2012 International Training on Heritage Impact Assessment, which is jointly organized by WHITRAP Shanghai and ICCROM, undertaken by Lijiang Protection and Management Bureau, was held in World Heritage Site Lijiang from October 15th to 24th, 2012. Yu Jianming, Deputy Director of Yunnan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, Sun Tie, representative of Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Development, He Shiyong, Director of Lijiang Protection and Management Bureau, Joseph King, Director of Site Unit, ICCROM and Ron van Oers, vice-director of WHITRAP Shanghai attended and addressed the opening ceremony. A total of 14 participants from 9 countries including Colombia, China, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Yemen, South Africa, New Zealand and India attended the training.

In recent years, many world heritage sites have been faced with increasing opportunities as well as challenges out of local development. As a response to World Heritage Committee’s call for the capacity building in this regard, WHITRAP and ICCROM conduct cooperation in organizing this International Training on Heritage Impact Assessment this year. Through systematic analysis and study on the actual and potential factors that may influence the world heritage sites, this training is aimed to improve the practical skills of professionals in this regard and offer valuable and pragmatic suggestions in the decision-making progress of the heritage sites. It is honored to have a teaching team composed of experienced scholars like Professor Richard A Engelhardt, Professor Ayesha Pamela Rogers, and Karel Anthonie Bakker from ICCMOS, and Prof. Gamini Wijesuriya and Joseph King from ICCROM, as well as Doctor Ron van Oers, Professor Shao Yong and the support team represented by Director He Shiyong and the Bureau. This training actually marks the first one in this subject over the world,

The 10-day training is an intensive programme that combines both theory and practice through lectures, case studies, and practical exercises. It is aimed to provide participants with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and scientific vision of impact assessment for evaluating impacts from various factors affecting heritage in general and world heritage sites in particular, and to promote the exchange of experiences and information among participants and the institutions.