On November 26, Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong presided over the second 2024 meeting of the National Committee on the Protection of World Heritage. The meeting, held at the headquarters of National Telecom Public Company Limited, was attended by experts and representatives from agencies including the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Department of Fine Arts, the Department of National Parks, and the Department of International Organizations.
Key developments included progress on the nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat for World Heritage status. Listed on UNESCO's tentative list since August 28, 2012, the site is recognized under three criteria of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV): Criterion 1, Criterion 2, and Criterion 6. The temple is noted for its well-preserved 13th-century architecture, its role in showcasing Buddhist beliefs, and its status as Thailand’s oldest bell-shaped stupa. Relevant agencies have been tasked to expedite the submission of comprehensive data to UNESCO’s World Heritage Center.
Additionally, the committee reviewed the conservation status of three World Heritage sites: the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, and the Ancient City of Si Thep with associated Dvaravati-era religious structures. Reports confirmed no unauthorized restoration, construction, or alterations within these areas or their buffer zones that could threaten their Outstanding Universal Value.