Press Releases

Chavín de Huántar in Peru Received Major Grant for Sustainable Conservation and Community Development

July 20, 2010

 

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CHAVÍN DE HUÁNTAR IN PERU RECEIVED MAJOR GRANT FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Endangered UNESCO World Heritage site to receive a major boost in support thanks to a new grant of US$300,000 from Antamina

 
July 20, 2010 - Palo Alto, California USA – The conservation project at the archaeological complex of Chavín de Huántar will have a major boost thanks to a new grant of $300,000 from Antamina.

The archaeological complex of Chavín de Huántar is located in the Chavín district, Huari province in the Ancash, 462 Kilometers northeast of Lima, on the eastern flank of the Cordillera Blanca and Conchucos Valley. This pre Inca site dates from 1300 BC to 500 BC and marks one of the highlights in the development of Andean civilization.

The announcement was made on July 7th, 2010 by the Director General of the National Institute of Culture (INC), Dr. Cecilia Bakula and the Vice President of Environmental and Corporate Affairs of Antamina, Pablo de la Flor.

Pablo de la Flor of Antamina said that thanks to this initiative led by the INC, it became possible to allocate the funds for the site of Chavín. Mr. de la Flor said, “It is extremely satisfying to join in this effort. The project that we want to support happened not only because we are providing this timely donation of nearly US$300,000, but also because of the nearly half a million dollars that have been invested over the past six years.”

The $300,000 grant from Antamina was provided as a direct in-country match to Global Heritage Fund’s (GHF) $300,000 commitment to the Chavin Project over the next 3 years after discussions and consultations between the two organizations over the last 6 months. These funds provide the majority of the $750,000 total budget required by the Chavín Project over the next 3-4 years. 

“In-country matching support for the preservation of Chavín de Huántar is critical to long-term preservation of Peru’s rich wealth of cultural assets. GHF and our donors applaud Antamina for their vision and support of this important project.” said Jeff Morgan, GHF Executive Director. “The Chavín project is focused on the sustainable preservation of this unique heritage site through an integrated process of planning, conservation and local economic improvement. Complementary programs in handicraft and sustainable tourism improvement ensure local income diffusion and revenue capture from visitation.”

Dr. Cecilia Bákula, Director General of the INC, thanked Antamina for its contribution. She also thanked Dr. John Rick, a professor at Stanford University, and Christian Mesía, Director of the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru, who are the leaders of this project to achieve conservation success.

She emphasized that “all these investments and contributions are part of a strategic alliance that requires the presence and formal participation, efficiency and transparency of the State.”

Drs. Christian Mesía and John Rick spoke about the conservation work that will take place in the ceremonial center that has been negatively impacted by lack of drainage and critically needed site conservation for this impressive monument.

About Global Heritage Fund (GHF)
GHF is an international conservancy dedicated to preserving endangered World Heritage Sites in developing countries to improve lives of local people. GHF enables successful, long-term preservation of the developing world’s most important archaeological sites and ancient townscapes in developing countries, creating new opportunities for economic growth.

To achieve this, GHF deploys a well-proven Preservation by Design methodology: 1) comprehensive master conservation planning, 2) sustained preservation through local community involvement, 3) excellence in scientific conservation, and 4) partnerships and complementary funding. Global Heritage Fund is a registered non-profit international conservancy based in Palo Alto, California and London, U.K.