Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions

Government agencies in various countries use legal tools to conserve and manage tangible cultural heritage effectively. Laws, measures, and standards ensure operations adhere to conservation principles and maintain consistency. In Thailand, legal tools for protecting tangible cultural heritage have...

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Main Author: Wimonrart Issarathumnoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts 2025-05-01
Series:SPAFA Journal
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Online Access:http://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/890
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author Wimonrart Issarathumnoon
author_facet Wimonrart Issarathumnoon
author_sort Wimonrart Issarathumnoon
collection DOAJ
description Government agencies in various countries use legal tools to conserve and manage tangible cultural heritage effectively. Laws, measures, and standards ensure operations adhere to conservation principles and maintain consistency. In Thailand, legal tools for protecting tangible cultural heritage have evolved over six decades, particularly under the Ancient Monuments Act. However, these tools are inefficient due to two critical issues. Firstly, there is a lack of comprehensive protection, inconsistent laws, and inadequate enforcement, especially for heritage of low or moderate value, privately owned, or outside protected areas. Secondly, implementation is highly fragmented, involving multiple agencies and resulting in complicated and disjointed operations. Amending each law individually is unlikely to be effective. One of the potential solutions is to create a primary law for the inclusive conservation and management of tangible cultural heritage. This law should harmonise and connect existing laws, addressing all types, values, and forms of tangible cultural heritage regardless of ownership. It is crucial to establish mechanisms that decentralise operations to local levels and encourage participation from various sectors. Moreover, developing conservation standards is essential to ensure the consistent use of these instruments.
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spelling doaj-art-a2f4a0c3f76d4d3e941c71636ea609b62025-08-20T02:01:14ZengSEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine ArtsSPAFA Journal0858-19752586-87212025-05-01910.26721/spafajournal.iur79pp372Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and SolutionsWimonrart Issarathumnoon0Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University Government agencies in various countries use legal tools to conserve and manage tangible cultural heritage effectively. Laws, measures, and standards ensure operations adhere to conservation principles and maintain consistency. In Thailand, legal tools for protecting tangible cultural heritage have evolved over six decades, particularly under the Ancient Monuments Act. However, these tools are inefficient due to two critical issues. Firstly, there is a lack of comprehensive protection, inconsistent laws, and inadequate enforcement, especially for heritage of low or moderate value, privately owned, or outside protected areas. Secondly, implementation is highly fragmented, involving multiple agencies and resulting in complicated and disjointed operations. Amending each law individually is unlikely to be effective. One of the potential solutions is to create a primary law for the inclusive conservation and management of tangible cultural heritage. This law should harmonise and connect existing laws, addressing all types, values, and forms of tangible cultural heritage regardless of ownership. It is crucial to establish mechanisms that decentralise operations to local levels and encourage participation from various sectors. Moreover, developing conservation standards is essential to ensure the consistent use of these instruments. http://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/890legal framework, tangible cultural heritage, cultural heritage conservation, conservation law, solutions | โครงสร้างทางกฎหมาย มรดกทางวัฒนธรรมที่จับต้องได้ การอนุรักษ์มรดกทางวัฒนธรรม กฎหมายอนุรักษ์์ แนวทางการแก้ปัญหา
spellingShingle Wimonrart Issarathumnoon
Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
SPAFA Journal
legal framework, tangible cultural heritage, cultural heritage conservation, conservation law, solutions | โครงสร้างทางกฎหมาย มรดกทางวัฒนธรรมที่จับต้องได้ การอนุรักษ์มรดกทางวัฒนธรรม กฎหมายอนุรักษ์์ แนวทางการแก้ปัญหา
title Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
title_full Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
title_fullStr Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
title_short Enhancing Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Thailand: Problems and Solutions
title_sort enhancing legal frameworks for the conservation of tangible cultural heritage in thailand problems and solutions
topic legal framework, tangible cultural heritage, cultural heritage conservation, conservation law, solutions | โครงสร้างทางกฎหมาย มรดกทางวัฒนธรรมที่จับต้องได้ การอนุรักษ์มรดกทางวัฒนธรรม กฎหมายอนุรักษ์์ แนวทางการแก้ปัญหา
url http://www.spafajournal.org/index.php/spafajournal/article/view/890
work_keys_str_mv AT wimonrartissarathumnoon enhancinglegalframeworksfortheconservationoftangibleculturalheritageinthailandproblemsandsolutions