In order to enhance the role of networking, WHITRAP Shanghai establishes the Heritage Asia-Pacific (HeritAP), a network of heritage practitioners, which aims to promote the knowledge and experience sharing in the region. In addition to the annual meeting since 2018, WHITRAP Shanghai initiates the HeritAP Chat, with latest and most heated themes in each quarter. The first HeritAP Chat, on the theme "Impact of Ground Transportation Infrastructure at World Heritage Sites," will take place between 16:00-18:00 (UTC+8) on April 28th, 2022.

 

Since 1987, there are 209 State of Conservation (SOC) reports related to such factor in Asia and the Pacific region, affecting 38 properties and 16 State Parties. Considering the aforementioned situation, this HeritAP Chat aims to focus on the consequences brought about by ground transportation infrastructure, pay attention to its impact on the heritage sites of countries in Asia and the Pacific region, and provide a platform for heritage practitioners to share measures, experiences, and feasible solutions of countries in response to the threat.

There will be two parts to this HeritAP Chat. During the first part, three cases, which are the Great Wall (China), Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Philippines), and Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) respectively, will be presented. Based on previous SOC reports and WH Committee decisions, members of HeritAP will provide a brief synthesis of the current situation of certain sites, look into the way that current ground transportation infrastructure has influenced their heritage conservation, and finally share necessary measures for consideration and discussion. While in the second part, 6 expert speakers, from WHC, ICOMOS, WHITRAP Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, will be invited to participate in a free chat, in which they will deepen substantive discussions on this HeritAP chat’s theme and answer questions from audiences.