SPOTLIGHT

Investing in ’s future by conserving its past

The Global Heritage Fund Banteay Chhmar Conservation Training Project

Face Tower, Banteay Chhmar

he Global Heritage Fund (GHF), an international heritage conservancy piece of temple construction, Wat. Indeed, this national symbol is Tthat specialises in conservation and development of cultural assets in well chosen since it is also the focus of a tourism industry that has grown developing regions, has begun a flagship project in collaboration with the exponentially in Cambodia, with 2 million arrivals in 2007 (a 20 per cent Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts at one of the greatest archi- increase over 2006) generating approximately $1.4 billion in foreign tour- tectural treasures of Cambodia’s northwest, the 12th century masterpiece ism revenue, about 10 per cent of the kingdom’s GDP. According to the of Banteay Chhmar. GHF is seeking corporate partners who wish to dem- President of CATA (Cambodian Association of Tourism Agents), Cambodia onstrate goodwill and respect to the government and people of Cambodia expects to welcome 3 million foreign visitors annually by 2010. by investing in its unique cultural heritage and supporting Banteay Chhmar Conservation Training Project. There can be no doubt that tourism will continue to play a fundamental role in the future of Cambodia’s economy for the foreseeable future, but In the last five years the Kingdom of Cambodia has enjoyed a rate of eco- there are signs that unfettered development is threatening the cultural and nomic growth averaging 9.5 per cent per annum, while a Phnom Penh natural environment that so many visitors are flocking to see. The focus of Stock Exchange is expected to be launched in the coming year. This is tourism activity around the protected area of has come at the a remarkable recovery for a country and population whose fragmentation relative ignorance of the smaller, yet equally exquisite, outer lying temple and displacement under Pol Pot’s regimen is an indelible memory for most complexes. This has not only resulted in a lack of ‘trickle down’ of tourism adult Cambodians. The people and government of Cambodia are deter- revenue nationally (Siem Reap is the third poorest province in the country), mined to resurrect their country, and look back to the past glories of the but is also having severe consequences for the ecology of Siem Reap as for inspiration, as materially indicated by the national flag water and waste management facilities come under greater and greater that figures the greatest symbol of that empire, the 12th century master- pressure.

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This problem has been acknowledged at government level and attempts master planning, conservation and increased protection. Local communi- are now being made to promote tourism circuits through improved road ties must be an integral part of Banteay Chhmar’s protection and respon- networks (funded by ADB and World Bank) throughout north-western Cam- sible development to ensure long-term success and proper management. bodia, as well as promoting the country’s coastal region to the south-west. New roads connecting Cambodia and will soon bring an onslaught of new tourists to Banteay Chhmar, and GHF – in collaboration with the Built by the great Angkorian architect, King Jayavarman VII, the temple of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts – is now in a race against time to prepare Banteay Chhmar follows similar grandiose temple plans that he was build- the site to receive these growing numbers of visitors, to minimise their im- ing in Angkor, including the famous Temple. A one-kilometre ar- pact and to prevent this sacred site from being overrun by visitors and the caded enclosure wall formerly surrounded the temple in which there were destructive forces of unplanned development. 500 metres of sculpted bas-reliefs telling stories of the Ancient Khmer and depicting royal processions, battles with the Chams and some rare images GHF has, in collaboration with their in-country partners, set up a conserva- of King Jayavarman VII. Seventy per cent of these unrivalled bas-reliefs tion team of over 50 workers not only to carry out research and emergency now lie in ruins, unseen and unprotected. conservation on the endangered structures, but also to carry out extensive research on the hydrology, and topography of the surrounding areas to A race against time identify many unknown historic features, which in the long-term will provide Severely lacking maintenance and repair over the past 800 years, Ban- a showcase for conservation of remotely located temples in rural Cambo- teay Chhmar has slowly collapsed and disintegrated - its proud towers dia, enhance the knowledge of Khmer culture through research and conser- disappearing into the overgrowth. Coupled with threats from trees and the vation, and contribute also to the community-based tourism that supports jungle, structural failure and looting, Banteay Chhmar is in critical need for and enhances the local community and environment.

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“To be given the chal- lenge of bringing back to life one of the great Khmer Empire sites caps all my previous experi- ences in Angkor. With twelve years experience of working in the historic city of Angkor, my team and I are confident that we can develop a new experience for visitors to Cambodia. One of the exciting results of GHF’s involvement will be the training of a new team of conservation profes- sionals and craftsmen who will form the back- bone of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts’ ef- forts to establish a team of skilled professionals to look after other major historic sites in North Cambodia.”

John Sanday, GHF Field Director, Asia & Pacific

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Conservation team, Banteay Chhmar

Global Heritage Fund – Preserving Heritage Globally, Changing Lives Locally

Global Heritage Fund is an international, non-profit, heritage conservancy that provides technical expertise and financial resources to preserve humankind’s most important, endangered archaeological sites and monuments in developing regions. We take each site through a comprehensive four to six-year programme that encompasses master-planning, conservation science, community involvement, and strategic partnerships. We currently have 10 projects in 8 countries, including China, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Turkey, Guatemala, Peru, and Libya. While the nature and depth of each of our projects differs, one theme runs throughout: that the monuments, art and architecture of our ancestors can, if respected, bring lasting cultural, social, and economic benefits to civil society. Our mission is to help people realise the value of these assets, in places where the sites are all too often neglected – or worse. We invest in countries and regions that have seen few financial or technical resources for cultural-asset preservation and development.

For more information and opportunities to support GHF work in Cambodia, please contact: James Hooper Global Heritage Fund UK Manager c/o 20 Hamilton House Vicarage Gate, London W8 4HL, UK Tel: +44(0)7970 034 535 Email: [email protected]

www.globalheritagefund.org

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