CONSERVATION OF UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN MANGYSTAU DISCUSSED
A regional working meeting was held in Aktau today to discuss the implementation of UNESCO World Heritage Committee Decision 48 COM 8B.20 concerning the sites of Shakpak Ata, Karaman Ata, Shopan Ata, Sultan Epe and Beket Ata, as well as the protocol adopted on 29 July 2026 under the chairmanship of Yerlan Karin, Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Director General of RSE “Kazrestoration”, officials responsible for culture and tourism from the Mangystau Region and district administrations, representatives of the Department of Emergency Situations, local historians, heritage conservation specialists and tourism organisations.
In his address, Olzhas Shariyazdanov, Director General of RSE Kazrestoration, highlighted key issues related to implementing measures for the preservation of Kazakhstan’s UNESCO World Heritage properties.
“We need to document the attributes that define the Outstanding Universal Value of all sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and establish a unified electronic database. We must also develop a comprehensive conservation plan for the monuments and prepare an Integrated Management Plan for the next five years, with the participation of local administrations at all levels across the Mangystau Region, as well as relevant institutions and organisations.
“Key priorities include establishing a dedicated monitoring system to regularly assess the condition of the monuments, organising visitor access to the sites, and ensuring that their history is presented accurately. These objectives can only be achieved through the joint efforts of all stakeholders. It is equally important to preserve the spiritual significance of these sites and the traditions associated with them,” said Olzhas Shariyazdanov, Director General of RSE Kazrestoration.
Under these documents, measures will be coordinated at the national level, and cooperation will be established with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and its advisory body, ICOMOS.
The meeting also addressed logistical and organisational arrangements for the joint evaluation mission of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), scheduled for 11–17 October 2026. The mission will assess the nomination entitled Ustyurt: Landscapes and Aran Hunting Traps.
The Ustyurt nomination is being prepared in accordance with an instruction issued by the Head of State at the third meeting of the National Kurultai in 2024.
The event was organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Mangystau Region administration. RSE “Kazrestoration” has been designated as the lead organisation responsible for coordinating and implementing the relevant work.
