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The Committee had before it the proposals of the Director-General on organizations that could be invited to send observers to future sessions of the Committee, as follows:      United Nations;      United Nations Environmental Programme;      Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations;      World Food Programme;      International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;      Interamerican Development Bank;      Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization;      Council of Europe;      Organization of American States;      South-East Asian Ministers of ...
The Deputy Assistant Director General for Operations (Culture and Communication) responded on behalf of the Director General of UNESCO. Mr. Bolla expressed UNESCO's sincere appreciation for the invitation by the Government of the United States of America to hold the second session in Washington. In greeting members of the Committee and wishing them success in their work, he indicated the important role of international organizations such as UNDP, UNEP, IBRD, IDB, WFP, OAS and ALECSO in providing crucial support to conservation measures. In this context, he also expressed UNESCO's ...
After discussing the proposed programme, the Committee decided that the following three activities would be undertaken during the forth-coming year and authorized expenditure of up to $30,000 for that purpose : (a) a brochure in five UNESCO languages (Arabic, English, French,Russian and Spanish) aimed primarily at opinion-makers in States not yet adhering to the Convention, to describe the objectives of the Convention, the criteria for nominations to the World Heritage List, the types of assistance available and the ways of applying for such assistance;(b) a simple, four-panel leaflet on ...
Following the recommendations of the Bureau, the Committee decided that a booklet explaining how nominations to the World Heritage List should be prepared, should be drawn up by ICOMOS and IUCN instead of the model nomination files which they had previously been asked to prepare and that the Secretariat of UNESCO should follow up this decision. This booklet should be published in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
The Committee decided furthermore to defer the following sites: No. Name of property / State Party 8 Ichkeul National park / Tunisia The Committee deferred this nomination until the Tunisian Government has contacted the other States concerned to ensure adequate protection of summering and wintering areas of major migratory species found in Ichkeul. 79 Paphos, Birthplace of Aphrodite / Cyprus The Committee deferred this nomination until more precise information was available on the possible adverse impact on the sites of the pressing needs of tourism development. 92 Sta. Giulia/St. ...
53. The Committee took note of recommendation No. 16 concerning the World Heritage Convention which was adapted by the World National Parks Congress (Bali, 11-22 October 1982). It approved the suggestion made to Unesco to launch international campaigns for the protection of the natural heritage which would be similar to those which are currently under way for the preservation of the cultural heritage. 54. The Committee took note of recommendation No. 45 adopted by the World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mexico City, 26 July - 6 August 1982) in which the Conference "expresses the hope ...
The 6th extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee was opened by Mr Tamás Fejérdy, (Hungary) Chairperson on 17 March 2003 at UNESCO Headquarters. He welcomed Mr Koïchiro Matsuura the Director-General of UNESCO and the 21 members of the Committee: Argentina, Belgium, China, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe4. 73 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention who are not members of ...
The World Heritage Committee: 1. Having examined Document WHC-04/7 EXT.COM/4B, 2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 13.1, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004) 3. Decides that the Special Meeting of Experts referred to in paragraph 13 of Decision 28 COM 13.1 shall take place in Kazan, as offered by the Russian Federation and thanks the Russian authorities for their offer; 4. Decides that the Special Meeting mentioned above will take place from 6 to 9 April 2005; 5. Requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a background paper collecting as much as possible relevant information ...
8. The Secretary, Mr. B. von Droste, Director, Division of Ecological Sciences, reported on activities undertaken since the Committee's eighth session held in Buenos Aires from 29 October to 2 November 1984. He began by reviewing the general status of implementation of the Convention, announcing that six new States, viz. in chronological order, Qatar, New Zealand, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Hungary and Philippines had adhered to the Convention, bringing the number of States Parties to 88. The Convention thus continued to arouse the interest of an increasing number of States. It was to be ...
Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia: The critical situation of this park, as reported to the Bureau at its 9th session had not altered and IUCN noted that if compensatory measures to re-establish the water regime of this Park were not taken very soon, the property would lose its international importance for migratory wildfowl. IUCN therefore strongly recommended the inclusion of this Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Tunisian authorities had not responded to the Secretariat's request for further information, however, the representative of Tunisia informed the Committee that he ...
43. The Secretary introduced document SC/CONF.008/07 on promotional activities and drew the Committee's attention to several points, including the exhibit of photographs of World Heritage sites, the information material produced during the current year and the contribution of States Parties in promoting the Convention. On the whole, the contribution of States to public information for their own nationals was still somewhat_ limited. However, the presence of the Mayors of Quebec, Congonhas, Segovia and Santiago de Compostela at the current session was evidence of the growing interest ...
Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) The Committee decided to encourage Tunisia in its efforts to seek financial resources to undertake activities such as the building of the Tindja sluice and two other drainage canals to ensure maintenance of the integrity of the wetlands critical to the values of this site. At the same time, the Committee agreed that the Tunisian authorities should be congratulated on improvements to the site's management consequent on completion of the visitors' centre, institution of controls on cattle grazing and additional ...
5. In his opening address, the representative of the Director-General, Mr Mounir Bouchenaki, Assistant Director-General for Culture, spoke of the incontestable success of the World Heritage Convention. He welcomed the Kingdom of Bhutan, Samoa and Eritrea as new signatories to the Convention. The Convention would have 167 States Parties by the end of 2001. He stated that this achievement of near universality proved that the world attached special importance to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. 6. Mr Bouchenaki advised the General Assembly that Mr Peter King (Australia) had ...
The Bureau was informed that a US $30 million irrigation project, to be implemented with the assistance of a Japanese company and the Asian Development Bank, could divert about 75 per cent of the waters of the Rapti River which forms the northern boundary of the park and that no study on the environmental impact of this irrigation project had so far been undertaken. The Bureau recalled that a sum of US $80,000 had been provided during 1988-1989 from the World Heritage Fund for this site and was concerned whether the implementation of these projects was effectively ensuring the ...
Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal) The Committee noted with satisfaction that, following the concerns expressed by the Bureau in June 1990 about the possible impact of an irrigation project whereby as much as 75 percent of the waters of the Rapti River would be diverted, the said project was reassessed by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Nepal and that it would probably be modified significantly to minimize its negative impact on the environment. The Committee requested the Secretariat and IUCN to monitor the progress of this issue until a final decision is reached and ...
28. The Committee congratulated the Secretariat for the many activities carried out in 1990. They are presented in document CC-90/CONF.004/5, which is focused on the implementation and dissemination of background material on the Convention, on the production of films and features on World Heritage Sites and on the planning of exhibitions in States Parties and other States. 29. With respect to the distribution of video-cassettes, the Committee noted that non-commercial distribution was insured by Unesco's distribution network, but that commercial distribution posed a number of legal ...
The World Heritage Committee, Having examined Document WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4, Recalling the extreme exceptional circumstances that prevailed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, Also recalling Decision COM/BUR.1.3 by which the Bureau of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking into account the prevailing sanitary situation worldwide, including travel restrictions, considered that the conditions for a session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 were not met, Decides to hold an extended 44th session in June/July 2021 in Fuzhou (China); Also decides that ...
The General Assembly, 1. Decides to amend Rule 10.1 of its Rules of Procedure to read: 10.1 The working languages of the Assembly shall be Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal) The Committee was pleased to note that the Irrigation Department and the Nepal Planning Commission have formally dropped their plans for a US$30 million irrigation project to divert the Rapti River which would have seriously threatened the integrity of this Park. A study undertaken by the Government of Nepal and the Asian Development Bank, following the intervention of the Committee, showed the project was environmentally unacceptable and its economic benefits to be doubtful. The Committee commended the Nepalese authorities for taking decisive action ...
67. The proposals for inscribing the Historical Centre of Boukhara and Historical Monuments of Novgorod and its region were not considered by the Committee because the Bureau decided to defer their examination.
Komodo National Park 609 Indonesia N(iii)(iv) The Committee requested the Indonesian authorities to complete the gazetting process for this site and conduct research on marine areas in order to incorporate marine concerns in the management of this site.
Ujung Kulon National Park 608 Indonesia N(iii)(iv) The Committee requested the Indonesian authorities to complete the gazetting process and strengthen the conservation of marine values in the management of the site.
The World Heritage Committee, Decides to suspend Rule 4.1 of its Rules of Procedure; Also decides that its 45th session will take place in Kazan, Russian Federation, in June/July 2022; Underlines that the decision of the place for the 45th session is made during the 15th extraordinary session of the Committee due to the exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and should not create a precedent to Rule 4.1 of the Rules of the Procedure.
The General Assembly,  Elects H.E. Mr Jean Guéguinou (France) as President of the 15th session of the General Assembly ; Elects Mr Nicolas Mathieu (Switzerland) as Rapporteur of the 15th session of the General Assembly ; Elects the Russian Federation and Namibia as Vice-Presidents of the 15th session of the General Assembly.
Despite the fact that it was aware of the efforts of specialists and the Tunisian authorities for conserving this site, the Bureau was, however, concerned about the modifications which affected the environment of the site and requested the competent authorities to take urgent measures necessary to re­establish the harmony of the site and its surroundings, halt all new constructions in the immediate environs and demolish the shopping arcade constructed on one side of the amphitheatre. If it is not possible to demolish the arcade, then it would be desirable to conceal it with a hedge. ...
The representative of ICOMOS reported to the Bureau on the cultural sites he had monitored. A more detailed report accompanied by slide projections will be made during the Santa Fe session in December 1992 for all the cases mentioned. The properties in question are: Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation), Monastery of Rila (Bulgaria), Budapest (Hungary) and Stonehenge (United Kingdom). With regard to the site of Stonehenge, the ICOMOS Representative mentioned the problem of tourist pressure and the deviation of the road A-344. A more detailed report will be submitted at the next session of the ...
Abou Mena (Egypt) The Committee was apprised of the report presented on the site of Abou Mena following concerns expressed by the Bureau in July 1992. At the request of the Chairperson, the Delegate from Egypt provided all the clarifications regarding allegations on the state of the site in his report, which the Chairperson, upon the suggestion of one of the delegates, requested the Committee to include in the report as an appendix. During the discussion which followed, the Tunisian Delegate asked the Centre to pay special attention to confirming the information received by the ...
Sites: Abu Mena
Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation) With the help of slide illustrations, the ICOMOS Representative introduced the status of the site of Kizhi Pogost, explaining the nature of the problems and the manner in which urgent problems were determined. This presentation was followed by a discussion during which several technical questions were raised. The Committee decided to support the coordination effort undertaken by ICOMOS for this site, and requested that a report be provided during the next meeting of the Bureau in view of implementing an assistance project. The Committee adopted the ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
IUCN The Bureau approved a sum of US$ 18,000 to IUCN for the following purposes: (a) reimbursement of costs for implementing the Bureau's request, made at its last session in July 1992, for assessing measures taken to mitigate impacts of road construction in Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) US$ 12,000 Preparation of a state of conservation report on sangay National Park by IUCN's Regional Office for Latin America US$ 2,000 Contribution for the preparation, by the IUCN Office in Nepal, of state of conservation reports on Sagarmatha and Royal Chitwan National Parks of Nepal US$ ...
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) At the request of the authorities of the Russian Federation, the Director-General decided to launch a large scale project for the rehabilitation of the Hermitage Museum. Two missions were organized in 1993 in which experts of the Kimbell Art Museum of Houston, and the Metropolitan Museum, New York, (USA) participated. Furthermore, UNESCO requested a consultant engineering firm in Edinburgh, (UK), to identify different components for a rehabilitation programme for the Hermitage Museum. This group of architects/engineers visited the site ...
Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation) At the seventeenth session of the Bureau, ICOMOS informed about its involvement in the conservation efforts for Kizhi Pogost and that an expert mission would be undertaken to the site. The Bureau approved a technical assistance request to support this mission with funds provided under the Canadian Green Plan. The mission took place in summer 1993 and a full report was available. In collaboration with the Russian counterparts, the mission addressed issues such as legal protection, conservation management, fire protection, iconostasis conservation, ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
St. Petersburg (Russian Federation) ICOMOS reported to the Bureau at its seventeenth session on its review of factors related to the steady deterioration of the physical environment of the city. The Bureau supported the ICOMOS recommendation to explore ways and means to encourage exchange between the city's specialists and outside experts. An ICOMOS mission undertaken in June 1993 identified the following key problems: insufficient public resources, changing function of the city, housing and ecological problems, unplanned urban development, lack of appropriate management and heritage ...
Architectural ensemble of the Trinity sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad 657 Russian Federation C(ii)(iv) The Committee inscribed the site on the World Heritage List under criteria (ii) and (iv).
The General Assembly,  Elects the United Arab Emirates (State Party with no property on the World Heritage List) as a member of the World Heritage Committee; Elects the Russian Federation (Electoral Group which might have no State Party in the composition of the next Committee) as a member of the World Heritage Committee; Elects the following eleven States Parties as members of the World Heritage Committee: Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Iraq, Mali, Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland and ...
The Bureau was informed of the considerable improvements for site conservation and management in the two years since the initial mission. These improvements were achieved with the support of the Canadian Government. The Bureau noted with satisfaction that ICOMOS will provide a detailed report to the Committee session in December, including a long-term assessment of conservation problems at the site for the decade to come.
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
IX.1 The Committee examined the working documents that had been prepared for this agenda item by the Secretariat, the advisory bodies IUCN and ICOMOS, and by the UNDP /UNESCO Regional Project for the Cultural, Urban and Environmental Heritage for Latin America and the Caribbean. SYSTEMATIC MONITORING AND REPORTING IX.2 In introducing this item the Secretariat recalled that Article 3 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention stipulates that one of the essential functions of the World Heritage Committee is to "monitor the state of conservation ...
Kremlin and Red Square (Russian Federation) The Committee was informed that the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Russian Federation to UNESCO informed the Director-General of UNESCO of a project concerning the possible erection of a monument in honour of Marshal G. Zoukhov on the Red Square. The Director-General, in a letter to the mayor of Moscow dated 2 December 1994, underlined that the responsibility for protecting a cultural property lies with the state Party concerned, which should conserve it and avoid taking any measures that would damage it. The Director-General ...
Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation) It was recalled that since 1991 ICOMOS had presented to the Committee and the Bureau reports on its involvement in the monitoring of this site and on the efforts to conserve and restore its monuments. ICOMOS reported that the legal protection of the monument and the buffer zone had been considerably improved and that a conservation professional had been assigned. The workplan for 1994 had been completed and included: the installation of a system of lightning protection as part of a major reworking of fire protection and security at the site; studies ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
Komodo National Park (Indonesia): The Bureau recommended that the Committee approve a sum of US$40,000 of the US$63,400 requested by the Indonesian authorities for the purchase of a patrol boat and the procurement and installation of a GIS-GPS system. The Bureau recommended that the Indonesian authorities limit the costs of the GIS-GPS system to a maximum of US$19,000 by calling for competitive bids for the supply and installation of this system for the Komodo National Park. Ujung Kulon National Park (Indonesia): The Bureau recommended that the Committee approve a sum of US$40,000 ...
The World Heritage Committee, Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/3 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/3.Add, Recalling that the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, initially scheduled from 19 to 30 June 2022, was postponed by the Bureau on 21 April 2022, Also recalling that Rule 2.1 of its Rules of Procedure was suspended at its 17th extraordinary session (Decision 17 EXT.COM 3), Decides to hold its extended 45th session in presentia from 10 to 25 September 2023 in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the Presidency of Her Highness Princess Haifa Al Mogrin (Saudi Arabia), ...
The World Heritage Committee, Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5, Inscribes the Historic Center of the Port City of Odesa, Ukraine, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv); Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value: Brief synthesis The historic centre of Odesa is part of a port city located on the Ukrainian shores of the Black Sea. It stands on a shallow indentation of the seacoast about thirty kilometres north of the Dniester River estuary. The city was ...
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the Third International Experts Meeting on Borobudur was held on site in January 1995 and that the Expert Group expressed satisfaction on the state of conservation of Borobudur, which has been the object of a UNESCO International Safeguarding Campaign launched in 1972, although the site was only inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991. The Centre reported that the meeting made, inter alia, the following recommendations: (i) avoid any future actions or activities that would unnecessarily disturb the traditional appearance of the site, e.g. ...
The Centre informed the Bureau that a joint Japan/UNESCO project identification mission to this World Heritage Site inscribed in 1979, took place in February 1995. It was observed that in spite of the application of a good traditional method of conservation, consisting of covering the exposed structures each year with "kargel" (mud and straw mixture) , the site has continued to deteriorate in the absence of a viable method for sustainable conservation of the mud-brick structures which are annually exposed to heavy rainfall. The mission also noted some movement of the supporting brick ...
VII.15 Komodo National Park (Indonesia) The Committee took note that a mission to consider the state of conservation of Komodo National Park took place in July 1995 under the leadership of the Chair of the Indonesian World Heritage Committee, accompanied by representatives of the national authorities and the UNESCO Office in Jakarta. The Committee expressed its concern for the four officials of the Indonesian World Heritage Committee still missing at sea after a tragic accident during the course of a monitoring mission to Komodo. The Committee paid tribute to their dedication to the ...
VII.38 Borobudur (Indonesia) The Committee noted with appreciation the submission of the state of conservation reports on Borobudur and Prambanan, both inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991 and commended the Indonesian World Heritage Committee for the importance it has attached to the systematic monitoring exercise and rapid completion of the state of conservation reports on the cultural properties. With regard to Borobudur, the Committee expressed its wish to receive the detailed plan of the "sound and light" theatre at this site, prior to its construction in view of the ...
The Virgin Komi Forests 719 Russian Federation N(ii) (iii) The Committee inscribed the nominated property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iii), considering the site among the most important natural sites in the boreal forest region. The site has pristine boreal forests and is an important site for scientific research including climate change. The Committee decided to inscribe an area of 3.28 million ha, which is fully protected as a National Park, Zapovednik and buffer zone. It requested the Centre to write to the national authorities to encourage them to upgrade the legal status ...
XI.7 The Secretariat presented the regional thematic studies carried out in 1995 and the Committee took note of the detailed reports contained in information documents INF.8 and INF.9. - "Regional Thematic Study Meeting on Asian Rice Culture and its Terrace Landscapes (Philippines, 28 March to 4 April 1995)- "Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on Associative Cultural Landscapes" (Australia, 27 to 29 April 1995).
A.1.1 Technical cooperation Komodo National Park (Indonesia) (US$ 64,500 requested) The Committee reviewed the request for the purchase of a fibreglass catamaran boat and additional accessories for the GIS system for a total of US$ 64,500. However, in the light of the amount of funds already provided for the purchase of boats for the site, the Committee approved this project for a reduced amount of US$ 30,000, under the condition that the Indonesian authorities find an additional US$ 30,000 from other sources for its purchase. It furthermore suggested that the boat be insured by the ...
XVII.1 The Secretariat introduced the Working Document and recalled that the Committee at its eighteenth session decided that the following specific revisions of the Operational Guidelines should be examined by the Bureau at its nineteenth session. A. Chapter I, Section C of the operational Guidelines: CRITERIA FOR THE INCLUSION OF CULTURAL PROPERTIES IN THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST (DEFINITION OF AND CRITERIA FOR CULTURAL PROPERTIES) Based upon the results of four regional and thematic expert meetings that were held in 1994 and 1995 on 'Heritage Canals' (Canada, 15-19 September 1994), ...
XIX.1 The Director of the World Heritage Centre informed the Committee that the Governments of Italy and Mexico have both officially expressed their readiness to host the Committee in 1996, while the Government of Finland would like to host such a meeting in 1998. XIX.2 The Delegate of Italy thereupon reiterated his Government's invitation to the Committee, indicating however that should the Committee hold its next meeting in Mexico, the 1997 session could possibly be held in Naples. The Delegate of Italy will inform the World Heritage Centre as soon as possible of the agreement of the ...
Komodo National Park (Indonesia) (US$ 64,500 requested) The Bureau reviewed the request for the purchase of a fibreglass catamaran boat and additional accessories for the GIS system for a total of US$ 64,500. However, in the light of the amount of funds already provided for the purchase of boats for the site, the Bureau recommended the Committee to approve the above project for a reduced amount of US$ 30,000, under the condition that the Indonesian authorities find an additional US$ 30,000 from other sources for its purchase. It furthermore suggested that the boat be insured by the ...
The Bureau requested the Centre to write a letter of appreciation to the Indonesian authorities expressing satisfaction on the actions taken and commending them for the detailed state of conservation report received for Komodo National Park from the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry dated February 1996.
VII. 50 Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany) It was recalled that the Committee during its nineteenth session invited the German authorities to provide a full state of conservation report on the site, including statements concerning legal protection, current planning and development of Potsdam, as well as information on possible extensions of the site and/or buffer zones adjacent to the site. Furthermore, during its twentieth session in June 1996, the Bureau expressed its serious concern about urban development plans in Potsdam, particularly the "Potsdam Centre" project, ...
VII. 36 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) The Committee recalled that the site was included on the World Heritage List in 1980 and took note of the report presented by IUCN on threats to the site which was prepared in cooperation with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. The report confirmed that the construction of dams had a devastating impact on the wetland values of Ichkeul National Park. The significant adverse environmental impact of the construction of two dams limiting the freshwater flow to the area was also described in a recent report by the Tunisian Ministry of the Environment. ...
Lake Baikal 754 Russian Federation N(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) The Committee inscribed Lake Baikal as the most outstanding example of a freshwater ecosystem on the basis of natural criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). It is the oldest and deepest of the world's lakes containing nearly 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater reserve. The lake contains an outstanding variety of endemic flora and fauna, which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science. It is also surrounded by a system of protected areas that have high scenic and other natural values. The Committee took note of the ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The Volcanoes of Kamchatka 765 Russian Federation N(i) (ii) (iii)  The Committee inscribed the Volcanoes of Kamchatka as one of the most outstanding examples of the volcanic regions in the world on the basis of natural criteria (i), (ii) and (iii). The site contains a high density of active volcanoes, a variety of different types and a wide range of volcanic features. The Peninsula location between a large continental landmass and the Pacific Ocean also exhibits unique characteristics with major concentrations of wildlife. The discussions held at the twentieth extraordinary ...
XII. The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session noted that several requests for international assistance were related to state of conservation reports on the same properties and suggested the Committee to consider if these should be examined together. The Committee approved the recommendation of the Bureau. Furthermore, the Delegate of Germany proposed that all training requests submitted for World Heritage funding on a yearly basis be studied together so as to provide information on the level of funds obligated on a regular basis. The Delegate of Canada insisted that these ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twentieth session noted that the construction of two dams had limited freshwater flow and devastated the wetland values of Ichkeul National Park, leading to dramatic increases in the salinity of the lake and marshes and sharp reductions in migratory bird populations. Hence, the Committee included Ichkeul in the List of World Heritage in Danger and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site, and alerted them to the possibility of the deletion of Ichkeul from the World ...
The Bureau recalled the fact that the Committee had previously expressed concerns regarding the decrease in the population of wintering Siberian cranes returning to this site and management problems, such as the over-growth of grasses, forming a thick mat in some areas were adversely affecting the breeding habitat of the Siberian cranes. Records maintained by Park management indicated that the wintering population of Siberian cranes, estimated at about 38 in 1985-86 when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List, had dropped to 5 in 1992-93; no Siberian cranes were seen in ...
The Bureau recalled the fact that the boat provided to this World Heritage area with financial assistance from the Fund in 1994, was destroyed in an accident during a systematic monitoring mission to the site in July 1995, in which four Indonesian officials lost their lives. With a view to equipping the Park with a boat capable of undertaking open-sea travel, the Committee at its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995) approved a sum of US$ 30,000 and requested that the State Party provide the additional US$ 30,000 needed to purchase a large fiberglass catamaran. Learning the fact that the ...
VII.21 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it found that the construction of two dams had limited freshwater flow, dramatically increased the salinity of the lake and marshes and led to sharp reductions of migratory bird populations. In 1996, the Committee decided to declare Ichkeul as a World Heritage site in Danger and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site and alerted them to the possibility of the deletion of Ichkeul from the World Heritage ...
VII.39 Kamchatka Volcanoes (Russian Federation) IUCN summarised its recent report, prepared by two experts who visited this site at the invitation of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection. IUCN reviewed a proposed mining project, whose location was determined to be about 5 km outside of the World Heritage area. The location of the mine may not pose a major environmental or aesthetic problem but would disrupt migratory wildlife of the region and fisheries resources. While the question of whether or not mining and conservation can co-exist in the area is yet to be answered, ...
VII.41 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/4B Section III.A.c), on the following natural properties: Great Barrier Reef (Australia) Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland) Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves/La Amistad National Park (Costa Rica/Panama) Shirakami Sanchi and Yakushima Island (Japan) Whale Sanctuary of El Viscaino (Mexico) Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman) Lake Baikal (Russian Federation) Virgin Komi Forests (Russian ...
VIII.1 The Committee examined eight natural nominations and two mixed sites received for review by IUCN. The Committee noted that two sites had been withdrawn by States Parties: Fossil Forest of Dunarobba (Italy) and Vodlozero National Park (Russian Federation) before the twenty-first session of the Bureau. The Committee recalled that the Bureau at its twenty-first session had decided not to examine the nomination of Biogradska Gora National Park (No. 838) submitted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) as well as the nomination of Central Karakorum National Park ...
The Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Porec 809 Croatia C(ii)(iii)(iv) The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the Episcopal complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the historic centre of Porec is an outstanding example of an early Christian episcopal ensemble that is exceptional by virtue of its completeness and its unique Basilican cathedral.
The Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) 837 Morocco C(ii)(iv)(v) The Committee decided to inscribe the Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), considering that it is an exceptionally well preserved and complete example of this type of historic town, displaying all the features of the high Andalusian culture.
IX.10 The Committee reviewed the proposals for Global Strategy activities for 1998 and 1999. The Committee approved the following budget including the items for IUCN and ICOMOS, foreseen in Chapter II of WHC-97/CONF.208/13:  Summary Budget for the Global Strategy, 1998 to 1999 WHF 1998 Expert Meeting on Cultural Landscapes in Africa, Kenya US$ 40,000 Global Strategy Meeting for the Caribbean region, Martinique US$ 35,000 Follow-up Global Strategy meeting for the Pacific, Vanuatu US$ 30,000 Sub-regional meeting on Central Asian ...
NATURAL HERITAGE TRAINING Cameroon (Sub regional workshop on strengthening biodiversity conservation at the Dja Faunal Reserve) - US$ 29,900 The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 29,900. The Bureau requested the State Party to cooperate with IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to:(i) revise the workshop programme to include themes and issues identified in the state of conservation report on Dja;(ii) indicate the amount of national contribution provided by the State Party;(iii) schedule the workshop at a time to allow for better planning; and(iv) invite the participation of bilateral ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee inscribed Ichkeul on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site. It alerted them to the possibility of the deletion of Ichkeul from the World Heritage List, if rehabilitation of the site were not possible. Following discussions on a "Report on the action programme for the safeguarding of Ichkeul National Park", submitted by the "Ministère de l'environnement et de l'aménagement du territoire", which had been critically reviewed ...
The Bureau recalled the report by IUCN at the twenty-first session of the World Heritage Committee reviewing a proposed mining project, the location of which was determined to be about 5 km outside of the Bystrinsky portion of the World Heritage area. The location of the mine will disrupt migratory wildlife that inhabit the region and impact fishery resources. IUCN has been in contact with proponents of the mine and has had a request from Canada regarding financial service support that could be provided by the Export Development Corporation (EDC). In this request it is noted that "as a ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, when it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List at its twentieth session, noted that the Special Lake Baikal Law was in its second reading in the Duma, and expressed its concern over a number of integrity issues, including pollution of the Lake. The Bureau, at its twenty-first extraordinary session, expressed its concern regarding the inadequacy of the legal basis available for the protection of the entire World Heritage site. It requested the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the status of the ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The Bureau at its twenty-first session expressed its serious concern about the proposed gold mining project in the World Heritage site and requested the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the proposal, including any environmental impact studies that may have been carried out. In addition, the Bureau requested the Russian authorities to keep the relevant authorities in the Komi Republic fully informed of the Bureau's concerns and involve them in discussions aimed at ensuring the integrity of the World Heritage site. A letter from the Deputy Minister ...
VII.11 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) The Committee inscribed Ichkeul National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site. The Committee was informed that the Bureau, at its twenty-second ordinary session (June 1998), received a report from IUCN, which provided technical data to indicate that the salinity of the water in the lake may have reached excessively high proportions and that the chances of recovery of the World Heritage values of the site may ...
VII.24 Lake Baikal (Russian Federation) At its twenty-second session, the Bureau was informed that a number of laws for the national protection of the Lake existed and that the Duma had adopted the Federal Law on "The Protection of the Baikal Lake" which was, however, vetoed by the President. The Federal Law had been tabled for a third reading in the Duma, taking into account comments made by the President's intervention. In addition to the legal concerns, the authorities had not come to any conclusions regarding the reprofiling of the Pulp and Paper Mill at Baikalsk, one of the main ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
VII.27 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/5) and included in Annex IV on the following properties: Heard and McDonald Islands (Australia) Shark Bay, Western Australia (Australia) Wet Tropics of Queensland (Australia) Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland) Iguacu National Park (Brazil) Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon) Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (Canada) Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China) Huanglong ...
Property: Golden Mountains of Altai Id. N°: 768 Rev. State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: N (iv) The Altai region is an important and original centre of biodiversity of plant and animal species. It contains rare and endemic species, including the Snow Leopard. The Altai population of the Snow Leopard serves as a core source for the southern Siberian region. The site also displays the geological history of Asia, a variety of landscapes and ecosystems and contains excellent examples of glacial features. The Committee discussed whether to apply criterion (iii) and reviewed the ...
Property: Vodlozero National Park Id. N°: 767 State Party: Russian Federation The Committee noted that the site consists of boreal forest ecosystems of the Eurasian taiga and is an important bird breeding area. It is of European importance, but on its own, does not meet any natural World Heritage criteria. The Committee took note of the rich cultural heritage of the region and encouraged the State Party to consider nomination the area for cultural values. The Committee decided not to inscribe the site on the World Heritage List. The Committee noted the possibility of Vodlozero ...
Property: Bashkirian Ural Id. N°: 879 State Party: Russian Federation The Committee noted that the site is of European importance for the study of the natural dynamics of broadleaf forests. However, the site does not possess outstanding universal value. The proposal that this site could be considered as a Biosphere Reserve was noted and it was agreed that the State Party would follow this up with IUCN and UNESCO. The Committee decided not to inscribe the site on the World Heritage List.
Property: Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Id. N°: 870 State Party: Japan Criteria: C(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) The Committee inscribed the property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv) and added criterion (vi): Criterion (ii): The historic monuments of ancient Nara bear exceptional witness to the evolution of Japanese architecture and art as a result of cultural links with China and Korea which were to have a profound influence on future developments. Criterion (iii): The flowering of Japanese culture during the period when Nara was the capital ...
X.18 At the end of the debate, the Director of the Centre promised that the actions for the year 2000 would be reviewed in the light of the discussion. The Chairperson commended the regional approach that would redress the imbalances of the World Heritage List. The prioritized action plan prepared as a follow-up of the Consultative Body concerning the implementation of the Global Strategy was endorsed. The activities foreseen in the regional action plans for 1999 presented under Section VI of the Working Document, were approved, and in addition: US$ 15,000 for IUCN and US$ 23,000 for ...
Natural Heritage: Requests examined by the Committee Paragraph No. as presented in WHC-98/CONF.203/14Rev. Requesting State Party Type of Assistance Description Amount Approved(US$) Comments/ Observations/ Conditions A.2.1.1 Cameroon Training Three training fellowships at the School for the Training of Wildlife Specialists, Garoua, Cameroon for the Academic Biennium 1999-2001 45,000   A.2.1.2 Oman Training Regional capacity building training workshop for the promotion of awareness in natural ...
TRAINING Cameroon ( Three training fellowships at the School for the Training of Wildlife Specialists, Garoua, Cameroon for the Academic Biennium 1999-2001) - US$ 45,000 The outgoing Bureau recommended approval of US$ 45,000 by the Committee.   Oman (Regional capacity building training workshop for the promotion of awareness in natural heritage conservation) - US$ 40,000 The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval of US$ 40,000 by theCommittee, subject to the State Party submitting to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a revised proposal with well-focused and ...
TRAINING Brazil (Specialized course on Integrated Territorial and Urban Conservation – Brazil programme ITUC 1999-2000) - US$ 49,900 The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval of US$ 49,000 by the Committee. China (Training programme for site managers of World Heritage Cities in China – Consolidation of the International Conference for Mayors of Historic Cities in China and the European Union) - US$ 35,000 The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval of US$ 35,000 by the Committee. ICCROM announced its full support and availability to actively participate ...
The General Assembly, Elects the following 9 States Parties: Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, Oman, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Thailand as members of the World Heritage Committee.
The Bureau recalled that, at its last session (June 1998), while being concerned about the feasibility of the effective rehabilitation of Ichkeul, it had urged the State Party to take all necessary measures to ensure rapid and effective implementation of the rehabilitation programme for Ichkeul. The Bureau had also recommended an expert mission to the site. The mission was intended to give due consideration to the possibility for developing an improved rehabilitation programme for Ichkeul to retain its status as a World Heritage site and to allow the State Party sufficient time for the ...
The Bureau, having examined the state of conservation report of the site and upon considering the additional information provided by the Director of the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and members of the Bureau, commended the exemplary work being carried out by the Authority for the Protection of the Site and Development of the Region of Angkor (APSARA) and the International Co-ordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Area of Angkor (ICC).  The Bureau noted that some one hundred on-going projects are being implemented by more than a dozen countries and ...
Sites: Angkor
The Committee when it inscribed «The Sundarbans» of Bangladesh in the World Heritage List (Naples, 1997) encouraged the authorities of Bangladesh and India to discuss the possibility of creating a trans-frontier site with the adjoining Sundarbans National Park and World Heritage site (India). The Ministry of Environment and Forests of Bangladesh with support from the Asian Development Bank, is undertaking a multi-million dollar project, entitled the "Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project". The Sundarbans World Heritage site is considered to be one of the main components ...
At its twenty-second session, the Bureau was informed that a number of laws for the national protection of the Lake existed and that the Duma had adopted the Federal Law on «The Protection of the Baikal Lake» which was, however, vetoed by the President. The Federal Law had been tabled for a third reading in the Duma, taking into account comments made by the President’s intervention. The Russian authorities had not come to any conclusions regarding the re-profiling of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill at Baikalsk, one of the main polluters of the Lake. The Observer of the ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The Bureau examined specific requests for international assistance and took the following decisions. NATURAL HERITAGE Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - "Training for Nomination of Natural and Mixed Properties as World Heritage in Central Asia" (Training Assistance) - US$ 29,440 requested The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 29,440 from the natural heritage training funds for this project, subject to the WWF Russia Programme (WWF-PRO) confirming, before 31 October 1999, that it has been successful in raising the balance of US$ 29,900 needed for the ...
Property: Lorentz National Park Id. N°: 955 State Party: Indonesia Criteria: N (i) (ii) (iv) The Committee recalled that the Bureau at its twenty-third session requested the Centre to inform the Indonesian authorities of a number of aspects suggested by IUCN dealing with the management of the site, and in particular: (a) the priority need to continue the process of management planning for the Park with full involvement of the local stakeholders; (b) encouragement for the proposed establishment of a Foundation which would assist in the management of the Park; (c) possible twinning ...
Property: Western Caucasus Id. N°: 900 State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: N (ii) (iv) The Western Caucasus has a remarkable diversity of geology, ecosystems and species. It is of global significance as a centre of plant diversity. Along with the Virgin Komi World Heritage site, it is the only large mountain area in Europe that has not experienced significant human impact, containing extensive tracts of undisturbed mountain forests unique on the European scale. The twenty-third session of the Bureau could not study this nomination because the requested field mission was delayed ...
Property: The Historic Town of Vigan Id. N°: 502Rev State Party: Philippines Criteria: C (ii) (iv) The Committee inscribed the property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv): Criterion (ii): Vigan represents a unique fusion of Asian building design and construction with European colonial architecture and planning. Criterion (iv): Vigan is an exceptionally intact and wellpreserved example of a European trading town in East and South-East ...
Property: Hoi An Ancient Town Id. N°: 948 State Party: Viet Nam Criteria: C (ii) (v) The Committee inscribed this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii) and (v): Criterion (ii): Hoi An is an outstanding material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time in an international commercial port. Criterion (v): Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Asian trading ...
Property: My Son Sanctuary Id. N°: 949 State Party: Viet Nam Criteria: C (ii) (iii) The Committee inscribed this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iii): Criterion (ii): The My Son Sanctuary is an exceptional example of cultural interchange, with an indigenous society adapting to external cultural influences, notably the Hindu art and architecture of the Indian sub-continent. Criterion (iii): The Champa Kingdom was an important phenomenon in the political and cultural history of South-East Asia, vividly illustrated by the ruins of My Son. The ...
X.15 Angkor (Cambodia) The Secretariat reported on the results of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Area of Angkor (ICC) which convened its plenary session in June 1999. The Committee's attention was drawn to the decision taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia to grant to a private company the collection of entry fees to Angkor Park for a five-year period, and the allocation in 1999 of US$ 800,000 by this company to the Authority for the Protection of the Site and Development of the Region of Angkor (ASPARA) for conservation ...
Sites: Angkor
X.28 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-third extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-99/CONF.209/6) included as Annex VIII to this report. Additional observations made during the Committee session are reflected below. Shark Bay, Western Australia (Australia) Wet Tropics of Queensland (Australia) Heard and McDonald Islands (Australia) The Delegate of Australia thanked IUCN for the consultative process started, which could be a model for other State Parties. He also informed the Committee that the area of ...
XIV.1 The Chairperson presented the following documents concerning the agenda item 14: WHC-99/CONF.209/18, which presents the World Heritage Fund, the income and forecasts, the work plan and the proposed budget. This document also presents the justification of the annual requirements of the advisory bodies as well as the accounts of the World Heritage Fund as at 31 December 1998, the detailed financial statement as at 31 December 1998 and the accounts and income of the World Heritage Fund as at 30 September 1999. WHC-99/CONF.209/INF.18, which presents the activity reports of ICOMOS, ...
International Assistance for Natural Heritage The Committee noted that the following three requests for a total amount of US$ 60,000 had been submitted for examination and approval by the Chairperson for Natural Heritage. 1.AFRICA(c).II GABON Training assistance Workshop on implementation of the World Heritage Convention, preparation of Tentative List & Nomination of natural properties US$ 20,000 requested US$ 20,000 recommended for approval     1.ASIA(d).II REGIONAL (NEPAL) Training assistance Support for natural World Heritage site managers from Bangladesh, ...
The Committee took note that the Bureau had approved the following 11 requests for international assistance for cultural heritage for a total of US$ 287,000. 3.AFRICA(a).II GAMBIA Preparatory assistance Follow-up actions to ICOMOS recommendations for James Island & Albreda Juffure Santo Domingo Historic Zone US$ 30,000 requested US$ 30,000 approved The Bureau approved US$ 30,000 for this activity, which is in line with the implementation of the Global Strategy and aims at the preparation of a nomination file in accordance with ICOMOS recommendations, subject to the State Party ...
The Bureau was informed that a four-person team representing IUCN, the Ramsar Convention and other international and regional organisations, visited the site from 28 February to 4 March 2000. The team reviewed the monitoring programmes currently in place and considered additional parameters and indicators that need to be included in an expanded programme to monitor the effectiveness of the rehabilitation measures currently being implemented by the State Party. The report of the mission team has been submitted to the State Party for comments. The mission concluded that Ichkeul National ...
The Bureau invited the State Party to inform the Centre on the proposed road construction project, including any environmental impact studies that may be underway, before 15 September 2000.
The Centre informed the Bureau that no information had been received from the State Party despite a number of letters written concerning the site. The Director of the UNESCO Office in Moscow attended the last session of the Baikal Commission and had noted that progress is very slow. IUCN fully supported the Baikal Law but highlighted concerns about the adequacy of its implementation, particularly in relation to discharge of waste into the Lake from the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill. IUCN considered that there is a need to look for innovative mechanisms for dealing with this matter which ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The Secretariat reported that the conservation and development plan of the Town of Luang Prabang developed under the Luang Prabang-Chinon Decentralized Cooperation Programme was presented to the National Interministerial Commission on Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage in January 2000 and was approved in principle. However the plan has not yet been officially adopted, hence does not have legal enforcement power. The Secretariat also recalled that despite the repeated requests by the Bureau and the Committee for revision and subsequent enactment by the National Assembly of Laos of ...
The Bureau took note of the information provided in the working document on the state of conservation of the following properties: NATURAL HERITAGE Comoe National Park (Côte d’Ivoire) Caves of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst (Hungary/Slovakia) The Delegate of Morocco pointed out that the protection of surface water is important in karst systems. Kaziranga National Park (India) Lorentz National Park (Indonesia) Kamchatka Volcanoes (Russian Federation) Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka) Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)  CULTURAL HERITAGE Rock-hewn Churches, Lalibela ...
VIII.23 Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (Mexico) The Secretariat informed the Committee that, following the President of Mexico's statement of 2 March 2000, the proposed salt works at the World Heritage site of El Vizcaino would not proceed. The Committee noted that letters from the Chairperson of the Committee and the Director-General of UNESCO welcomed this decision and congratulated the President of Mexico for the actions taken to implement the World Heritage Convention. The UN Foundation had approved a US$ 2.5 million project entitled "Linking Conservation of Biodiversity and ...
VIII.26 Golden Mountains of Altai (Russian Federation) The Observer of Russia informed the Committee that the proposed road and gas pipeline through the Ukok Plateau is supported at the highest political level. The project will be reviewed at a meeting on 15 and 16 December 2000 in the Altai Republic.
VIII.27 Volcanoes of Kamchatka (Russian Federation) The Observer of Russia informed the Committee that the information provided in the Bureau report seemed to relate to the Kamchatka region and not the World Heritage site. He stated that in-depth information would be provided by September 2001.
 State of conservation reports of natural properties noted by the Committee Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland) Pirin National Park (Bulgaria) Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon) Gros Morne National Park (Canada) Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks (Canada) Comoe National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) Komodo National Park (Indonesia) Lorenz National Park (Indonesia) Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (Kenya) Te Wahipounamu - South West New Zealand (New Zealand) Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman) Huascarán National Park ...
IX.1 The Secretariat introduced document WHC-2000/CONF.204/11 describing the progress report on the implementation of regional actions as described in the Global Strategy Action Plan adopted by the Committee at its twenty-second session (Kyoto, 1998). The Committee reviewed progress achieved in the year 2000, noting the regional Action Plans for 2001-2002 and approved specific activities to be executed during 2001. IX.2 The Delegate of Benin noted the importance of implementing the Global Strategy and linking it to issues related to improving the representivity of the List. The Centre's ...
X.6 The Secretariat informed the Committee that the following sites have been withdrawn: National Park of Abruzzo (Italy) and Lena River Delta (Russian Federation). X.7 The Committee noted that concerning the sites of Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park (Brazil), Ancient Pula with the Amphitheatre (Croatia) and The Cape Floristic Region - Phase 1: Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Environment (South Africa), the respective States Parties have requested ...
Property: The Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower Id. N°: 958 State Party: Azerbaijan Criteria: C (iv) The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criterion (iv): Criterion (iv): The Walled City of Baku represents an outstanding and rare example of a historic urban ensemble and architecture with influence from Zoroastrian, Sassanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian cultures. In response to several Delegates, expressing concern about the authenticity and coherence of the management ...
Property: Curonian Spit Id. N°: 994 State Party: Lithuania/Russian Federation Criteria: C (v) The Committee inscribed the Curonian Spit as a cultural landscape on the World Heritage List on the basis of criterion (v): Criterion (v) The Curonian Spit is an outstanding example of a landscape of sand dunes that is under constant threat from natural forces (wind and tide). After disastrous human interventions that menaced its survival the Spit was reclaimed by massive protection and stabilization works begun in the 19th century and still continuing to the present day. Concerning ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
Property: The Frankincense Trail Id. N°: 1010 State Party: Oman Criteria: C (iii) (iv) The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv). Criterion (iii): The group of archaeological sites in Oman represent the production and distribution of frankincense, one of the most important luxury items of trade in the Old World in antiquity. Criterion (iv): The Oasis of Shisr and the entrepots of Khor Rori and Al-Balid are outstanding examples of medieval fortified settlements in the Persian Gulf region. At the initiative ...
Property: The Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin Id. N°: 980 State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: C (ii) (iii) (iv) The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv): Criterion (ii): The Kazan Kremlin complex represents exceptional testimony of historical continuity and cultural diversity over a long period of time, resulting in an important interchange of values generated by the different cultures. Criterion (iii): The historic citadel represents an exceptional testimony of the ...
Property: The Ensemble of Ferrapontov Monastery Id. N°: 982 State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: C (i) (iv) The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (i) and (iv): Criterion (i): The wall paintings of Dionisy in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin at Ferrapontov Monastery are the highest expression of Russian mural art in the 15th-16th centuries. Criterion (iv): The complex of Ferrapontov Monastery is the purest and most complete example of an Orthodox monastic community from the 15th-17th centuries, a ...
Property: The Bolgar Historical and Architectural Complex Id. N°: 981 State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: C (iii) The Committee decided that this nomination be deferred to allow the State Party to provide more detailed information about the reconstruction of the Great Minaret, confirmation that the industrial project has been definitively abandoned, and a more detailed comparative analysis, as requested by the twenty-fourth session of the Bureau.
XIV.2 Requests for International Assistance The Bureau met during the twenty-fourth session of the Committee after the budget for Technical Assistance for year 2001 under Chapter III was approved, to take decisions or recommend decisions to the Committee concerning international assistance requests. The attention of the Committee and Bureau was drawn to document WHC-2000/CONF.204/17 and 6 requests for decision by the Committee and 14 requests for decision by the Bureau were examined and took the following decisions. All decisions taken by the Bureau and Committee concerning these ...
XIV.2 Requests for International Assistance The Bureau met during the twenty-fourth session of the Committee after the budget for Technical Assistance for year 2001 under Chapter III was approved, to take decisions or recommend decisions to the Committee concerning international assistance requests. The attention of the Committee and Bureau was drawn to document WHC-2000/CONF.204/17 and 6 requests for decision by the Committee and 14 requests for decision by the Bureau were examined and took the following decisions. All decisions taken by the Bureau and Committee concerning these ...
V.51       The Bureau was informed that the total rainfall during the years 1999 and 2000 has been below average and insufficient to trigger the closing of the sluice gates at Oued Tinja, resulting in sea water flowing into the Lake. No release of water from other sources has been made in an effective manner during the years 2000 and 2001. Salinity of the Lake water has increased during this period, the composition of water birds has become dominated by salt tolerant species such as shelducks and shovelers. V.52       At its ...
V.106     The Bureau recalled that at the twenty-fourth session of the World Heritage Bureau, the State Party was requested to submit a report on the grounding of a vessel in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area on 9 November 2000. The State Party transmitted a report to the Centre via letter of 19 April 2001, which was sent to IUCN for review and comments. V.107     The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) noted that the vessel caused severe but localised damage to the Sudbury Reef. The ship ploughed a path through the reef, ...
V.158     The Bureau was informed that IUCN received a recent report, which again highlights the threats to the site, including lack of management, hunting and gold mining. Bystrinsky Nature Park, one of the five components of this site, continues to be the area most significantly threatened.  The Park has no staff. Forest fires are reported to consume significant parts of the Park each year. The Park has been divided into 24 hunting leases, half of which are owned by large businesses outside of the region, and permitted by local authorities and not by the ...
V.163     The Bureau noted that no new information on the road proposal was received from the State Party. The Director of the UNESCO Office, Moscow, attended the meeting “The socio-economic development of the Altai Republic and the perspectives of the development of the transport system in the South of Siberia”, which was held on 15 to 16 December 2000 in Gorno Altaisk. He noted that awareness building must be raised among the decision-makers in the Altai Government with regard to the obligations under the World Heritage Convention. He furthermore pointed ...
V.279     The Bureau requested the Russian authorities to submit a report on the state of conservation of the site by 15 September 2001 to assess, at its twenty-fifth extraordinary session, the ways in which the Bureau may be able to collaborate with the Russian authorities to ensure proper conservation of the site.
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
V.281     The Bureau took note of information that the Secretariat had provided in the working document on the state of conservation of the following properties: Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (Bolivia) Morne Trois Pitons National Park (Dominica) Huascaran National Park (Peru) Lake Baikal (Russian Federation)  Hatra (Iraq) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (Japan) Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site (El Salvador) Cultural Landscape of Sintra (Portugal)
VIII.89 The Committee noted that the State Party had invited a UNESCO-IUCN mission to this site following the recommendation of the twenty-fourth session of the Committee. The mission took place from 25 August to 3 September 2001. IUCN and the Director of the UNESCOMoscow Office, representing the World Heritage Centre, conducted the mission. The Committee was informed that the full report of this mission was presented to the twentyfifth extraordinary session of the Bureau and that it noted in particular the series of recurrent problems and new potential threats that, according to IUCN, ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
  Reports on the state of conservation of natural properties inscribed on the World Heritage List noted by the Committee Great Barrier Reef (Australia) Fraser Island (Australia) The Sundarbans (Bangladesh) Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland) Gros Morne National Park (Canada) Nahanni National Park (Canada) Los Katios National Park (Colombia)  Caves of the Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (Hungary/Slovakia) The Committee noted that the issues raised concern only the Slovak part of this transboundary site. Sundarbans National Park (India)  The Delegate of ...
VIII.86 The Committee welcomed the recommendations of IUCN, and called upon the State Party to take urgent action to halt illegal poaching in the Reserve, and requested a full report from the State Party on this situation by 1 February 2002. This report shall be submitted for consideration by the twenty-sixth session of the World Heritage Committee (June 2002), at which time it will decide on the need for a mission to the site. Furthermore, the Committee commended the chief executives of major European logging firms active in Central Africa, representatives from various conservation NGOs ...
VIII.95 The Committee noted with concern threats to the Bystrinsky Nature Park and noted conflicting reports relating to the gold mine operation and its relationship to the World Heritage boundary. The Committee requested the Centre to work in consultation with the State Party to prepare a mission to the site to review the state of conservation and to ascertain whether a case exists for inscribing this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
IX.4 Several Committee members stressed the importance of the Resolution of the General Assembly concerning the Representivity of the World Heritage List and that the substantive work on the analysis of the current World Heritage List and the tentative lists must be given top priority. New thematic studies and meetings should be carried out only upon the completion of this global analysis, and on the basis of the priorities identified for each region. A number of delegates stated that since 1994, many regional and thematic meetings have been convened, and the results of these meetings ...
X.5 The Committee noted that the following two natural properties will be examined in 2002: Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Viet Nam) Natural System of "Wrangel Island" Sanctuary (Russian Federation) X.6 The Committee was informed that the Guyanese authorities have withdrawn the nomination of Kaieteur National Park and that the Italian authorities requested that the proposed extension of Crespi d'Adda not be examined by the twenty-fifth session of the World Heritage Committee. ...
Property: Lamu Old Town Id. N°: 1055 State Party: Kenya Criteria: C (ii) (iv) (vi) The Committee inscribed Lamu Old Town on the World Heritage List under criteria (ii), (iv), and (vi): Criterion (ii): The architecture and urban structure of Lamu graphically demonstrate the cultural influences that have come together there over several hundred years from Europe, Arabia, and India, utilizing traditional Swahili techniques to produce a distinct culture. Criterion (iv): The growth and decline of the seaports on the East African coast and interaction between the Bantu, Arabs, ...
Sites: Lamu Old Town
Property: Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures Id. N°: 603 Rev State Party: Uzbekistan Criteria: C (i) (ii) (iv) The Committee inscribed the Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures on the World Heritage List under criteria (i), (ii), and (iv). Criterion (i): The architecture and townscape of Samarkand, situated at the crossroads of ancient cultures, are masterpieces of Islamic cultural creativity. Criterion (ii): Ensembles in Samarkand such as the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Registan Square played a seminal role in the development of Islamic architecture over the entire region, from the ...
Property: Central Sikhote-Alin Id. N°: 766 Rev State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: N (iv) The Committee inscribed Central Sikhote-Alin on the World Heritage List under criterion (iv): Criterion (iv): The nominated area is representative of one of the world's most distinctive natural regions. The combination of glacial history, climate and relief has allowed the development of the richest and most unusual temperate forests in the world. Compared to other temperate ecosystems, the level of endemic plants and invertebrates present in the region is extraordinarily high which ...
Property: Volcanoes of Kamchatka [Extension to include Kluchevskoy Nature Park ] Id. N°: 765 Bis State Party: Russian Federation Criteria: N (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) The Committee approved the extension of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka by the inclusion of the Kluchevskoy Nature Park as the sixth component. In addition to the 1996 inscription under criteria (i), (ii), and (iii), the Committee decided to inscribe the site also under criterion (iv). Criterion (iv): The site contains an especially diverse range of palearctic flora, including a number of nationally threatened species and at ...
Property: The Bolgar Historical and Architectural Complex Id. N°: 981 State Party: Russian Federation The Committee discussed extensively the authenticity and materials used for reconstruction at the site. Several delegates questioned whether the type of early documentary evidence supplied from the 19th century would be sufficient to guarantee authenticity for the reconstruction of the Great Minaret. A number of interventions focused on the importance of the site as historical evidence for a nomadic empire. The Committee encouraged the State Party to submit a revised nomination ...
Property: Polissian Swamps and Slovechno-Ovruch Ridge Id. N°: 1048 State Party: Ukraine The Committee did not inscribe the property on the World Heritage List.  
XVIII.2.1 NATURAL Bahrain Preparation of the nomination file of Hawar Islands: The Bureau approved US$30,000 for this activity, subject to the receipt of a detailed budget breakdown to be approved by the Chairperson. Furthermore, the Bureau requested the State Party to include within the activity a comparative study of the site with other coastal island protected areas in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea. IUCN suggested that the professionals implementing this activity be encouraged to participate at the February 2002 expert workshop being organized in Vietnam within the ...
XII.23    Following the report of the joint UNESCO/IUCN Monitoring Mission to the site in 2001, presented to the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau, and at the request of the 25th session of the Committee, the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation transmitted a report on the situation of Lake Baikal dated 1 February 2002. XII.24    IUCN noted that progress has been achieved in the implementation of a number of measures towards the conservation of Lake Baikal.  This was acknowledged in the UNESCO/IUCN report presented to the World Heritage ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
XII.30    Following the request by the 25th session of the Committee, the Permanent Delegation of Russia transmitted a report on the situation of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka, dated 1 February 2002. IUCN noted that the report from the State Party is consistent with IUCN information related to gold mining and the fact that no gas pipeline crosses the territory of the World Heritage site.  XII.31    The State Party reported that salmon poaching in the Kamchatka Peninsula is increasing.  However, such activity is being held in check in the protected ...
XII.91    The Bureau examined the report on the state of conservation of this property presented in working document WHC-02/CONF.201/11 Rev. The Bureau expressed great concern over:  (a) the rapid increase in illegal demolition of historic buildings, including those listed on the inventory of traditional wooden buildings; (b) the illegal construction of buildings including those of public administrations, in the World Heritage protected area of Luang Prabang, which  demonstrates non-respect for the building permit system; (c) visual impairment and possible ...
XII.103 The report provided by the Russian Federation on the status of the proposed oil extraction operation by a Russian enterprise in the Baltic Sea stated that the project documentation relating to the development and exploitation of the oil-field had not yet been received by the Russian Federation Natural Resource Ministry. Furthermore, the report stated that at present no oil was being produced and the oil-field did not have a negative impact on the heritage values of the site. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had not been carried out. It further stated that the buffer zone ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
The World Heritage Committee, 1.  Welcomes the efforts of the State Party to regulate tourism development at Sian Ka'an, and invites it to monitor closely the development on private property;2. Notes that the State Party has submitted copies of the maps prepared for the Coastal Development Plan showing how it relates to the World Heritage site boundaries;3. Requests the State Party to report by 1 February 2003, on the impact on the site of the removal of the moratorium on construction for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;4. Invites the State Party to inform on the ...
Sites: Sian Ka'an
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Notes that there remain serious concerns relating to the state of conservation of this site, particularly with regard to pollution impacts, including from the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill, the lack of progress with the Federal Law on the "Protection of Lake Baikal", the establishment of the Baikal Commission, and uncertainties about gas exploration and exploitation in the Selenga Delta;2. Requests the State Party to provide:a) Precise time-schedules for the implementation of the first stage of the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) Programme in ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The World Heritage Committee, Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 30-33.
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Upon examination of the findings of the UNESCO-ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission, expresses great concern over the ill-designed public works, particularly the road widening in the protected urban wetlands area and the riverbank consolidation along the Mekong financed under the Asian Development Bank loan which undermine the World Heritage value of the site, and the lack of compliance with the conservation plan (PSMV), despite its official adoption by the local and national authorities;2. Endorses the 8-point corrective measures proposed by the mission; 3. ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Takes note of the information provided concerning the serious environmental risks of this project;2. Urges the State Party of the Russian Federation to provide by 1 October 2002 a report on the oil exploration project and to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment in collaboration with Lithuanian experts; 3. Requests the two States Parties to cooperate closely to develop effective environmental protection measures;  4. Encourages furthermore the two States Parties to collaborate in undertaking comprehensive risk assessments and develop emergency ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
The Bureau of the World Heritage Committee approves the following International Assistance requests as amended with the comments of the Bureau: TRAINING 27 BUR 1.2 CULTURAL (Russian Federation) Organization of an International Training Workshop for cultural heritage Specialists of the CIS and the Baltic States involved in the preparation of the Periodic Reporting US$ 29,390 for funding in 2003.
The World Heritage Committee,1. In conformity with Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,2. Accepts the presence of the following international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals, who have requested Observer participation at the session:Mr Julian Laird, Earthwatch Institute, Europe; Ms Maria Isabel Correa Kanan, IPHAN, Brazil; Ms Jessica Douglas-Home and Mr Georges Zouain, The Mihai Emisecu Trust, U.K.;Mr Haruhisa Furuta and Mrs Mami Furuta, The Setouchi ...
The World Heritage Committee [5],1. Expresses its serious concerns over the failure to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the lack of consultations with the World Heritage Centre or IUCN in the design and implementation of the Kasra Bridge Project and the link road from Durbhagat to Bankatta, despite the protests of the national authority responsible for the property, namely the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation;2. Requests that the Director of the World Heritage Centre write to the highest officials of the concerned bi- and multilateral funding ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Recalls the recommendation of the report of the monitoring mission in 2001 to include the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger,2. Regrets that the Russian authorities did not provide the report requested by 1 February 2003 (26 COM 21 (b) 19) until 20 May 2003;3. Further regrets that the high-level meeting called for by the Committee (26 COM 21(b) 19) did not take place, and reiterates its request to the State Party to convene this meeting in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN and calls on it to do so as soon as possible;4. ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Welcomes the State Party's co-operation with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) in an effort to conserve and protect the Volcanoes of Kamchatka World Heritage property; 2. Commends the State Party for beginning to implement Phase I of the project;3. Regrets that the Russian authorities did not provide the report requested by 1 February 2003 (26 COM 21 (b) 20) until 20 May 2003;4. Welcomes the invitation by the State Party for an IUCN and UNESCO mission to visit the property in spring 2004, to provide a report in ...
The World Heritage Committee [16],1. Noting that the State Party has removed the moratorium on construction within the property, and that this action is in accordance with the newly adopted management plan for the property, strictly limiting the total number of hotel rooms to be built in the reserve,   2. Invites the State Party to ensure strict adherence to the management plan and to carry out systematic environmental monitoring to detect and, if necessary, remedy any possible negative effects on the ecosystem of the property from the development;3. Requests the State Party to provide a ...
Sites: Sian Ka'an
The World Heritage Committee [32],1. Recalling Decision 26 COM 21 (b) 54 expressing concern over the growing incidents of violation of the conservation plan of Luang Prabang (PSMV), including public works being carried out by the Urban Development Administrative Authority (UDAA) under the Asian Development Bank for Secondary Cities, undermining the World Heritage value of the Town of Luang Prabang,;2. Reiterating the fragility of these values based on the relationship between the natural and built environment, the traditional urban morphology and the fusion of traditional Lao and French ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Recalling the decision taken at its 26th session in 2002 (26 COM 21 (b) 57) concerning the Curonian Spit,;2. Further recalling Article 6.3 of the World Heritage Convention, which states that "each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage... situated on the territory of other States Parties of this Convention",;3. Urges both State Parties to work co-operatively on the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), preparation of risk ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
The World Heritage Committee [43],1. Recalling its decisions taken at the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau in 2001 (Helsinki),;2. Expresses its appreciation to the authorities of the State Party for their commitment to the preservation of the property;3. Takes note of the report and recommendations provided by the International Workshop with regard to the future conservation of this property under threat; 4. Encourages the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to continue to collaborate and to closely follow the future development of the conservation ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Takes note that the following States Parties had requested that their nominations not be examined at the 27th session of the Committee in 2003: Extension to the Historic District of Québec (Canada) Natural System of "Wrangel Island" Sanctuary (Russian Federation) Franja Partisan Hospital (Slovenia) Historic City of Mardin (Turkey) Extension to Gough Island Wildlife Reserve (United Kingdom).
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, China on the World Heritage List on the basis of natural  criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and  (iv):Criterion (i): The property is of outstanding value for displaying the geological history of the last 50 million years associated with the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate, the closure of the ancient Tethys Sea, and the uplifting of the Himalaya Range and the Tibetan Plateau. These were major geological events in the evolution of the land surface of Asia and they are on-going. The ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes Uvs Nuur Basin, Mongolia/ Russian Federation, on the World Heritage List on the basis of natural  criteria (ii) and (iv):Criterion (ii): The closed salt lake system of Uvs Nuur is of international scientific importance because of its climatic and hydrological regimes. Because of the unchanging nature of the nomadic pastoral use of the grasslands within the basin over thousands of years, current research programmes should be able to unravel the rate at which Uvs Nuur (and other smaller lakes within the basin) have become saline (and eutrophic). ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Noting that this property is the first to be inscribed on the World Heritage List from Kazakhstan,,2. Inscribes The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Kazakhstan, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (iii) and (iv):Criterion (i): The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is an outstanding achievement in the Timurid architecture, and it has significantly contributed to the development of Islamic religious architecture. Criterion (iii): The mausoleum and its property represent an exceptional testimony to the culture of the Central Asian ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes the Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Bbuildings of Derbent, Russian Federation, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (iii) and (iv):Criterion (iii): The site of the ancient city of Derbent has been crucial for the control of the north-south passage on the west side of the Caspian Sea since the 1st millennium BCE. The defence structures that were built by the Sasanians in the 5th century CE were in continuous use by the succeeding Persian, Arabic, Mongol, and Timurid governments for some fifteen centuries. Criterion (iv): ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Inscribes the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (vi): Criterion (i): The Buddha statues and the cave art in Bamiyan Valley are an outstanding representation of the Gandharan School in Buddhist art in the Central Asian region. Criterion (ii): The artistic and architectural remains of Bamiyan Valley, and an important Buddhist centre on the Silk Road, are an exceptional testimony to the interchange of Indian, Hellenistic, ...
With regard to The First Railway Bridge over the Yenisei River, Russian Federation, the World Heritage Committee,1. Considers that the conditions required by paragraph 67 of the Operational Guidelines concerning "damage from disaster caused by natural events or human activities" have not been fully met; 2. Decides not to inscribe The First Railway Bridge over the Yenisei River, Russian Federation, on the World Heritage List on an emergency basis; 3. Encourages the State Party to resubmit the nomination in accordance with normal procedures for ...
Kazakhstan: Sub-regional Workshop for follow-up to the Periodic Reports on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the State of Conservation of World Cultural Heritage properties in Central Asia The World Heritage Committee, 1. Decides to approveUS$ 35,000 from 2003 funds under the Technical Co-operation budget, the Training budget for cultural heritage being exhausted; 2. Recommends that the State Party and the World Heritage Centre organise the workshop as a sub-regional workshop for Central Asian World Cultural Heritage to follow-up on the Periodic Reporting Exercise ...
Uzbekistan: Sub-regional Workshop for the elaboration of a specific programme for the first 3 years of the Central Asian Earth 2002-2012 Programme combined with an on-the-job practical training activity in Khiva. The World Heritage Committee, 1. Decides to approveUS$ 50,000 from 2003 funds under the Technical Co-operation budget, the Training budget for cultural heritage being exhausted. Approval is subject to verification that the activities foreseen do not duplicate those foreseen for the request from Kazakhstan (see above), that the timing of the two workshops is complementaryare ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Congratulates the Asian States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the Secretariat for the excellent quality of the Synthesis Regional Periodic Report (see Document WHC-03/27.COM/6A Rev);2. Notes with appreciation the increasing interest in heritage conservation among the Asian States Parties;3. Expresses concern, however, on the continued loss of heritage caused by uncontrolled development, in particular urban encroachment, mass tourism and inappropriate public infrastructure projects;4. Takes note of the recommendations and priority action plans elaborated ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Taking into consideration the following invitations by Committee members to host the sessions of the World Heritage Committee in 2004 and 2005,;(a) For 2004 (in alphabetical order): China, Russian Federation and South Africa,(b) For 2005 (in alphabetical order):  Lebanon, Oman and United Kingdom;2. Decides that the venue of the 28th session of the Committee will be Suzhou, China.
Tajikistan: Preparation of the nomination dossier of the Tajik National Park (TNP) and preparation of the Tentative lists of natural and mixed heritage of Central Asian States Parties through regional consultation 28 BUR 8.2 The World Heritage Bureau, Decides to approve this preparatory assistance request for natural heritage for US$ 20,760 under the 2004 budget.
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Recalling the conclusions on the "Evaluation of the Cairns Decision" by the 27th session (Decision 27 COM 14), the Decision adopted on the Representivity of the World Heritage List at its 24th session ("Cairns Decision", 2000), subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly of State Parties at its 13th session (2001); and the Resolution on ways and means to ensure a  representative World Heritage List adopted by the General Assembly at its 12th session (1999), 2. Further recalling that the World Heritage Convention establishes a system of ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Inscribes the Natural System of "Wrangel Island" Reserve, Russian Federation, on the World Heritage List on the basis of natural criteria (ii) and (iv): Criterion (ii): The Wrangel Island Reserve is a self-contained island ecosystem and there is ample evidence that it has undergone a long evolutionary process uninterrupted by the glaciation that swept most other parts of the Arctic during the Quaternary period. The number and type of endemic plant species, the diversity within plant communities, the rapid succession and mosaic of tundra types, the ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Decides not to approve the extension of the Western Caucasus, Russian Federation;2. Recommends that the State Party carry out a comprehensive assessment of the Western Caucasus to identify all potential sites that may merit inclusion in a serial World Heritage site that would represent all the outstanding values of the region. Such a study should be supported by a clear programme on how to integrate the management of all potential sites so as to meet the conditions of integrity required under the Operational Guidelines of the World HeritageConvention. In ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Recalling the concerns expressed by the 25th session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee (2001) (WHC 01/CONF.208/4.III.118) over the management problems of the existing Western Caucasus, Russian Federation, World Heritage property, 2. Invites the State Party to provide information on integrity concerns which have been previously raised with the State Party in relation to the existing Western Caucasus property, including reported illegal trespassing, a weakening of conservation controls, impacts of proposed tourism infrastructure development, ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes Pasargadae, Islamic Republic of Iran, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv):Criterion (i): Pasargadae is the first outstanding expression of the royal Achaemenid architecture.Criterion (ii): The dynastic capital of Pasargadae was built by Cyrus the Great with a contribution by different peoples of the empire created by him. It became a fundamental phase in the evolution of the classic Persian art and architecture.Criterion (iii): The archaeological site of Pasargadae with its palaces, gardens, and ...
Sites: Pasargadae
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes the Petroglyphs within the Archaeological Landscape of Tamgaly, Kazakhstan, on the World Heritage List as a cultural landscape on the basis of cultural criterion (iii):Criterion (iii): The dense and coherent group of petroglyphs, with sacred images, altars and cult areas, together with their associated settlements and burial sites, provide a substantial testimony to the lives and beliefs of pastoral peoples of the central Asian steppes from the Bronze Age to the present day.2. Encourages the State Party to consider moving the main road ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Inscribes the Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent, Russian Federation, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (iv) and (vi):Criterion (i): The Novodevichy Convent is the most outstanding example of the so-called ‘Moscow Baroque’, which became a fashionable style in the region of Moscow. Apart from its fine architecture and decorative details, the site is characterised by its town-planning values.Criterion (iv): The Novodevichy Convent is an outstanding example of an exceptionally well-preserved monastic complex, representing ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Noting the request of the State Party to modify the name of the property,2. Inscribes Bam and its Cultural Landscape, Islamic Republic of Iran, on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v):Criterion (ii): Bam developed at the crossroads of important trade routes at the southern side of the Iranian high plateau, and it became an outstanding exampleof the interaction of the various influences.Criterion (iii): Bam and its Cultural Landscape represent an exceptionaltestimony to the development of a trading settlement in ...
The World Heritage Committee, Commends the State Party for providing information on the current status on actions taken to mitigate illegal fishing and for launching studies that may enable comparative analysis of current ecological conditions with those at the time of inscription of the property on the World Heritage List; and congratulates the State Party for the comprehensive state of conservation report received 15 June 2004 as well as for the conservation actions taken to date to conserve the property; Notes that the major threats facing the Tubbataha Reef are related to: the ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Recalling the recommendation of the report of the monitoring mission in 2001 to include the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, 2. Welcomes the collaboration between the Russian authorities, IUCN and the World Heritage Centre in addressing co-operation and communication issues; 3. Notes the results of the high-level mission and the detailed report provided by the Russian authorities on 10 March 2004 and acknowledges the efforts of the State Party in enhancing the conservation of this property; 4. Requests, while noting the complex ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Welcomes the State Party’s report on the state of conservation of this property and acknowledges the efforts from the State Party to address a number of integrity issues that have been of concern to the Committee; 2. Further welcomes the support provided by the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) project on the Maintenance of Biological Diversity in the Russian Federation to enhance the management of key protected areas within this property; 3. Notes the detailed results of the UNESCO-IUCN mission to the property ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Commending the State Party for its application of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Coastal Zone Environmental Land Use Programme,2. Welcomes the new project entitled “Conservation Action in the Yucatan Coastal Environment: Sian Ka'an World Heritage property”, managed by the World Heritage Centre and funded by the Gillette Company, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the United Nations Foundation.
Sites: Sian Ka'an
The World Heritage Committee, Commends the State Party for the completion or ongoing implementation of the corrective measures recommended by the March 2002 UNESCO-ICOMOS joint mission to Luang Prabang; Supports the Agence Française de Développement-funded study of the coherent territorial planning scheme to decompress the infrastructural pressure on the historic centre of the World Heritage property; Notes with concern the continued violations to the Luang Prabang conservation plan (PSMV) and the illegal constructions, which constitute a serious threat to the World Heritage values ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Recalling the decisions taken at its 26th (26 COM 21 (b) 57) and 27th (27 COM 7B.70) sessions concerning the Curonian Spit as well as Article 6.3 of the World Heritage Convention, 2. Notes the efforts of the two States Parties to cooperate at the site management level; 3. Expresses its serious concern that the Russian Federation may have already commenced oil exploitation of the D-6 oil field in the vicinity of the World Heritage property before a joint Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) could be undertaken between both States Parties; 4. Takes note of ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Noting with appreciation the conservation efforts made by the national authorities and the Istanbul municipality as presented in the report submitted by the State Party, notably in establishing a World Heritage Unit within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and an office in Istanbul for project coordination and monitoring, and the allocation of additional funds for the protection and conservation of the Historic Areas of Istanbul; and the completion of the draft 1/5000 scale Urban Conservation and Development Plan by the Istanbul Municipality currently ...
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Thanking the authorities of the Russian Federation for their continued commitment to analyze conservation problems of the Church of the Transfiguration through the holding of workshops, 2. Notes with concern the lack of funding and hereby lack of commitment by the Russian Federation for the conservation project without which the threats to this property remain severe and unimpaired; 3. Regrets that the State Party did not provide a progress report as requested by the Committee (Decision 27 COM 7B.74); 4. Urges the authorities of the Russian Federation to ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.22 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004);3. Commends the States Parties of the Russian Federation and Mongolia for their efforts in enhancing their co-operation in order to implement, as required by the Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004) a plan to reduce sources of pollution in the Selenga River Basin;4. Notes with serious concern new information received on the construction of the Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean pipeline;5. Notes that the State Party of the ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.27 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),3. Commends the State Party of the Russian Federation for its updated information on the range of threats to the property and efforts to address these following the recommendations of the mission;4. Welcomes the State Party’s confirmation that there will be no further boundary changes to Bystrinsky Natural Park to avoid future mining operations and reinforces its opposition to any future mining activity being considered within the ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined the Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev and the Draft Decision 29 COM 7B.67.Rev,29 COM 7B.67.Rev, 2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.75, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),3. Warmly commends both States Parties of Lithuania and the Russian Federation for establishing an agreement by the deadline of 1 February 2005 to perform a joint post-project Environmental Impact Assessment for the D-6 oil platform and pipeline, together with other activities related to bilateral cooperation for safeguarding the property, and therefore avoiding the ...
Sites: Curonian Spit
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.80 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),3. Noting with appreciation the conservation efforts made by the national authorities and the Greater Istanbul municipality and the district municipalities, as presented in the report submitted by the State Party of Turkey, notably in approving the conservation plan for the Historic Peninsula, initiation of the seismic master plan and the financial allocation for heritage conservation of Istanbul, as well as the progress in the ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.95, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),3. Thanks the State Party of the Russian Federation for the progress report on the organisation of the restoration works of the Church of the Transfiguration and the continuing efforts to improve the state of conservation of the property,4. Regrets that the State Party did not provide a detailed report, as requested by the World Heritage Committee, on the progress of the actual conservation works, detailed budget and funding ...
Sites: Kizhi Pogost
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/8B, 2. Takes note that the following States Parties had requested that their nominations not be examined at the 29th session of the Committee (Durban, 2005): Issyk Kul (Kyrgyzstan) Solovetsky Islands with the adjacent water area (Russian Federation) Cistercian Abbey in Krzeszów (Grüssau in Schlesien) (Poland) Sri Harimandir Sahib (India) Makhteshim Country (Israel) Serranía de Chiribiquete Natural National Park (Colombia) Trans Border Rainforest Heritage of Borneo (Indonesia / Malaysia) Glarus Overthrust ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Documents WHC-05/29.COM/8B, WHC-05/29.COM/8B.Add 2 and WHC-05/29.COM/INF.8B.1,2. Inscribes Soltaniyeh (Islamic Republic of Iran) on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv):Criterion (ii): The Mausoleum of Oljaytu forms an essential link in the development of the Islamic architecture in central and western Asia, from the classical Seljuk phase into the Timurid period. This is particularly relevant to the double-shell structure and the elaborate use of materials and themes in the decoration.Criterion ...
Sites: Soltaniyeh
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Having examined Documents WHC-05/29.COM/8B, WHC-05/29.COM/8B.Add 2 and WHC-05/29.COM/INF.8B.1, 2. Inscribes the Struve Geodetic Arc (Belarus / Estonia / Finland / Latvia / Lithuania / Norway / Republic of Moldova / Russian Federation / Sweden / Ukraine) on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi): Criterion (ii): The first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian, helping in the establishment of the exact size and shape of the world exhibits an important step in the development of earth sciences. It is also ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Documents WHC-05/29.COM/8B, WHC-05/29.COM/8B.Add 2 and WHC-05/29.COM/INF.8B.1,2. Inscribes the Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl (Russian Federation) on the World Heritage List on the basis of cultural criteria (ii) and (iv):Criterion (ii): The historic town of Yaroslavl with its 17th century churches and its Neo-classical radial urban plan and civic architecture is an outstanding example of the interchange of cultural and architectural influences between Western Europe and Russian Empire.Criterion (iv): Yaroslavl is an outstanding ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/9, WHC-05/29.COM/INF.9A and WHC-05/29.COM/INF.9B,2. Recalling Decisions 28 COM. 13.1 and 7 EXT.COM 4B.2, respectively adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004) and at its 7th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2004), which requested the World Heritage Centre to convene a Special Meeting of Experts of all regions on the concept of outstanding universal value, and invited that meeting to make specific proposals for better identification of properties of potential outstanding universal value, for enabling less-represented ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.49, adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005), 3. Commends the State Party of China for its continued commitment to address the conservation concerns of the cultural heritage properties in Beijing and for providing an updated management plan for the Imperial Palace of Beijing;4. Notes with great concern, however, that current restoration works at the Imperial Palace, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace in Beijing are carried out in a hasty manner, lack of documentary evidence ...
The World Heritage Committee,1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/7B,2. Notes the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission undertaken from 2 to 7 February 2006 and the current efforts of the authorities to conserve this World Heritage property;3. Notes that the height of the new Mariinsky Theatre has been lowered by 10 metres;4. Requests the authorities to fully take into account the Vienna Memorandum on "World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture, Managing the Historic Urban Landscape" (2005) in the protection of the historic urban landscape;5. Endorses the ...
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