Protecting the Past, Preserving the Present: The Oyu Tolgoi Cultural

Heritage Program

Jeffrey H. AltschulStatistical Research, Inc./SRI Foundation

American Center for Mongolian Studies Panel “Common Ground: The Intersection of Mining and Cultural Heritage in Mongolia”

North America Mongolia Business Council , 21st Annual MeetingWashington, D.C.

April 28, 2011

Oyu Tolgoi

What’s the Problem?From the Strategic Impact

Assessment• The likelihood that there will be

an increase in illegal excavations and disturbance of significant archaeological and paleontological resources

• Increased in-migration (the majority non-Mongolian) will cause a weakening of local traditions and cultural identity

• The project’s economic impact will lead to better prospects for preserving and protecting cultural heritage

“In short, locals are concerned that objects and traditions may be lost but remain cautiously optimistic that mining operations will provide better opportunities to support local museums, protect resources in situ, restore and conserve damaged cultural items, and encourage heritage tourism.”

Cultural Heritage Program (CHP) Design: Objectives and Goals

“The objective of this study is to create a cultural heritage program specific to the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) project, the goal is for the OT CHP to serve as a model for the country.”

• The identification, evaluation, and mitigation of tangible and intangible heritage

• The creation of public outreach and education in the form of museums, school programs, and other venues

• The structuring of heritage tourism so that the development of historic monuments, restoration of monasteries, and enhancement of traditional crafts have beneficial economic and social results

• The development of sustainable culture mechanisms to ensure the survival of the uniquely Mongolian traditional way of life

Finding the Balance

To be successful, the CHP must allow economic development without destroying a traditionallifestyle. The CHP is not so much about preserving places and things as it is about establishing a process by which Mongolians determine who they are to become by ensuring that they knowwho they were.

Ömnögovi aimag, showing direct impact areas in pink

Three Elements of the CHP

• Tangible Resources• Intangible Resources• Public Programs

Tangible Resources

• Archaeology• Paleontology• Historic Places

Intangible Resources

• Nomadic Culture• Customs• Language• Dances• Songs• Festivals

Public Programs

• Education• Museums• Heritage Tourism

Project Organization

Phase 1• Literature search• Gap analysis• Baseline fieldwork• Community and stakeholder

consultation• Assessment of the legal

framework affecting cultural heritage

• Cultural heritage inventory and mapping

• Risk analysis• Establishment of a Standards

of Acceptable Cultural Change framework

Tangible Resources• Inventory of OT Direct Impact Area• Creation of a Database for Ömnögovi aimag• Predictive Model for Ömnögovi aimag

Intangible Cultural Heritage

• The South Gobi’s rich intangible heritage– Silversmiths– Nomadism– Songs and singers– Games

• Sacred places• What to protect?

How to protect it?

Public Programs• Museums are places that:

– Help people understand their own as well as other cultural heritage;

– transform the tangible and intangible knowledge into forms of public involvement.

• Integrating cultural heritage and education

• Tourism: allowing people to engage in their history without destroying it

The Problem with ComplianceThe Mongolian Law of Cultural

Heritage– All mining companies must

protect cultural heritage– The current compliance rate is

3.7 percentCultural Heritage Loss

– More than 3,000 archaeological sites have probably been disturbed or destroyed due to mining

– Paleontological losses are incalculable

– Rate of culture change is increasing

Inconsistent Compliance– Some companies are very good– Some companies ignore the law

Risks: Threats and OpportunitiesFive most important threats and opportunities

to the cultural heritage of Ömnögovi aimag

Threats• Loss of nomadic culture• Destruction of

archaeological, historical and paleontological sites

• Loss of customs and rituals

• Negative impact of traditional social order

• Loss of traditional animal husbandry

Opportunities• Registration of cultural

heritage and establishment of database

• Improved research opportunities

• World Heritage List Placements

• New South Gobi Museum and improved soum museums

• Enhancement of cultural centers

Key Issues for the CHP

• Public Policy• Comprehensive

Solution to Intangible Resources

• Capacity Building• Empowering Local

Communities

Public Policy

Comprehensive Solutionto Cultural Heritage

The South Gobi Cultural Heritage Center

Capacity Building

Professional Training

Training the Trainers

Empowering Local Communities

Standards of Acceptable Culture ChangeWhat conditions are acceptable and how do we obtain them?

• Definition of acceptable resource and social conditions

• Baseline conditions• Management actions• Monitoring

A New Beginning

• The OT CHP Design will be complete in July 2011

• Then the hard work begins!