UNESCO Organises Two Field Workshops in Bhutan and Nepal as part of UNESCO/Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust Project

UNESCO organises two field workshops in Bhutan and Nepal to initiate the management framework of the World Heritage Tentative List sites, with the support of the UNESCO/Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust project "Support South Asian Heritage Sites Management Initiatives (Bhutan and Nepal)".

The project was launched in Bhutan last June 2024, with the first annual workshop for the preparation of the Management Plan for Trong Heritage Village in Zhemgang District, and a project launch event held in Thimphu. In Nepal, in-person consultations and inception meetings were held in Kathmandu in November 2024. Operational project activities are now taking place in Bhutan and in Nepal.

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre together with the Heritage Sites and Archaeology Division, Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development, Bhutan, in cooperation with the UNESCO New Delhi Office, the Bumthang District Administration and the sites managers of the Jambay Lhakhang and Tamzhing Lhakhang, are oganising the second Bhutanese annual workshop scheduled for 18-22 November 2025, aiming to assist in the preparation of Management Plan(s) and initiatives for two significant heritage sites in Bumthang District: Jambay Lhakhang and Tamzhing Lhakhang (Tamzhing Monastery is on Bhutan’s World Heritage Tentative List. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre together with the Department of Archaeology, Nepal, in cooperation with the UNESCO Kathmandu Office, the Janakpur Municipality and the site manager of the Ram Janaki Temple, are organising the first Nepali annual workshop is scheduled for early December 2025 to initiate preparations for the management framework of the Ram Janaki Temple Complex, which is on Nepal's World Heritage Tentative List.

© Arnav Pratap Singh / Ram Janaki Temple

Heritage sites in South Asia, including those in Bhutan and Nepal, carry deep cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. These sites embody the identity and legacy of their communities, while also serving as key tourism hubs, driving sustainable development and economic growth. However, effectively managing these sites requires technical expertise, capacity building, and strategic planning to balance preservation with modern societal demands. As the custodians of multiple World Heritage properties and Tentative List sites, the Bhutanese and Nepalese authorities and stakeholders face ongoing challenges in conservation, tourism management, and balancing heritage preservation with infrastructure development.

To help address these challenges, the five-year project “Support South Asian Heritage Sites Management Initiatives (Bhutan and Nepal)” (2024-2028) aims to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and institutional capacities of those managing heritage. The project focuses on empowering decision-makers, promoting sustainable tourism, and fostering inclusive, participatory approaches to ensure these sites remain integral to society.

The project will initiate and develop, over four years, a management framework for the priority sites identified by authorities and stakeholders in Bhutan and Nepal, addressing specific challenges and proposing sustainable solutions that balance tourism, conservation, and community needs. Over the course of the project, four annual workshops will be organised in Bhutan and in Nepal to enhance the skills of heritage managers, focusing on sustainable tourism, disaster risk mitigation, and community engagement. These management frameworks will ensure that these priority sites contribute to economic growth and community well-being while fostering sustainable relationships with surrounding communities. During the last year of project implementation, it is foreseen to organise a final workshop on South Asian heritage sites management initiatives covering Bhutan, Nepal and other interested South Asian countries. This workshop will be held in conjunction with the project closing workshop, and a comprehensive digital project report will be made available.

The project will also improve institutional structures and processes by empowering decision-makers and policymakers and introducing a dynamic relationship between heritage and its context, leading to greater, more sustainable and reciprocal benefits. The project will also contribute to achieving Target 11.4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for the protection of the world’s cultural heritage, and SDG 8.9 for the promotion of sustainable tourism, by encouraging job creation and the promotion of local culture and products.