Thailand’s Cabinet has approved Chiang Mai’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status, highlighting its unique Lanna cultural identity and archaeological significance. The submission is due by January 30, 2024.
Key Points
- The Cabinet has approved the nomination of Chiang Mai as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape, enabling Thailand to submit the proposal for international review.
- Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana confirmed that the National Committee’s chair will sign the nomination dossier, with documentation due to UNESCO by January 30.
- The site encompasses eight major archaeological locations, emphasizing the area’s Lanna cultural identity, artistic traditions, and historical interactions with the environment. If accepted, coordination for budget and conservation plans will begin.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal to nominate Chiang Mai, the capital of Lanna, for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape. The decision allows Thailand to move forward with submitting the nomination for international consideration.
According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana, the Cabinet also authorized the chair of the National Committee on the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to sign the nomination dossier. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, has been tasked with submitting the complete documentation to the UNESCO World Heritage Center by January 30.
The proposed site is nominated under the cultural landscape category and covers eight major archaeological and heritage locations. The nomination highlights the area’s value through its distinctive Lanna cultural identity, the integration of artistic traditions with Theravada Buddhist beliefs, and its long history, influenced by interactions between communities and the natural environment.
The Cabinet further agreed that if the World Heritage Center accepts the dossier for evaluation, the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization will begin coordinating with relevant agencies to prepare budget frameworks and management and conservation plans in accordance with international standards.
Source : Thai Cabinet Approves Chiang Mai ’s UNESCO World Heritage Nomination
