Bagan, Myanmar’s ancient city of over two thousand monuments, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, recognized for its cultural, spiritual, and architectural significance. As the heart of the Bagan Kingdom from the 11th to 13th centuries, it remains a vital symbol of Myanmar’s Buddhist heritage. However, Bagan faces mounting challenges that threaten its authenticity, integrity and sustainability. This presentation examines the dual realities of Bagan: its enduring legacy as a sacred and historical landscape and the contemporary threats jeopardizing its preservation. Key issues include political instability, economic hardship, environmental vulnerabilities and unregulated development. The 2021 military takeover has significantly disrupted conservation efforts, leading to weakened governance and restricted international collaboration.

As a living heritage site, Bagan is shaped by traditional merit-making practices, including offerings, gilding and the reconstruction of ancient structures. While these activities hold deep spiritual significance, they contribute to structural modifications that compromise the site’s authenticity. Additionally, environmental threats, including seismic activity, climate change and extreme weather conditions, accelerate the degradation of Bagan’s monuments. Inadequate conservation practices, unchecked urbanization and tourism-related developments further threaten the site’s integrity. Some restoration efforts have used inappropriate materials, while poorly regulated construction projects disrupt the historical landscape. Given these complexities, this presentation explores strategies for implementation of sustainable heritage management, emphasizing policy enforcement, responsible tourism, community engagement and international cooperation in alignment with the endorsed 2018 Integrated Management Framework for Bagan.