International Conference "Songkhla Lake Cultural Landscape: Understanding Values, Sustainable Management and Conservation"

(4 June 2026) Songkhla Province, through the Songkhla Provincial Cultural Office, together with the Songkhla Towards World Heritage Foundation, SEAMEO SPAFA Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts, Songkhla Rajabhat University, Prince of Songkla University, the Institute for Southern Thai Studies, PTTEP Energy Development Co., Ltd. and partner networks, held the international conference "Songkhla Lake Cultural Landscape: Understanding Values, Sustainable Management and Conservation" on 4–6 June 2026 at Songkhla Rajabhat University — bringing together international experts to advance "Songkhla and its Associated Lagoon Settlements" towards World Heritage inscription, with over 200 experts, academics and members of the public attending.

Mr. Prateep Uicharoen, Deputy Governor of Songkhla, presided over the opening and noted that Songkhla’s cultural heritage sites have been on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 2024. The conference strengthens knowledge and understanding and gathers recommendations from international experts towards effective, sustainable conservation and management of the cultural and natural heritage of the Songkhla Lake basin.

Mrs. Sasipen Lamaiphan, Songkhla Provincial Cultural Officer, said the Songkhla cultural landscape and its associated lagoon settlements hold outstanding value under World Heritage criterion (v), reflecting long-continued settlement, ways of life and land use that express a unique human–environment relationship — requiring international expertise to develop a site management plan that meets World Heritage standards.

Across three days, the conference covered history, multicultural ways of life, natural resources, local wisdom and environmental management, drawing lessons from world-renowned heritage sites such as West Lake in China and the Subak irrigation system of Bali, Indonesia — to be applied to conserving and developing the Songkhla Lake basin alongside public participation, climate change resilience, and balanced, sustainable development of the future World Heritage site.

News/photos: Thanyawan Jiraro, Radio Thailand Songkhla