State of Conservation

• Need to clarify the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value with regards to the boundaries of the temples zone and the buffer zone
• Necessity to augment the Conservation Plan, to refine the Management Plan and to complement the monitoring program 
• Need to address a number of tourism-related issues (revise the Tourism Management Plan, prepare a visitor code of conduct, prepare an interpretation and presentation plan for the Kampoon Thom Museum, improve signage, improve the visitor display and interpretation information at the Sambor Prei Kuk Visitor Centre, etc.)
• Need to to avoid herbicides in fighting weeds and replace them by masonry- and environment-friendly methods
• Need to continue implementing careful looting control

Requests approved: 1 (from 2014-2014)
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD

On 28 November 2018, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1532/documents/ and addresses recommendations made at the time of the inscription in 2017 (Decision 41 COM 8B.15) as follows:

• A location map and photographic documentation of eight ‘Octagonal Towers’ has been prepared;
• Documentation and condition assessment of 142 ‘Flying Palace’ decorative sculptural elements has been completed to strengthen the management of risks. Some are at ‘high risk’ due to vegetation growth and brick deterioration, and an Emergency Plan has been devised;
• Risk mapping and monitoring has commenced. A number of structures, and especially those built in the late 6^th to early 7^th centuries, are at risk due to natural factors, particularly vegetation growth. Illegal archaeological excavations, the aged fabric and structural issues have also contributed to the deterioration of some temples. A site map showing the risks has been produced, along with a table indicating the specific causes of deterioration and brief descriptions of the proposed interventions;
• Restoration work has occurred on the S11 tower, and on a number of the ‘flying palaces’ in the Prasat Yeay Poan group;
• Maintenance and other site works undertaken include vegetation removal; installation of signs, site maps and information panels; improvements and re-routing of access roads, paths and staircases; fencing; stabilisation works; and archaeological research. The State Party has confirmed that no herbicides are used at the property;
• Information has been provided about tourism statistics and seasonal variations in tourism industry activity, and evaluation of the carrying capacity is continuing;
• Updated information is provided in relation to other recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee, including: adoption of a visitor code of conduct; resourcing and timeframes for the interpretation and presentation plan for the Kampong Thom Museum; new signage for orientation, direction-finding and identification of monuments; establishment of a temporary interpretation centre for visitors, and anti-looting measures.

In conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, the State Party submitted a map on 20 November 2018, showing the location of a bypass road from Chey Commune to Kampong Chheu Teal High School, within the buffer zone. 

Progress has been made in relation to the recommendations formulated at the time of inscription in 2017. A full articulation of the attributes of the property remains to be finalized and should include all aspects that convey the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), including standing structures/ruins, decorative elements/inscriptions, archaeological sites and evidence, hydraulic elements and causeways. It is recommended that the Committee commend the State Party for the progress achieved, including the documentation presented by the National Authority for Sambor Prei Kuk on the condition of the octagonal towers and ‘flying palaces’, and encourage it to continue working in this direction to strengthen the long-term management of the property and its OUV.  As work continues, the documentation, mapping and condition assessment of the attributes should be clearly reflected into the management system.

While aspects of the Conservation Plan have been augmented, the recommended ‘conservation manual’ has not been developed and the recommended refinement to the Management Plan in relation to the need for a Risk Response and Management Plan needs to be completed. There is a necessity to improve the current strategic documents with more detailed guidance on decision making and conservation actions.

The integrity of the property remains vulnerable due to past damage and looting, structural factors (including deterioration of original fabric), visitor pressures and natural processes (especially vegetation growth on the structures). The State Party has made progress in determining specific conservation issues for each structure and their urgency, and methods to address various problems have been determined. Monitoring of masonry structures and conservation measures based on minor anastylosis, re-pointing, installation of non-intrusive ties and structural supports and selective replacement of degraded bricks with recycled historical bricks from the local area are recommended.

The information on weather and the seasonality of tourism is useful and should contribute to the recommended revisions of the Tourism Management Plan. Given the vulnerability of the property to current and expected future visitor numbers, this work is critical. The reported improvements to signs and the temporary solutions to address the need for interpretation facilities are noted.

The bypass road, which passes through the northern end of the buffer zone, is considered an appropriate intervention as it removes heavy traffic from within the inscribed property. It was built in 2012 and was inspected and discussed within the context of the ICOMOS evaluation.

A Board of Directors has been established for the National Authority for Sambor Prei Kuk to monitor the budget and the implementation of the work programme, with reporting due every six months. These arrangements should strengthen efforts to improve and implement the management system, including risk management, conservation approaches and sustainable tourism. It is recommended that the Committee request State Party to forward the biannual reports to the World Heritage Centre.

The State Party acknowledges that the extension of the property, once the inscribed area has been better studied, documented and assessed, is a longer-term issue and has undertaken to consult with ICOMOS about this in due course.

The provisional Statement of OUV is being reviewed, and an agreed draft will be presented to the World Heritage Committee for adoption.