| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Heritage
Fund Creates a New Model for Heritage Conservation
in the People Republic of China (PRC)
Showing the Power of Master Conservation
Planning and Conservation Trust of Lijiang Ancient
Town, Yunnan China
Palo Alto, March 26, 2003
- Global Heritage Fund (GHF) has created a new public
- private model for international heritage conservation
in China. This unique model using an innovative Conservation
Trust combined with government-approved Master Conservation
Planning (MCP), has shown proven success in preservation
and authentic restoration of the traditional Naxi
architecture in the Ancient Town of Lijiang, Yunnan
province, reversing over 10 years of destruction and
neglect for this UNESCO World Heritage site.
In the heart of the Northern Yunnan
province in Southwest China, near the borders of Myanmar
and Tibet is one of the last surviving ancient towns
in China, Lijiang. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage
site in 1997, Lijiang’s Naxi people have preserved
much of their native Dongba culture and live in houses
that are built according to traditional Naxi architecture.
The town’s unique architecture, streetscapes,
canals and waterways, in combination with the people
and their distinct culture give Lijiang its ‘universal
value to mankind’.
The Ancient Town of Lijiang is at risk
of losing the last remnants of its ancient heritage
and culture due to its recent popularity and growth
in tourism. New construction is strangling the ancient
town while many of the ancient residences have been
abandoned because of the prohibitive cost of authentic
restoration.
“As in many developing
countries, communities consider construction and development
a step forward for tourist and economic development.
Unfortunately, more often than not, rapid development
and unplanned growth has a negative impact on the
local population and puts the future at risk, said
Jeff Morgan, Executive Director Global Heritage Fund.
“In the case of Lijiang Ancient Town, the last
‘living’ ancient city in China, an exodus
of centuries old families and residents from the ancient
town coupled with unchecked new concrete and industrial
construction is destroying Lijiang”.
In 2002 GHF started to lead conservation
efforts in the People’s Republic of China based
on the newly developed model for heritage conservation.
UNESCO Asia Pacific and GHF created a joint partnership
with the Lijiang Ancient Town Committee for the development
of the first Master Conservation Plan (MCP). The Master
Conservation Plan, Lijiang’s first comprehensive
roadmap for conservation was developed with the technical
support of Shanghai Tongxi University. The MCP addresses
permanent protection for the Core and Protected areas
and provides detailed guidelines for zoning, land
use, construction, preservation and authentic restoration
of Lijiang’s traditional Naxi architecture.
In accordance with recommendations from the MCP as
well as advocacy of GHF and UNESCO Asia Pacific, Lijiang
has recently demolished 14 newly constructed cement
block high-rise buildings that were built directly
in front of the North Entrance of town.
GHF has established a matching Preservation
Incentive Fund (PIF) to help multiply resources needed
for the residential preservation. The PIF provides
micro loans and grants for low-income and poverty
level residents to assist them in undertaking the
costly preservation and authentic restoration of their
homes.
GHF lead the initiative to create the
first public and privately funded Lijiang Trust for
Conservation. The Conservation Trust is now channeling
private sector support for conservation and restoration
of primary structures and streetscapes within the
Ancient Town Core Conservation Area. “We closed
2002 with the wonderful milestone of distributing
funds to the first group of Lijiang homeowners, that
has resulted in the preservation of 14 ancient residences.
An additional 32 residences are planned for restoration
in 2003”, said Jeff Morgan. “All GHF funding
will continue to be matched by the Lijiang Ancient
Town Committee for up to 200 ancient residences and
GHF is working to involve all community stakeholders
in the planning process for the future of Lijiang”.
About Global Heritage Fund
The Global Heritage Fund's mission is to enable successful
long-term preservation of humankind's most important
archaeological sites and ancient townscapes, creating
new engines for economic growth in developing countries.
GHF works to develop comprehensive Master Conservation
Plans, provides early matching grants and training,
builds local institutions and promotes sustainable
tourism development to ensure permanent protection
for global cultural treasures. The Global Heritage
Fund is a registered non-profit conservancy based
in Palo Alto, California.
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