GHF 2009 - Year in Review
In 2009, GHF continued building its global network and capabilities to save endangered heritage sites in the developing world, completing our fifth and sixth major GHF Projects: Çatalhöyük in Turkey and Foguang Temple in China.
GHF currently has 11 conservation and development projects, in nine countries to preserve endangered heritage sites in the developing world, five of which are UNESCO Inscribed World Heritage sites, and four are on the Tentative World Heritage Site Lists of their respective national governments. Thank you for your critical support for our mission and making Global Heritage Fund
successful as a leading international heritage conservancy.
Americas
GHF’s largest conservation effort - Mirador, Guatemala, - is on track to help save over 880,000 acres harboring many Preclassic Maya archaeological sites, tropical forests and wildlife habitat. In addition to major site conservation, GHF has helped to secure $3 million for park infrastructure from the Government of Guatemala, and $1.2 million for community development from the Inter-American Development Bank. Through a strong multi-stakeholder planning process with over 80 leaders from local communities, government and the private-sector, a common vision for Mirador’s future has been formed.
Chavín de Huántar, Peru, has received support over the past five years from GHF, resulting in major improvements to the site’s structural integrity and restoration of its ancient drainage systems. Based on the conservation of thousands of precious artifacts by the GHF-supported effort, a new Chavín National Museum was opened in 2009 in the mountain town of Chavín, one of only four national museums in the country and which is bringing increased tourism and economic opportunities to the poor mountain villages of the region.
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia, was approved in 2009 as a new GHF Project that will restore and responsibly develop ‘The Lost City’ from one of the largest networks of archaeological sites in South America from the Tayrona civilization. Considered by many to be Colombia’s ‘Inca Trail’, Ciudad Perdida requires major support for monument conservation and maintenance, planning, community training and ecotourism development.
Europe, Middle East and Africa
In Cyrene, Libya, GHF has worked through a difficult on-going political situation to move forward with a stable program to conserve the amphitheatre and Sanctuary of Apollo in the heart of this amazing Greek and Roman UNESCO World Heritage site. Securing funding from in-country businesses, the U.S State Department, individual donors and the Leventis Foundation, Cyrene now has a strong conservation plan and restoration has begun on the site’s most central and important monuments.
Çatalhöyük, Turkey, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2009, an important step towards full designation. With support from GHF, the Çatalhöyük project added a second hi-tech shelter to provide a stable environment and protection for precious excavations and improved visitor experience at this 9,000-year-old town.
In 2009 GHF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage to begin a program of documentation and conservation at Ur, Iraq, added to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2000. The multi-year project will focus its conservation efforts on the site’s most endangered features such as the Ziggurat and the Royal Tombs.
Asia
The Indus Heritage Program planning and implementation is being developed in collaboration with Deccan College, Pune, in consultation with its lead archaeologist and Joint Director, Dr. Vasant Shinde. Dr. Shinde is one of the most respected scholars on the Indus Civilization and, as director of the major excavations at Farmana, has discovered the largest intact Indus burial site to date. GHF is working closely with Deccan College on development of the Indus Heritage Centre on Deccan campus and is exploring a major new Indus site conservation program.
At Hampi in Karnataka, India, the monumental embankment walls of the Chandramauleshwar Temple have been restored to their former glory, and structural integrity and final conservation work on the temple begins this year.
At Wat Phu, Laos, GHF-sponsored conservation of the Nandin Hall, ceremonial road and other key monuments has led to the training of over 40 Laotians in appropriate restoration techniques, and a newly-restored historic library now serves the entire community of Champasak.
GHF’s restoration of the Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia ‘Citadel of the Cats’ is in full swing with major work now underway to repair and record the 750-meter-long engraved wall (bas reliefs) and its unique face towers. The second Banteay Chhmar Conference was held in August 2009 with over 250 experts and government officials in attendance. A Cambodia Corporate Council, consisting of a group of local industry donors, has been successfully launched by GHF in Phnom Penh.
GHF’s newest project in China, approved by the GHF Board of Trustees in 2009, is the historic and environmental planning for an ensemble of Fujian Tulous in Pinghe County, one of which is the nationally registered historic tulou of Shengwu lou. This pristine valley will be cleared of irresponsible development and planned as a protected scenic and historic area, taking into consideration the national highway development that will exit outside the village. The project will serve as a model for the conservation of hundreds of other tulous throughout Fujian province.
In Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi, China, GHF’s Project received a $1.2 million conservation grant from the provincial government towards restoration of the Fanjiajie Historic District. After three years of joint work, the GHF Pingyao Master Conservation Plan was completed and submitted for governmental approval, and a revitalized traditional arts and crafts sector is blossoming in the historic Qing and Ming courtyard buildings restored in 2009.
GHF’s project at Foguang Temple in China came to an end in 2009 and resulted in a Master Conservation Plan, approved by the national government in 2008, and conservation of the temple complex and its surroundings. A Master Plan for conservation of the Grand East Hall specifically has also been prepared and is under review by the authorities.
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In 2009, GHF continued building its global network and capabilities to save endangered heritage sites in the developing world, completing our fifth and sixth major GHF Projects: Çatalhöyük in Turkey and Foguang Temple in China. GHF currently has 11 conservation and development projects, in nine countries to preserve endangered heritage sites in the developing world, five of which are UNESCO Inscribed World Heritage sites, and four are on the Tentative World Heritage Site Lists of their respective national governments. Thank you for your critical support for our mission and making Global Heritage Fund successful as a leading international heritage conservancy. Americas Chavín de Huántar, Peru, has received support over the past five years from GHF, resulting in major improvements to the site’s structural integrity and restoration of its ancient drainage systems. Based on the conservation of thousands of precious artifacts by the GHF-supported effort, a new Chavín National Museum was opened in 2009 in the mountain town of Chavín, one of only four national museums in the country and which is bringing increased tourism and economic opportunities to the poor mountain villages of the region. Ciudad Perdida, Colombia, was approved in 2009 as a new GHF Project that will restore and responsibly develop ‘The Lost City’ from one of the largest networks of archaeological sites in South America from the Tayrona civilization. Considered by many to be Colombia’s ‘Inca Trail’, Ciudad Perdida requires major support for monument conservation and maintenance, planning, community training and ecotourism development. Europe, Middle East and Africa Çatalhöyük, Turkey, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2009, an important step towards full designation. With support from GHF, the Çatalhöyük project added a second hi-tech shelter to provide a stable environment and protection for precious excavations and improved visitor experience at this 9,000-year-old town. In 2009 GHF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage to begin a program of documentation and conservation at Ur, Iraq, added to UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2000. The multi-year project will focus its conservation efforts on the site’s most endangered features such as the Ziggurat and the Royal Tombs. |
Asia The Indus Heritage Program planning and implementation is being developed in collaboration with Deccan College, Pune, in consultation with its lead archaeologist and Joint Director, Dr. Vasant Shinde. Dr. Shinde is one of the most respected scholars on the Indus Civilization and, as director of the major excavations at Farmana, has discovered the largest intact Indus burial site to date. GHF is working closely with Deccan College on development of the Indus Heritage Centre on Deccan campus and is exploring a major new Indus site conservation program. At Hampi in Karnataka, India, the monumental embankment walls of the Chandramauleshwar Temple have been restored to their former glory, and structural integrity and final conservation work on the temple begins this year. At Wat Phu, Laos, GHF-sponsored conservation of the Nandin Hall, ceremonial road and other key monuments has led to the training of over 40 Laotians in appropriate restoration techniques, and a newly-restored historic library now serves the entire community of Champasak. GHF’s restoration of the Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia ‘Citadel of the Cats’ is in full swing with major work now underway to repair and record the 750-meter-long engraved wall (bas reliefs) and its unique face towers. The second Banteay Chhmar Conference was held in August 2009 with over 250 experts and government officials in attendance. A Cambodia Corporate Council, consisting of a group of local industry donors, has been successfully launched by GHF in Phnom Penh. GHF’s newest project in China, approved by the GHF Board of Trustees in 2009, is the historic and environmental planning for an ensemble of Fujian Tulous in Pinghe County, one of which is the nationally registered historic tulou of Shengwu lou. This pristine valley will be cleared of irresponsible development and planned as a protected scenic and historic area, taking into consideration the national highway development that will exit outside the village. The project will serve as a model for the conservation of hundreds of other tulous throughout Fujian province. In Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi, China, GHF’s Project received a $1.2 million conservation grant from the provincial government towards restoration of the Fanjiajie Historic District. After three years of joint work, the GHF Pingyao Master Conservation Plan was completed and submitted for governmental approval, and a revitalized traditional arts and crafts sector is blossoming in the historic Qing and Ming courtyard buildings restored in 2009. GHF’s project at Foguang Temple in China came to an end in 2009 and resulted in a Master Conservation Plan, approved by the national government in 2008, and conservation of the temple complex and its surroundings. A Master Plan for conservation of the Grand East Hall specifically has also been prepared and is under review by the authorities. |
