World Heritage Scanned Nomination File Name: 1081rev.pdf UNESCO Region: ASIA AND THE PACIFIC __________________________________________________________________________________________________ SITE NAME: Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape DATE OF INSCRIPTION: 7th July 2004 STATE PARTY: MONGOLIA CRITERIA: C (ii) (iii) (iv) CL DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE: Excerpt from the Report of the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee Criterion (ii): The Orkhon valley clearly demonstrates how a strong and persistent nomadic culture, led to the development of extensive trade networks and the creation of large administrative, commercial, military and religious centres. The empires that these urban centres supported undoubtedly influenced societies across Asia and into Europe and in turn absorbed influence from both east and west in a true interchange of human values. Criterion (iii): Underpinning all the development within the Orkhon valley for the past two millennia has been a strong culture of nomadic pastoralism. This culture is still a revered and indeed central part of Mongolian society and is highly respected as a ‘noble’ way to live in harmony with the landscape. Criterion (iv): The Orkhon valley is an outstanding example of a valley that illustrates several significant stages in human history. First and foremost it was the centre of the Mongolian Empire; secondly it reflects a particular Mongolian variation of Turkish power; thirdly, the Tuvkhun hermitage monastery was the setting for the development of a Mongolian form of Buddhism; and fourthly, Khar Balgas, reflects the Uighur urban culture in the capital of the Uighur Empire. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS The 121,967-ha Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape encompasses an extensive area of pastureland on both banks of the Orkhon River and includes numerous archaeological remains dating back to the 6th century. The site also includes Kharkhorum, the 13th and 14th century capital of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan’s vast Empire. Collectively the remains in the site reflect the symbiotic links between nomadic, pastoral societies and their administrative and religious centres, and the importance of the Orkhon valley in the history of central Asia. The grassland is still grazed by Mongolian nomadic pastoralists. 1.b State, Province or Region: Orkhon-Kharkorin Region 1.d Exact location: N47 33 24 E102 49 53 Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO National Committee for World Heritage Ministry of Science, Technology, Education and Culture ORKHON VALLEY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN August 2002 Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape Management Plan Table of Contents 1 BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................3 1.1 PREPARATION OF THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN............................................................3 1.2 TERMINOLOGY................................................................................................................4 2 DESCRIPTION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SITE .........................................7 2.1 GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL IDENTIFICATIONS OF THE AREA...............................7 2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ................................................................7 3 KEY ISSUES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ORKHON VALLEY HERITAGE SITE......................................................................................................21 3.1 PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION ISSUES ....................................................................21 3.2 RESEARCH ....................................................................................................................33 3.3 EDUCATION AND TRAINING ..........................................................................................34 3.4 PUBLICITY AND INTERPRETATION FOR VISITORS ..........................................................34 3.5 UTILIZATION OF THE HERITAGE SITE............................................................................35 3.6 FINANCIAL SOURCES FOR PRESERVATION, PROTECTION AND RECONSTRUCTION ...........42 4 PLAN OF ACTION...................................................................................................44 4.1 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................................44 4.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.....................................................................47 4.3 MONITORING OF THE SITE.............................................................................................47 4.4 LONG-TERM PLAN .........................................................................................................48 4.5 MEDIUM-TERM PLAN ....................................................................................................50 5 LEGAL TEXTS.........................................................................................................60 5.1 GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS........................................................................................60 6 MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 1 Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape Management Plan Acknowledgements The present management plan was produced with the generous financial assistance of the Foundation for the Promotion of the World Heritage Concept (Germany). We are grateful to Dr. Chris Young, Head of World Heritage and International Policy at English Heritage, for his valuable comments on the draft version of this publication, and for his tremendous assistance in the preparation of the nomination of the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape to the World Heritage List. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Richard Engelhardt, Cultural Specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok. Many sections of the Site Management Plan were prepared on the basis of reports contributed by specialists and stakeholders during the conference 'Management of World Heritage: The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape'. We acknowledge in particular the contributions of Dr. N. Urtnasan, Secretary-General of the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO and Chairman of the National Committee for World Heritage; Prof. Dr. J. Batsuuri, President of Kharkhorin University and Director of the National Centre for Anthropology; Dr. D. Dash, Academic Secretary of the State Geological Institute; E. Tömörbaatar, Specialist in the Ministry of the Environment; Prof. Dr. D. Bayar, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Archaeological Studies of the Institute of History, Mongolian Academy of Sciences; Academician Dr. B. Enkhtüvshin, Vice-President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Director of the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilisations; L. Ganbaatar, Manager of the World Heritage Project; B. Battsengel, Senior Specialist at the Tourism Board of the Government of Mongolia; O. Batmönkh, Governor of Övörkhangai aimag; I. Nyam-Osor, Deputy-Governor of Arkhangai aimag; N. Chimiddorj, Governor of Kharkhorin soum; N. Byambajav, Director of the Art and Culture Foundation; Ts. Tsendsüren, Senior Inspector for the Inspections Board of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Education and Culture; Yo. Naigal, Director of the Erdene Zuu Monastery Museum; U. Erdenebat, Researcher at the Institute of History, Mongolian Academy of Sciences; B. Adiyaa, Architect for 'Cultural Heritage' Co.; Sh. Shagdarsüren, Head Lama at Tövkhen Monastery; and D. Khishigt, Head of the Dambaravjaalin Foundation. 2 Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape Management Plan 1 BACKGROUND 1.1 Preparation of the Site Management Plan The present document, constituting the first Site Management Plan for the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape, has been prepared by the National Committee for World Heritage in association with the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Education and Culture, in conjunction with the nomination of the site for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The management issues and strategies incorporated into the present Site Management Plan were mainly identified during a process of special consultations held in late 2001 and early 2002, during the course of which discussions were held with representatives from the following groups and organisations: • Ministry of Science, Technology, Education and Culture • Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO • Minstry of Infrastructure Development • Övörkhangai Aimag Governor’s Office • Kharkhorin Municipal Governor’s Office • Ministry of the Environment • Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage • Soum Governors • Ministry of Food and Agriculture • National Commitee for Cultural Heritage • History Institute, Mongolian Academy of Sciences • Administration, staff and students of Khar Khorum University • Local residents in the Orkhon Valley • Lamas at Erdene Zuu Monastery • Administration of Erdene Zuu Monastery Museum • Lamas at Tövkhen Hermitage Monastery A significant part of this consultative work was conducted as part of a 3-day conference entitled 'Management of World Heritage: The Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape', held in Kharkhorin in March 2002, in which more than 60 official delegates and 400 private stakeholders participated. In addition, a three-member expert team conducted a detailed field survey of the Orkhon Valley, assessing its present state of conservation and preservation, and meeting with local administrators and residents. The results of these consultations and field research activities have been directly reflected in the