The Historic Centre of Odesa. Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, confirmed that these sites would be discussed during the meeting. "Yes, the three sites in Ukraine - in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, will be discussed," he said.

According to UNESCO's website, there are 56 properties currently on the List of World Heritage in Danger. These include Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan and the Historic Centre of Vienna in Austria. The WHC uses satellite monitoring to gather information on these threatened sites.

Conservation Efforts

The WHC's primary role is to provide solutions through advisory bodies that State Parties can implement. Assomo explained that when examining a site's conservation status, there is a debate among committee members. "There is a monitoring process of the situation where the committee tries to provide a number of actions, a number of decisions to improve the situation," he said.

If technical advice indicates that broader mobilisation is needed, the Committee takes action. The goal is to re-evaluate and find the best approach for improving conditions at these sites. The Committee can also offer corrective measures and recommendations to help State Parties enhance their heritage conservation efforts.

Significance of WHC Sessions

The WHC comprises representatives from 21 State Parties elected by UNESCO's General Assembly. Current members include India, Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Ukraine, and Vietnam. All matters related to World Heritage Conventions are addressed during WHC sessions. As of now, 1,199 properties from 168 State Parties are inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Lumbini was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. Stonehenge and associated sites were inscribed in 1986. Stonehenge and Avebury in Wiltshire are among the world's most famous megalithic groups.

The exact issues prompting an examination of Lumbini and Stonehenge were not detailed by Assomo. However, he emphasised that development pressures are a significant concern for both sites.

The WHC session's provisional agenda indicates that discussions on endangered heritage properties' conservation status will continue tomorrow. The Committee aims to provide actionable solutions and technical advice to improve conditions at these threatened sites.

This ongoing session highlights UNESCO's commitment to preserving world heritage properties by addressing current threats and ensuring sustainable conservation practices.