From Nature to Natural Heritage

Scope and Goals:

The project examines how conservation and heritage practices in the past and in contemporary times have contributed to an identity, whether articulated in a national, local, ethnic, or religious sense, with focus on natural parks, preserves, and other significant environmental spaces. Using examples from around the Southeast Asian region, the project explores the connections with national identity as demonstrated in the contexts, processes, legislation, legal cases, and by individuals, stakeholder parties, and environments connected to the establishment and/or conservation of national parks, preserves, or natural world heritage sites. Issues relating to national identity that have emerged in the course of recognizing and conserving these natural heritage sites are discussed.

Participants, Affiliation, Title of Paper:

  1. Maria Serena I. Diokno University of the Philippines, Introduction
  2. Maitrii Aung-Thwin, National University of Singapore, Sacred Hills: Buddhism, Law and the Making of Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in Myanmar, 1893-1984. 3. Ruel Pagunsan, University of the Philippines, Nationalizing Mt. Makiling: Science, Environmentalism and Heritage in Colonial Philippines, 1903-1933
  3. Pinkaew Laungaramsri, Chiang Mai University, The Politics of Nature Conservation in Thailand
  4. Le Nguyen Long, National University of Social Sciences and Humanities Hanoi, Landscape, Tourism, and Nation-Building: Travel Writings in Nam Phong Review (1917-1934) and the Formation of Nationalism in Early Twentieth-Century Vietnam
  5. Theara Thun, National University of Singapore, The Death of a Forester: Chut Wuthy and His Protagonist in Cambodia’s Collective Memory
  6. Goh Hsiao Mei, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Negotiating National Identity through Heritage Conservation: A Malaysian Perspective
  7. Simonekeo Senesathith, National University of Laos, Improving Local Benefits from Tourism at Ting Cave, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
  8. Amnuayvit Thitibordin, Kamnoetvidya Science Academy, Thailand, From Export Commodity to the Conservation of Teak in Thailand