The Committee elected Mr. Francesco Francioni (Italy) as Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and Mr. Noel Fattal (Lebanon) as Rapporteur. The Vice-Chairs elected were: Benin, Ecuador, Japan, Morocco and the United States of America.
The eleventh General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was held in Paris at UNESCO Headquarters on 27 and 28 October 1997, during the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference.
One hundred and twenty-eight States Parties to the Convention were represented at this meeting.
The representatives of the three advisory bodies to the World Heritage Convention (ICCROM, ICOMOS and IUCN), the Council of Europe, three non-governmental organizations, as well as one State not party to the Convention attended the ...
5. In her opening address, the representative of the Director-General, Mrs Lourdes Arizpe, Assistant Director-General for Culture, spoke of the remarkable and visionary character of the Convention for the Protection of World Heritage, which was adopted exactly twenty-five years ago. The Convention is based on the by now well-accepted premises that there are natural and cultural properties of such importance that not only are they of national value, but also of universal value to all humankind. She welcomed the adhesion of new States Parties to the Convention and mentioned the most recent ...
9. The General Assembly elected by acclamation H.E. Mr Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos (Benin) as President of the General Assembly, the representatives of Australia, Morocco and the United States of America as Vice Presidents, and Mr Mauricio Montalvo (Ecuador) as Rapporteur.
10. The agenda was adopted without amendments.
11. The Chairperson, Mrs Teresa Franco, recalled the last sessions of the World Heritage Committee which were held in Berlin (Germany - nineteenth session) and Merida (Mexico - twentieth session). During these sessions, the World Heritage Committee decided to include 66 new properties on the World Heritage List, bringing the total to 506, with 380 cultural, 108 natural and 19 mixed properties.12. After a quarter of a century of implementation, it appears that the 1972 Convention is one of the most successful instruments in the field of heritage protection. The Chairperson recalled the ...
17. The General Assembly took note of the Document WHC-97/CONF.205/3A concerning the examination of the statement of accounts of the World Heritage Fund for the financial period 1994/1995, as well as the accounts audited by the Auditor General for 1996. The representative of the Bureau of the Comptroller proposed that the General Assembly accept the accounts for 1994, 1995 and 1996.18. The Delegate of Thailand wished to know why, according to the letter from the Auditor General of Canada, the accounts for the preceding years had not been audited, whereas all the financial statements ...
19. The representative of the Bureau of the Comptroller indicated that a large number of States Parties had paid their contributions and that other contributions were being made and would be accepted until midday. 20. The Delegate of China voiced his disappointment that the amount of US$ 20,000 contributed by his country was not indicated as a voluntary contribution in the document. The representative of the Bureau of the Comptroller said that he would verify this information and that the necessary corrections would be made.
11 GA 21
Determination of the amount of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 of the Convention
21. In accordance with item 7 of the agenda, the General Assembly unanimously decided that the amount of mandatory contributions to the World Heritage Fund for the period 1998-1999, calculated in US dollars, would be maintained at 1 percent of contributions made by States Parties to the Regular Programme of UNESCO, in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 1 of the Convention, as had been decided by previous General Assemblies.
22. The Director of the World Heritage Centre recalled that the Tenth General Assembly examined the monitoring and reporting on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties and that it decided the following (paragraph 31 of the Summary Record of the Tenth General Assembly):
'As a conclusion, the General Assembly decided to continue the debate on the systematic monitoring and reporting on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties at the Eleventh General Assembly of States Parties that will be held in 1997. The General Assembly requested the World Heritage Committee ...
26. Under item 9 of the agenda, the General Assembly was called upon to elect seven members of the World Heritage Committee, to replace the following seven members whose mandate would expire at the end of the 29th session of the General Conference: China, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Mexico, Philippines and Spain. The list of candidates was read out to the General Assembly: Angola, Armenia, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, ...
33. The Delegate of Panama informed of his wish to associate States not yet party to the Convention with the 152 States Parties, in a reflection on the protection of the World Heritage, and he suggested that the number of members of the World Heritage Committee be increased to enable greater participation in the work of the Committee. The Delegate of Italy wished to go back to item 6 of the agenda in Document WHC-97/CONF.205/3A concerning the approbation of the utilization of the World Heritage Fund, item 12 of page 21. She indicated that contrary to what was mentioned in the report, it ...
35. After having thanked the Secretariat, the tellers and the interpreters for their efficient work, the President declared the session closed.
The Bureau examined reports on the state of conservation of eleven of the thirteen natural properties included in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Bureau noted that in the case of Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria) and Everglades National Park (United States of America) no new information had been received, since the conclusions of the twentieth session of the Committee.
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its twentieth session, had determined that the World Heritage values of Plitvice Lakes National Park had not been adversely impacted by the armed conflict of the early 1990s, and concluded that the natural systems of the site were recovering from pre-war over-development and over-use. The Committee decided to retain Plitvice Lakes National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger, because it recognized potential post-war threats due to rising visitor impacts, and the damaged condition of the Park's infrastructure.
The Bureau was informed ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
21 BUR IV.A.4
Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Since the twentieth session of the Committee, the eastern part Democratic Republic of the Congo has become further destabilized and military action has spread to other parts of the country. Reports received indicate that in both these sites, infrastructure had been destroyed and wildlife populations decimated. The Bureau noted that IUCN and the Centre will continue to maintain contacts with UNHCR and conservation NGOs and provide up-to-date reports on both Virunga and Garamba, at the time of the twenty-first session of the Committee.
The Bureau requested the Centre and IUCN to ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twentieth session, commended the Park administration's (Instituto Ecuadoriano Forestal y de Areas Naturales y Vida Silvestre, (INEFAN)) actions and reports, but reiterated its serious concerns about road construction activities, poaching and colonization, and recalled its request for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The Bureau noted that INEFAN has submitted a report to the Centre that identifies the Guamote Macas road construction to be the main problem and that colonisation in the Guamboya valley and along the River Palora, ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its last session noted the report of the technical mission to the site, (2-9 November 1996), which identified the deterioration of the Walia ibex population, loss of biodiversity, encroachment at the borders of the site and impacts of the construction of a road through the Park, and, as stipulated in Paragraph 79 of the Operational Guidelines, included Simen National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau was informed that the Head of the Bureau of Agriculture of the Bahir Dar Region, where Simen National Park is located, ...
Sites: Simien National Park
The Bureau recalled that at its twentieth session, the Committee noted the fact that UNESCO's Legal Affairs Office was considering the proposals made by a working group for setting up an "International Foundation for Mt. Nimba". The Bureau was informed that the Legal Affairs Office of UNESCO has advised the Centre that UNESCO cannot create an International Foundation but that such a Foundation may be established under the national legislation of a suitable State Party. The Swiss Foundation established for the conservation of Banc d'Arguin National Park, a World Heritage site in ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twentieth session included Rio Platano in the List of World Heritage in Danger and urged the Honduran authorities to implement the eleven-point corrective action plan, endorsed by the Honduran Minister for the Environment, and keep it informed, on a regular basis, of measures taken to safeguard this property.
The Bureau noted that a revised budget breakdown requested from the Honduran authorities for a US$ 30,000 project, approved by the Bureau at its twentieth session for preparing a management plan for Rio Platano, has not yet been ...
The Bureau noted that the Ministry for Environment and Forests (MOEF) of India, hosted a World Natural Heritage Site Managers' Meeting for South Asia, from 16 to 19 January 1997. The Director of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary presented a report on the state of conservation of Manas at that meeting. A staff member of the World Heritage Centre accompanied the Deputy Inspector General for Wildlife in India on a mission to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary from 20 to 23 January 1997. The mission concluded that:
(i) Militancy of the Bodo people in the early 1990s had damaged the infrastructure for the ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The Bureau recalled that a peace agreement, signed on 20 April 1995, had started a dialogue between the conflicting parties and set in motion the process for a return to a normal management regime and that the Committee at its twentieth session had noted that a detailed site evaluation and the development of an action programme for site recovery may become feasible in the near future. The IUCN/WWF project, with funding from DANIDA, for re-establishing a normal management regime for the site is soon to be resumed.
By letter of 20 March 1997, the Permanent Delegation of Niger has provided ...
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 ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twentieth session noted several remedial actions taken by the State Party to minimize potential and ascertained threats to this site, and commended the President of the country for his efforts to fully remove the potential mining threat to the integrity of the site with a mutually, to-be-agreed upon trade of land, valued at US$ 65 million. Since then, the Montana State Office of the Bureau of Land Management of the United States Department of the Interior, and the Northern Region Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
The Bureau, while commending the efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia and UNESCO, expressed deep concern over the looting and illegal excavation of cultural properties from Angkor, notably over the organized trade in antiquities, including the dismantling of monuments. The Bureau invited the Royal Government of Cambodia to submit a report to the twenty-first session of the Committee on administrative mechanisms and regulations put into place for the enforcement of the law on cultural heritage including measures adopted for the prevention of illicit traffic in cultural property. ...
Sites: Angkor
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat concerning the situation at Fort Bahla, the Bureau thanked the Omani authorities for their communications of 12 and 24 March 1997 by which they confirmed their intent to carry out the recommendations of the UNESCO experts. However, it expressed its serious concern following the collapse of the Fort's north-west Tower and requested them to make every effort to consolidate the monument. It approved the dispatch of a new expert mission next October, on a cost-sharing basis, as previously.
Sites: Bahla Fort
Introducing its written report on the state of conservation of natural World Heritage properties, IUCN supplemented this with a verbal report on more recent developments in Australia. IUCN recalled previous discussions of the Bureau and the Committee on the future of forested public lands adjoining the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the response at that time by the State Party that World Heritage issues would be taken into account in the negotiation of a Regional Forest Agreement between the Governments of Australia and the State of Tasmania. The IUCN Representative said ...
The Bureau noted that an alarming situation has recently developed in this Park which required urgent attention. A local organization is campaigning for the reopening of an 18 km road which was closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the site. In early May, 800 people invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorized work to re-open the road. The responsible conservation authorities have been unable to resist political pressures associated with this development and have not acted to contain the damage.
The Bureau requested the Centre to urgently contact Brazilian authorities to ...
Sites: Iguaçu National Park
a) Okapi Faunal Reserve
The Bureau was deeply concerned to learn that the armed conflict which spread, during early 1997, to the whole of the region has led to the looting of all facilities and killing of several elephants in this site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in Mexico (December, 1996). Most of the expatriate and research staff have fled the Park and those remaining in the site receive only minimum salaries. There are reports of gold mining within the Park and the new Government's policy with regard to respecting the boundaries of the World Heritage area ...
The Bureau thanked IUCN, and the Observer of Ecuador for their reports. It noted that there was a major effort in Ecuador to take steps to conserve the World Heritage values of the islands.
The Bureau recalled that, at its twentieth session in Merida, the World Heritage Committee decided "to include the Galapagos National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger, effective 15 November 1997, unless a substantive written reply by Ecuador is received by 1st of May 1997, and the Bureau, at its twenty first session determine that effective actions have been taken".
Having studied both ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
The Bureau noted that a member of the Centre joined the Deputy Inspector General for Wildlife for India, during 24-25 January 1997, on a mission to Kaziranga National Park, in the State of Assam, India. The Bureau learnt with satisfaction Kaziranga's success in conserving the great one-horned rhinoceros, whose population within the Park has grown from 366 in 1966 to about 1,200 at present. However, every year about 26 rhinos are poached and an additional 52 die due to natural causes, most of them drowning in the annual floods of the Brahmaputra River.
The Bureau encouraged the management ...
Sites: Kaziranga National Park
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 ...
Sites: Keoladeo National Park
The Bureau was informed that the Sundarbans National Park and World Heritage Area, comprising 1,330 sq.km., forms the core area of the larger Sundarbans Project Tiger Reserve (2,585 sq.km) and the even larger "Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve" which extends over more than 9,000 sq.km of the inter-tidal area of the Sundarbans delta. Although India has not yet formally nominated the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve for inclusion in UNESCO's international network of biosphere reserves, the case illustrated an interesting application of the World Heritage and the Biosphere Reserve concepts of UNESCO ...
Sites: Sundarbans National Park
The Bureau was informed that this Park is located in a very remote area, and due to difficulty of access, remains well protected. There are no major threats to the Park; a certain amount of illegal collection of medicinal plants and herbs has been recorded. No visitors are allowed to the Park; some mountaineering groups have in recent times expressed an interest in organizing expeditions to the area. Allowing a certain amount of visitation may facilitate the presentation of this World Heritage Area to the general public and may generate income for the benefit of local people as well. ...
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 ...
Sites: Komodo National Park
The Bureau was informed that the Centre's attention had been drawn by the International Foundation for Banc d’Arguin (FIBA) and WWF, to a Rally, “Trophée des Gazelles - Rallye des Sables”, that had traversed the area of the Park and to potential impacts which the Rally could have had on the fragile ecosystem within the Park. However, the Bureau noted that subsequently the Rally Organizers and FIBA have informed the Centre that the Rally did not traverse the World Heritage site and that there were no threats to the integrity of the site.
Sites: Banc d'Arguin National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its twentieth session (Merida, 1996) reviewed a report on a project for industrial salt production at the site and its potential threats to the site's whale population and noted that the project had not yet been authorized and that a Scientific Committee to review the proposed project had been established by the Ministry of Environment.
The Bureau was informed that the seven member Scientific Committee has elaborated, through consultations with the public, rigorous and comprehensive terms of reference for its work and for the environmental ...
The Bureau noted with satisfaction that this site has a population of more than 400 great one-horned rhinoceros and its success is partly attributable to the cooperation between the Nepalese Army and the staff of the Royal Chitwan National Park in anti-poaching activities.
The Bureau was informed that 80% of the total population (i.e. about 2,000) of the great one-horned rhinoceros, a species restricted in its range to South Asia, are found in the World Heritage sites of Kaziranga (India; 1,200) and Royal Chitwan (Nepal; 400). The Bureau, however, noted that intensive poaching can ...
Sites: Chitwan National Park
The Bureau was informed that about 3500 people belonging to the Sherpa community live in and around the Park and play a significant role as guides for the visitors to the Park. Tourism however, is placing an ever increasing energy demand on the sparse woody vegetation left remaining in the area and also introduces considerable problems of waste disposal.
The Director of the Park had proposed that staff, army personnel and the Sherpa community resident in the vicinity of the Park shift to using kerosene as a primary source of energy but has been unable to raise the necessary capital, ...
Sites: Sagarmatha National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its twentieth session (Merida, 1996) expressed its concerns regarding the poaching of thirteen Oryx, the damage to the desert habitat caused by construction of a reverse osmosis plant and delays in the completion of the management planning and boundary definition project. The Bureau was informed that the authorities in Oman have provided the Centre an outline of an interim plan which foresees the following:
(a) a new outer boundary which will be fixed and boundaries of the five management zones which will be provisionally accepted for 5 years to ...
The Bureau noted that the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee approved, in 1996, a sum of US$ 20,000, for the implementation of a project entitled "Protection and Information and Education Campaign for the Conservation of Tubbataha Reef Marine Park". The Bureau was happy to note that the Project Management Team (PMT) has regular consultations with Government agencies, research institutions and local communities concerned with the project's implementation and that a Presidential Task Force has brought together all groups interested in the conservation of this World Heritage site. ...
Sites: Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
The Bureau was informed that the Sri Lankan authorities have increased the total area of the Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area from 8,860 ha to 11,187 ha to incorporate some habitat fragments northeast of the World Heritage Area. Since the current size of the Sinharaja World Heritage area is 8,860 ha, the Bureau requested IUCN and the Centre to contact Sri Lankan authorities to obtain information on areas included in the extension in order to determine whether or not the State Party should be invited to consider increasing the total area of the World Heritage Site.
Sites: Sinharaja Forest Reserve
The Bureau noted with concern that this site faced considerable threats from a proposal of the national electricity company (EDELCA) to erect a series of power transmission lines, expected to extend 160 km across the Park, to supply power from the Guri dam to Brazil and to a mining site north of the Park. The traditional Pemon community who inhabit a portion of the Park are concerned that the power generation project will lead to increased mining and logging and hence are opposing the scheme. During recent years large scale mining operations have been started in areas outside of the Park ...
Sites: Canaima National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its nineteenth and the twentieth sessions expressed concerns over the impacts which a proposed port development project could have on this site and plans of the Vietnam Government to issue a license for the establishment of a large floating hotel in the vicinity of the World Heritage site. The Bureau noted that a member of the Centre staff participated in the management planning training seminar organized by the Vietnamese authorities in Ha Long City, during 10-23 June 1997, with financial support (US$ 24,250) approved by the Committee at its last ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its last session had been concerned about the unplanned and uncontrolled expansion of the village of Zabljak and its environs and requested clarification regarding the boundary adjustments under consideration. Furthermore the Committee had considered an engineering evaluation of the earthen containment structures built within the earthquake prone flood plains of the Tara River.
The Bureau was informed that the Management of the Durmitor National Park have informed the Centre that their proposal to excise the 40 ha area around the village of ...
Sites: Durmitor National Park
The Bureau thanked the Government of Peru for the report on Machu Picchu prepared by the National Institute for Culture. It expressed its concern, however, about the apparent lack of integral management mechanisms for the property and the implementation and/or consideration of several projects that might have a negative impact either on its natural or cultural values. The Bureau, therefore, requested IUCN and ICOMOS to undertake a joint mission to Machu Picchu in order to examine the management and conservation of the site and to draw up recommendations for future actions. The Bureau ...
The Secretariat informed the Bureau of press reports according to which the site of Butrinti and its museum were looted during the civil disturbances in Albania. This information was confirmed by the Butrint Foundation and in a meeting with the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Albania to UNESCO on 16 April 1997 at which it was agreed that a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation mission would be undertaken to the site. Due to the security situation in the country, this mission could not be undertaken before this session of the Bureau.
The Bureau expressed its great concern about the ...
Sites: Butrint
21 BUR IV.B.38
Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur; Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae; Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (Arab Republic of Egypt)
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat regarding the studies carried out in several tombs at Saqqara in the Necropolis of Thebes and at Abu Simbel, by INERIS, the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the University of Cairo, the Bureau thanked the Egyptian authorities for their cooperation and invited them to implement the recommendations of the experts concerning the ventilation of these monuments, which would ensure the long-term conservation of their mural paintings.
a) Al-Azhar Mosque
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat concerning the ongoing works at the Al-Azhar Mosque at the site of Islamic Cairo, the Bureau requested the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the authenticity of the monument is respected, which unfortunately was not the case for the three Fatimid Mosques, and recalled that the World Heritage Centre is available to provide expert advice to this end.
b) Al-Sinnari House
After having taken note of the Secretariat's report concerning the ongoing work at the Al-Sinnari House in ...
Sites: Historic Cairo
The Bureau took note of a report submitted by the Minister for Culture, Youth, Family and Women of the Land Rheinland-Pfalz regarding the Roman amphitheatre in Trier.
The Bureau noted the results of the urban competition for the zone north of the Roman amphitheatre and the selection of a project which would permit the reopening of the northern access to the arena, which had until now, been blocked by brewery constructions. The Bureau requested the City of Trier to adopt this project and to establish a legal planning instrument for its implementation.
With regard to archaeological ...
In response to a request for information made by the Observer of Lebanon, the Bureau requested the German authorities to present, by 15 September 1997, a report on the state of conservation and development plans for the City of Quedlinburg. The Bureau also requested ICOMOS to undertake a mission to Quedlinburg to assess the situation, and to report to the extraordinary session of the Bureau.
The Bureau commended the Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the Land Brandenburg for the detailed report on the state of conservation of the site and the actions that have been taken to preserve the Potsdam cultural landscape.
The Bureau particularly welcomed the openness of the German authorities for dialogue and their commitment to seek compromise solutions. In particular, the Bureau took note of the commitments of the German authorities to:
- proceed with the extension of the World Heritage site as recommended ...
In view of the information provided by the Secretariat regarding the state of conservation of the Ajanta, Elephanta and Ellora Caves, and taking note with appreciation of the additional information provided by the Observer of India concerning the national and local efforts being made to safeguard these sites, the Bureau expressed its serious concern over the state of conservation of these sites, especially that of the advanced deterioriation of the wall paintings and insufficient visitor control at the site of Ajanta. In addressing the problem of water seepage, the Bureau recommended that ...
After having noted the report of the Secretariat on Petra and the report of the Director of the Department of Antiquities dated December 1996, the Bureau thanked the Jordanian authorities for their efforts to protect the site, but again insisted that preservation measures be urgently undertaken and that the coordination of on-site activities be reinforced with the support of UNESCO. Amongst these measures, it would be appropriate to provide the Petra Regional Council and the Coordination Group of the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism with the means to function; to urgently regulate and ...
Sites: Petra
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on the site of Quseir Amra, the Bureau thanked the Jordanian authorities for their efforts, jointly with UNESCO and the Cultural Service of the French Embassy, to protect the site from flooding and to restore the manège and the cistern of the Omayyades Baths. The Bureau recommended that the Jordanian authorities improve visitor control mechanisms to ensure a better protection of the wall paintings.
Sites: Quseir Amra
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on the site of Tyr and the remarks of the Observer of Lebanon, the Bureau decided to defer the examination of the state of conservation of the site until its twenty-first extraordinary session in November, so as to take into consideration the mission reports of the experts sent to the site by UNESCO in the framework of the International Safeguarding Campaign and the observations of the Lebanese authorities.
Sites: Tyre
After having taken note of the report made by World Heritage Centre consultant, the Bureau commended the State Party and the cooperating governments, institutions and agencies for their joint effort to conserve and rehabilitate the Vilnius Historic Centre, and requested to be kept informed on the progress made. The Bureau also recommended to the State Party to accelerate the operationalization of the Agency for the Revitalization of Old Vilnius (OTRA) as a key element for the revitalization of the Historic Centre. It called upon international and bilateral donors to further discussions ...
Sites: Vilnius Historic Centre
The Bureau took note of the results of an expert mission to the Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan and commended the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) for the exemplary management and conservation of the site. The Bureau requested the national authorities to examine the consultant's report with great attention and to transmit its views on, and follow-up actions foreseen in response to the conclusions and recommendations contained in it to the Secretariat by 15 September 1997 for examination by the Bureau at its next session.
The Bureau took note of the information provided by the Moroccan authorities according to which the road construction projects through the Medina had been abandoned and congratulated them for the measures undertaken to preserve the site.
Sites: Medina of Fez
The Bureau took note of the state of conservation report provided by His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and expressed its appreciation for the progress made towards fulfilling the sixteen-point recommendation of the UNESCO-ICOMOS mission of 1993. In expressing its regret over the further delay in the integration of the Development Control Unit (DCU) as a permanent unit of the Department of Archaeology (DOA), the Bureau recalled that international assistance under the World Heritage Fund for the establishment of the DCU was not to provide salary support but for the training of the DCU ...
Sites: Kathmandu Valley
The Bureau took note of the report presented by the Peruvian National Institute for Culture on Cusco and reiterated the need for appropriate planning mechanisms for the historical City of Cusco. The Bureau welcomed the proposal to establish a Master Plan but emphasized that in the process of its preparation and application arrangements should be made for the adequate coordination and collaboration between all institutions and authorities involved, particularly the National Institute for Culture and the municipality of the City.
Sites: City of Cuzco
The Bureau commended the Polish authorities for the adoption of the 'Strategic Government Programme (Oswiecim Program)' which foresees activities for the years 1997-2001 aiming at a long-term and comprehensive development and management of the site while fully recognizing the need to protect and preserve the physical integrity and dignity of the site and abstaining from any commercial development which could compromise the site's symbolic values. The Bureau fully supported the 'Declaration Concerning Principles for Implementation of Program Oswiecimski' and commended the signatories of ...
The Bureau took note of the initiation of the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust project 'International Support for the Restoration and Preservation of the Probota Monastery' which is the first large-scale UNESCO cultural heritage project funded by the Japanese authorities outside Asia. It commended the authorities of Romania and Japan as well as UNESCO for their joint collaboration in this respect.
Sites: Churches of Moldavia
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat regarding the situation of the Albayzin and the construction of a festivities hall at the Place del Rey Chico, the Bureau:
1) expressed satisfaction that the global revitalization programme of the Albayzin quarter was being elaborated in association with all sectors concerned;
2) strongly requested the competent authorities to undertake all efforts to ensure that the revitalization of the Albayzin quarter is implemented in accordance with the World Heritage Convention and other international conventions and ...
Having taken note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the state of conservation of the site and inappropriate management of traffic in its vicinity, the Bureau requested the national authorities to provide a report on the measures taken and the plans adopted for the protection of the Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct. The Bureau requested ICOMOS to examine the state of conservation of the World Heritage Site of Segovia and to present a report to the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau.
The Bureau expressed its concerns regarding the damages caused by a fire to five of the historic buildings in the Old City of Berne. It commended the Swiss authorities for the immediate actions taken for their safeguarding and restoration.
Sites: Old City of Berne
a) Mosque of the Omayyades
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on the Mosque of the Omayyades in the Ancient City of Damascus, the Bureau thanked the Syrian authorities for having halted the work which was threatening the authenticity of the monument and renewed the invitation which had been made by the Committee at its twentieth session to provide all possible advice of national and international experts to decide upon future action to be undertaken
b) Tekiya Souleymaniah
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on the situation ...
Sites: Ancient City of Damascus
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on the Ancient City of Bosra, the Bureau thanked the Syrian authorities for their efforts in the conservation of the restoration of the southern Baths, and invited them to continue collaboration with the French Mission to continue the restoration of these monuments with all necessary precautions and with the most competent enterprises.
Sites: Ancient City of Bosra
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat on Palmyra, the Bureau warmly encouraged the Syrian authorities to proceed with the deviation of the busy road which crossed the World Heritage site and to initiate, without delay, the study on a global plan for its conservation. It recalled that the Centre was always available to provide expert assistance for such projects.
Sites: Site of Palmyra
At the time of inscription the site was not defined by mapped boundaries. In response to increasing threats through tourism, development etc., English Heritage together with the authorities and landowners devised a management plan for the site.
The Representative of ICOMOS underlined the exemplary nature of the management plan which ensures cooperation between all partners, a strategy for tourism management and provides a clear definition of the boundaries of the site. An extensive buffer zone has been identified along Hadrian's Wall and its associated sites. The plan further foresees ...
In connection with discussions on the state of conservation of several World Heritage sites, the Bureau emphasized the need for the recognition of the World Heritage values in the integral planning at World Heritage sites, as well as the need for the establishment of adequate buffer zones. It also concluded that communications between all levels of government and the World Heritage Committee and its Secretariat should be improved so as to avoid that the World Heritage Committee be alerted too late in the process about inappropriate interventions and constructions in or close to World ...
In this context it was recalled that paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines invites the States Parties to inform the Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat, of their intention to undertake or to authorize in the area protected under the Convention major restorations or new constructions which may affect the World Heritage value of the property, and that notice should be given as soon as possible and before making any decision that would be difficult to reverse, so that the Committee may assist in seeking appropriate solutions to ensure that the world heritage value of the site is ...
Following discussions of the looting of the site museum at Butrinti, Albania, the Secretariat recalled that illicit traffic was a severe problem at a number of World Heritage sites (Angkor, Baalbek, Petra, Kathmandu Valley, Saqqara, etc.) and that support could be provided by UNESCO in training, contact with other international networks such as INTERPOL and ICOM, and recovery (UNESCO press releases and Notices of Stolen Cultural Property). It also could support states to implement the UNESCO Convention on Illicit Traffic (1970) and the UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported ...
The Bureau examined Documents WHC-97/CONF. 204/4 and WHC-97/CONF.204/4.Add and made the following decisions:
NATURAL HERITAGE
Technical Co-operation:
Request approved by the Bureau:
International expert meeting on "World Heritage Convention as an International Instrument for Biodiversity Conservation in Tropical Forests", Brastagi, North Sumatra, Indonesia (March, 1998)
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 30,000 for the above meeting and requested IUCN and the Centre to ensure that scientific information used in the preparation of, and discussions during the meeting, is used to ...
II.1 The Chairperson presented the documents related to the adoption of the agenda and the timetable, (Working Documents WHC-97/CONF.208/1,WHC-97/CONF.208/2.Rev and WHC-97/CONF.208/3). The Agenda and timetable were adopted without any changes.
IV.1 In the absence of the Rapporteur of the twenty-first session of the Bureau, Mr. Lambert Messan (Niger), the Chairperson invited the Committee to take note of the report (WHC-97/CONF.204/11).
IV.2 The Rapporteur of the Committee presented his report on the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, held on 28 and 29 November 1997 in Naples which has been prepared in three parts according to the agenda items. The Committee took note of the report.
21 COM V
Report on the Work of the Committee's Consultative Body on the Overall Management and Financial Review of the Administration of the World Heritage Convention
V.6 The Committee decided to prolong the work of the Consultative Body, to be chaired by the President of the World Heritage Committee, Professor F. Francioni (Italy). The Delegate of Australia stated that the Director of the Centre should also be closely involved in the work of the Consultative Body. It was decided that the Consultative Body would report initially to the twenty-second session of the Bureau and then to the twenty-second session of the Committee. The Committee asked that the Consultative Body analyse the Management Review Report, further study the use of the emblem and ...
VII.56 During the examination of the state of conservation, delegates raised the question of delisting properties from the World Heritage List. The Committee noted that while the procedure for the eventual deletion was outlined in paragraphs 46 to 56 of the Operational Guidelines, more detailed criteria would be required to evaluate if a property has lost all the values for which it was inscribed.
VII.58 The Delegate of Japan expressed his great concern about the safety of the cultural properties in Afghanistan. With regard to threats to the cultural heritage of Afghanistan, the Committee unanimously adopted the following resolution submitted by Italy:
The World Heritage Committee, convened in Naples from 1 to 6 December 1997 at its twenty-first session,
Concerned at news reports about threats to the cultural and natural heritage of Afghanistan, particularly the Buddhist statues in Bamyan,
Stressing the need to consider this heritage, for its inestimable value, not only as part ...
VI.1 The Committee took note of the resolution adopted by the twenty-ninth General Conference of UNESCO on the periodic reporting by the States Parties on the legislative and administrative provisions and other actions which they have taken for the application of the Convention, including the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties located on its territories. The Committee noted, in particular, points 14, 15 and 16 of the resolution in which the General Conference:
Invites the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to submit in accordance with Article 29 of the ...
21 COM VII.A.1-8
State of Conservation of Properties Inscribed on the World Heritage List: Methodology and Procedures for Periodic Reporting
A. Methodology and Procedures for Periodic Reporting
VII.1 The Committee considered the manner in which to implement the decision of the General Conference on the basis of some initial reflections that were presented by the Secretariat in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/7.
VII.2 While recognizing the need for the States Parties to report on the legislative and administrative provisions which they have taken for the application of the Convention, the Committee stressed the importance of periodic reporting as a mechanism for exchange of information and experiences between States Parties. ...
VII.16 Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, on the basis of the findings of a technical mission to the site and IUCN reports, and approved a sum of US$ 30,000 for a meeting with stakeholders and donors, scheduled to be held in April 1997. The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June 1997, learnt that the Regional Authorities in Bahr Dar, where Simen National Park is located, had disagreed with the Committee's decision to declare Simen as a World Heritage site in ...
Sites: Simien National Park
VII.17 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee recalled that at the time of its last session (Merida, 1996), UNESCO's Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs Office was considering a proposal for setting up an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba". The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June, 1997, was informed that such a foundation cannot be created by UNESCO but could be set up under the national legislation of a suitable State Party, following the example of the Foundation established for the Banc d'Arguin, (Mauritania) in ...
VII.18 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee, at its last session (Merida, 1996), included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, and requested the State Party to implement the eleven-point corrective action plan that had been endorsed by the Minister for the Environment of Honduras. The Sub-Secretary for the Environment of Honduras, via letter of 12 September 1997, has provided a description of the proposed use of the US$ 30,000 approved by the Bureau in 1996. These funds will form a component of the larger GTZ-KFW (Germany) project, which in its first year ...
VII.19 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee took note of the site visit to Manas, jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) of India and the World Heritage Centre, between 20 and 23 January 1997 and of the report on the state of conservation submitted to the Bureau at its twenty-first session in June 1997. MOEF and the State Government of Assam had elaborated a 2-3 year rehabilitation plan, at a total cost of US$ 2,135,000, of which US$ 235,000 was requested as emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund. The Bureau at its twentyfirst session ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
VII.20 Air-and-Ténéré Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the Delegate of Niger, at the twenty-first session of the Bureau, was of the view that the state of conservation of the site had considerably improved and the site may be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger and that a monitoring mission to the site was foreseen for autumn 1997. The Centre informed the Committee that this mission did not take place due to time constraints. IUCN informed the Committee that a number of activities are underway to resume the IUCN/Danish/Swiss Cooperation project at this site.
In ...
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 ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VII.22 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it noted significant progress made with regard to acquisition of land, refinement of ecological indicators, and generous Federal and State allocations of financial and human resources, but decided to retain this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger due to continued prevalence of threats. In response to the Committee's call to the State Party to share knowledge and experience gained through the restorative effort, the Park authorities convened an ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
VII.23 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it commended the initiative of the President of the State Party to remove the potential mining threat to Yellowstone National Park, by offering a mutually agreed upon trade of land valued at US$ 65 million, and requested the State Party to outline, before 15 September 1997, the steps and schedule for threat mitigation which could be followed. Since then a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Cooke City Mineral Withdrawal was issued and ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
21 COM VII.B.9-10
Reports on the State of Conservation on Properties Inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
VII.9 The Committee examined reports on the state of conservation of twenty properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as submitted in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8A and complemented with information provided by the Secretariat and the advisory bodies during the session.
VII.10 The observations and recommendations of the Bureau at its twenty-first session (see WHC-97/CONF.208/4) were transmitted to the respective States Parties. The Committee took note of the integrated report provided by IUCN and the World Heritage Centre contained in Working Document ...
VII.11 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee recalled that at its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995) it requested the Bulgarian authorities to submit a threat-mitigation status report in 1998. The Committee requested the State Party to submit, before 1 September 1998, a status report on measures taken to mitigate threats to the site.
The Committee requested IUCN to review that report and to recommend measures to the consideration of the Committee at its next session. The Committee decided to retain Srebarna in the List of World Heritage in ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VII.12 Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it decided to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to damage to the Park infrastructure and possible negative impacts due to over-visitation. The Bureau, at its twenty-first ordinary session held in June 1997, commended the Park authorities for having increased the total area of the Park to include the entire underground basin supplying the Park's lakes and streams. The Park had admitted and managed 270,000 visitors, using educational guided tours. The ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
VII.13 Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IUCN provided a detailed report, including a map showing locations of major areas of armed conflict, refugee camps and rebel activity in relation to Virunga and three other World Heritage sites in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation in and around Virunga is unstable with militia groups threatening human population and wildlife. Aerial census of wildlife has not been undertaken since 1995; there are frequent reports of deforestation, poaching and illegal gold mining in the Park. Many ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
VII.14 Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Since the Committee included this property in the List of World Heritage in Danger, at its last session in December 1996, the eastern regions of the country where this site is located have become further destabilised. Infrastructure of the Park has been damaged and wildlife poached. The uncertainty surrounding the new policy as regards nature conservation puts all World Heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under threat.
The Committee decided to retain Garamba in the List of World Heritage in Danger and ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
VII.15 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
At its last session (Merida, 1996), the Committee reiterated its concerns regarding road construction, poaching and colonisation and its call for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the road construction project. The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June 1997, was informed that colonisation, and small scale mining activities had been stopped, a new management plan was nearing finalisation and that several conservation projects funded by WWF had begun.
The Committee decided to retain Sangay National Park in the List of World Heritage ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VII.24 Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
Having taken note of the amount of work accomplished at the site:
i) collection and analysis of documentation;
ii) elaboration of a maintenance plan for the buildings;
iii) training of craftsmen in co-operation with representatives of the Royal families;
iv) consideration of the anthropological dimension of the site;
v) site of living culture, international meeting "Present-Past-Future" on the Royal Palaces of Abomey which was held in Abomey in September 1997, bringing together international and governmental organizations;
vi) request for ...
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
VII.25 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Secretariat reported on the efforts made by the Royal Government of Cambodia and progress made in the safeguarding activities of this site, including those co-ordinated by UNESCO and funded by France, Indonesia, Italy and Japan. The Secretariat reported that the safeguarding activities, which had been interrupted due to the unrest in the region of Angkor in July 1997, had recommenced and were progressing normally. The Delegate of Japan indicated that the second phase of the Japanese project for the safeguarding of Angkor would begin upon the completion of the ...
Sites: Angkor
VII.26 Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Delegate of Croatia informed the Committee that considerable progress had been made in the reconstruction and restoration of Dubrovnik and that an expert committee will meet in January 1998 to review the state of conservation of the city and that the Croatian authorities will inform the Bureau and the Committee of its findings.
The Committee decided to defer the examination of the state of conservation of Dubrovnik and requested the Croatian authorities to submit a report on the state of conservation by 15 April 1998 for examination by the ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
VII.27 Timbuktu (Mali)
Mosques of Sankoré, Djingareyber, Side Yahia
In accordance with paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the Committee invited the Mali authorities to:
i) co-ordinate international aid for the mosques and the City of Timbuktu;
ii) inform the World Heritage Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat of their intentions to undertake or authorize in a zone protected by the Convention, major restoration work or new constructions, which could modify the value of the World Heritage site, and
iii) evaluate in ...
Sites: Timbuktu
VII.28 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Committee decided that full information on the work undertaken would be submitted to the Bureau, in June 1998, based on the report of the expert mission which visited the site in October 1997.
Sites: Bahla Fort
VII.29 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it had received, on 27 November 1997, a report from the Peruvian authorities on the actions and programmes implemented between 1985 and 1997 for the conservation and management of the site, as well as on tourism infrastructure and educational activities. It also informed the Committee of the recommendations of an ICOMOS expert mission regarding the need to establish a management plan, the importance of the Earthen Architecture Research Centre at Chan Chan and the need to carefully monitor the ...
VII.30 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Committee noted that the installation of the dehumidifying equipment for the site, for which the Committee allocated an amount of US$ 100,000 in 1994, was being completed. The Delegate of Poland thanked the World Heritage Committee and the Government of the United States of America for their support to safeguard the salt mines and informed the Committee that the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system could only be assessed in the second half of 1998. An assessment report will be presented to the next Committee session.
The Committee decided to ...
21 COM VII.C.33-34
SOC: Okapi Faunal Reserve & Kahuzi Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
VII.33 Okapi Faunal Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
At its last session in June 1997, the Bureau, noted that equipment and facilities in this site had been looted and wildlife poached. Fortunately, the staff in this site did not suffer any harm although they had not been receiving any salaries. The Bureau was informed by IUCN that recently a US-based conservation foundation has come forward with financial assistance to pay staff salaries. There are reports of illegal gold mining in the Park occupied by the militia, and the staff have neither facilities nor resources to manage ...
VII.45 Islamic Cairo (Egypt)
Al-Azhar Mosque
Anxious to preserve the authenticity of the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, the Committee recommended
1) that the concerned national authorities immediately halt all work in the Mosque;
2) that UNESCO seeks the co-operation of the Organization for the Islamic Conference;
3) that the World Heritage Centre in agreement with the national authorities concerned designate an expert to identify the conservation activities to be undertaken; and
4) that a meeting be organized to sensitize the persons responsible for the management of the religious ...
Sites: Historic Cairo
VII.46 Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela (Ethiopia)
At the request of the Chairperson, the consultant who visited the site in April-May 1997, provided a synthetic report on the situation at this site, which is the object of an international safeguarding campaign. Recalling the principal characteristics of the Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela which should be considered with an overall approach, he emphasized the importance given to their preservation and informed the Committee that the European Commission is prepared to release important funds for the construction of temporary shelters to ...
Sites: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
VII.47 Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany)
The Committee examined in detail the third report on the state of conservation of Potsdam submitted by the Minister for Science, Research and Culture of the Land Brandenburg.
The Committee also listened to the observations made by the UNESCO expert who undertook various missions to Potsdam for extensive discussions with German authorities on the Federal, Land and local levels. The expert informed the Committee that when he started the discussions, the planning for the so-called 'Postdam Center' was already concluded. The expert ...
VII.48 Roman Monuments, Cathedral and Liebfrauen Church in Trier (Germany)
As requested by the Bureau at its twenty-first session, the Minister for Culture, Youth, Family and Women of the Land Rheinland-Pfalz submitted a report on the protection and management mechanisms for the Roman Amphitheatre and its surroundings.
The Committee took note of the report given by the Representative of ICOMOS concerning a workshop which took place in Trier on 28 November 1997 concerning the archaeological remains and current construction works in the vicinity of the Roman amphitheatre.
The Committee ...
VII.49 Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town in Quedlinburg (Germany)
In response to the request of the World Heritage Bureau, the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Land Sachsen-Anhalt submitted a report on the state of conservation and development plans for the City of Quedlinburg. At the same time and as requested by the Bureau, ICOMOS undertook a mission to Quedlinburg.
The mission reported favourably on the effectiveness of the measures already in place and the competence and commitment of those responsible for the management of the historic town. It also stressed the ...
VII.50 Sun Temple of Konarak (India)
The Committee took note of the report of the Secretariat and requested the Government of India to report on the findings of the structural studies to be undertaken with the World Heritage Fund emergency assistance grant at its twenty-second session of the Bureau in June/July 1998. Furthermore, it requested the Government of India to keep the Secretariat informed in the meantime, to enable UNESCO to mobilize additional international cooperation to ascertain the present condition of the property to undertake corrective measures as required.
The ...
Sites: Sun Temple, Konârak
VII.51 Tyre (Lebanon)
Noting that the Directorate General of Antiquities had already carried out a series of conservation activities, but concerned with regard to existing threats, the Committee commended the Lebanese authorities for the quality of the protection work carried out successfully and recommended that particular attention be paid to the rapid preparation of a master plan covering all the archaeological zones of Tyre and its surroundings, including the City of Tyre. The Committee reminded the Lebanese authorities that the Secretariat had already stated its willingness to ...
Sites: Tyre
VII.53 Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Grenada (Spain)
Following the session of the Bureau in June 1997, the work on the Rey Chico festivities hall situated between the Alhambra and the Albayzin on the left bank of the Rio Darro had been halted and a UNESCO-ICOMOS mission was undertaken in November 1997.
The conclusions of the mission were the following:
1. the building as such does not pose major problems,
2. however, the use of the building as a festivities hall for 1000 people is incompatible with the site (access roads, traffic, noise etc.). It is recommended, therefore, that ...
VII.31 The Bureau at its twenty-first extraordinary session examined reports on the state of conservation of fifty-one properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (nineteen natural, three mixed and twenty-nine cultural). The Committee examined twenty-one of them (nine natural, one mixed and eleven cultural properties) and noted the decisions of the twentyfirst extraordinary session of the Bureau on the remaining properties as reflected in working documents WHC-97/CONF.208/4B (Report of the Bureau) and WHC-97/CONF.208/8B.Rev.
VII.32 Manovo-Gounda-St.Floris National Park (Central African Republic)
The Committee recalled that it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List in 1988, following assurances given by the State Party in respect of its commitment to improve the conditions of integrity of the Park, notably with regard to poaching and illegal grazing. A 10- year project, financed by the European Union (EU) at a cost of US$ 27 million, and launched soon after the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List, was expected to show positive results in the future.
The Committee was seriously ...
VII.35 Iguacu National Park (Brazil)
The Bureau at its twenty-first session learned that a local organisation had started a campaign to re-open a road, closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the Park, and that in early May 1997, 800 people had invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorised work to clear that road. IUCN informed the Bureau that the road has been closed, but plans to rehabilitate damaged areas were uncertain and political pressure to re-open the road still prevailed.
The Centre informed the Committee that a facsimile was received from the Brazilian ...
Sites: Iguaçu National Park
VII.36 Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon)
The Committee noted with concern that logging activities, carried out under commercial, as well as sustainable forestry schemes, are contributing to the growing biological isolation of the Reserve and are not welcome by the local people. An IUCN project is aiming to minimise the degree of the Reserve's isolation through the establishment of a buffer zone and a protected corridor linking Dja with adjacent forests. New logging roads facilitate access for hunters, and concessionaires have logged forests up to the boundary of the Reserve. Staff belonging ...
Sites: Dja Faunal Reserve
VII.37 Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (Canada)
The Committee noted with concern the potential threats to the integrity of this site due to the proposed Cheviot Mine Project, designed to exploit a large, open-pit coal mine, located 1.8 km from the Jasper National Park portion of this World Heritage area. Despite the fact that during the environmental assessment process conservation organizations and Parks Canada expressed concern regarding the negative impacts, e.g. loss or alienation of wildlife habitat, impacts on essential wildlife travel corridors etc., which the proposed mining ...
VII.38 Galapagos National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee took note of the detailed report provided by the Government of Ecuador on 15 November 1997 concerning the situation of the Galapagos Islands as well as of further information by IUCN. The Committee decided the following:
1) Noting the relevant decisions taken by the World Heritage Committee at its 19th and 20th sessions, and by the Bureau of the Committee at its 20th and 21st sessions in June 1996 and June 1997 respectively;
2) Commending the recent efforts and commitment of the Government of Ecuador to address the complex threats ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
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, ...
Sites: Volcanoes of Kamchatka
VII.40 Canaima National Park (Venezuela)
The Committee recalled that, when it inscribed this site on the World Heritage List in 1994, it requested that IUCN and the State Party discuss and agree upon boundaries for the World Heritage site. Since then, although the boundaries of the World Heritage site still remain to be finalised, the national electricity company (EDELCA) has proposed to erect a series of power transmission lines across about 160 km of the Park. An adequate environmental impact study has not been conducted and traditional Pemon communities inhabiting the area are ...
Sites: Canaima National Park
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 ...
VII.42 Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru)
The Committee, having examined the report of IUCN and ICOMOS, expressed its concern about the deficient management arrangements for the Sanctuary and urged the Peruvian authorities to establish an adequate management structure for the site. It furthermore recommended them to prepare a comprehensive master plan as an overall guiding instrument for conservation, planning, infrastructural interventions, tourism development, etc.
The Committee requested the Peruvian authorities to examine the report with great attention and to transmit its ...
VII.43 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.B.c), on the following mixed properties:
Kakadu National Park (Australia)
Tasmanian Wilderness (Australia).
VII.44 Butrinti (Albania)
The Committee took note of the report of the UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission to the World Heritage site of Butrinti, Albania. It expressed its serious concern about the damages caused to the World Heritage site and about its conditions in terms of protection, management and conservation. The Committee noted that the Minister of Culture of Albania, by letter dated 20 November, fully endorsed the report and requested the World Heritage Committee to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee welcomed the Minister's ...
Sites: Butrint
VII.52 Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)
The World Heritage Committee at its seventeenth session in 1993 expressed deep concern over the state of conservation of the Kathmandu Valley site and considered the possibility of placing this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger, following discussions on the findings of the 1993 Joint UNESCO-ICOMOS Review Mission (hereafter referred to as the 1993 Mission).
Since then, H.M. Government of Nepal has given priority to responding to the sixteen points of concern raised by the 1993 Mission. However, the Bureau, at its twenty-first session (June ...
Sites: Kathmandu Valley
VII.54 Complex of Hué Monuments (Vietnam)
The Committee took note of the information provided by the Secretariat concerning damage caused by the 24 September 1997 typhoon to the historic buildings of Hué; and of continued building violations in the buffer zones which may undermine the integrity of this site. The Committee expressed its appreciation for the agreement for decentralized co-operation between the Province of Hué, the City of Lille and UNESCO, which should enable a thorough review of the land-use and building regulations of the protected area and the buffer zones of the site ...
Sites: Complex of Hué Monuments
VII.55 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau on the following cultural properties as reflected in the report of the Bureau session, Working Documents WHC-97/CONF.208/4B Section III.C.c):
Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site (El Salvador)
Le Canal du Midi (France)
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France)
Ashanti Traditional Buildings (Ghana)
Maya Site of Copan (Honduras)
Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri (India)
Quseir Amra (Jordan)
Town of Luang Prabang (Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan ...
Sites: Ancient City of Damascus Ancient City of Polonnaruwa Ancient City of Sigiriya Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro Asante Traditional Buildings Baroque Churches of the Philippines Canal du Midi Historic Areas of Istanbul Historic Centre of Bukhara Historic Town of Zabid Island of Mozambique Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site Maya Site of Copan Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan Quseir Amra Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple Sacred City of Anuradhapura Sacred City of Kandy Taj Mahal Town of Luang Prabang
21 COM VIII.11
Invitation to the Consultative Body to Re-examine the Criteria Concerning the Inscription of Cultural Heritage
"The World Heritage Committee,
Emphasizing that the Constitutional Act of UNESCO which foresees that it will assist in maintaining, advancing and diffusing knowledge whilst protecting the conservation and safeguarding of universal heritage and in recommending to concerned peoples of international conventions to this effect,
Recalling that Article 1 of the Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage considers as "cultural heritage" the monuments, groups of buildings and sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic or ...
21 COM VIII.11
Re-examine of the Criteria Concerning the Inscription of Cultural Heritage and Authenticity
VIII.11
The World Heritage Committee,
Emphasizing that the Constitutional Act of UNESCO which foresees that it will assist in maintaining, advancing and diffusing knowledge whilst protecting the conservation and safeguarding of universal heritage and in recommending to concerned peoples of international conventions to this effect,
Recalling that Article 1 of the Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage considers as "cultural heritage" the monuments, groups of buildings and sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic ...
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 ...
Heard and McDonald Islands
577Rev.
Australia
N(i)(ii)
The Committee inscribed this property under criteria (i) and (ii). It noted that this site is the only volcanically active sub-Antarctic island and illustrates ongoing geomorphic processes and glacial dynamics in the coastal and submarine environment and sub-Antarctic flora and fauna, with no record of alien species. The Committee repeated its request by the sixteenth session for further documentation on the marine resources of the ...
Sites: Heard and McDonald Islands
Macquarie Island
629 Rev.
Australia
N(i)(iii)
The Committee recalled that it had referred this nomination back to Australia in order that new material can be assessed. In presenting its revised evaluation, IUCN stated that the nomination had been submitted for its geological and not for its biological values, and that the sixteenth session of the Committee declined the nomination requesting Australia to consider Macquarie Island for its biological values and had noted its potential as part of an international World Heritage site with the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand. ...
Sites: Macquarie Island
Sundarbans
798
Bangladesh
N(ii)(iv)
The Committee recalled that the Bureau had suggested that the initial nomination was of insufficient size and encouraged the authorities of Bangladesh to consider enlarging the nomination to include the Sundarbans East and South Wildlife Sanctuaries. It commended the Government of Bangladesh for responding to this request to extend the boundaries of the site to now include all three wildlife sanctuaries.
The Committee inscribed the site under criteria (ii) and (iv) as one of the largest remaining areas of mangroves in the world, which supports ...
Sites: The Sundarbans
Cocos Island National Park
820
Costa Rica
N(ii)(iv)
The Committee inscribed Cocos Island National Park under natural criteria (ii) and (iv) because of the critical habitats the site provides for marine wildlife including large pelagic species, especially sharks. The Committee commended the Government of Costa Rica for its initiative to incorporate the marine environment into the Park and encouraged it to extend management from 8km to the 15km legal limit around the ...
Sites: Cocos Island National Park
Morne Trois Pitons National Park
814
Dominica
N(i)(iv)
The Committee inscribed the Morne Trois Pitons National Park on the basis of natural criteria (i) and (iv) for its diverse flora with endemic species of vascular plants, its volcanoes, rivers and waterfalls, illustrating ongoing geo-morphological processes with high scenic value.
The Committee commended the authorities of Dominica for their response to the Bureau's request to provide a time frame for the revision of the management plan and for having submitted a technical assistance request for this ...
Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest
800
Kenya
N(ii)(iii)
The Committee recalled that the Bureau at its twenty-first session expressed concern about illegal deforestation and encroachment on the slopes of Mt. Kenya and had recommended that the Kenyan authorities reduce the size of the nominated area by excluding heavily impacted forests. The Committee commended the Kenyan authorities for their response to the Bureau's request and the details provided on actions to be taken to improve the management of the forest zone and a map of the revised boundaries of the property. The ...
Sibiloi/Central Island National Parks
801
Kenya
N(i)(iv)
The Committee inscribed this property on the basis of natural criteria (i) and (iv) for the discoveries of mammal fossil remains in the site which led to the scientific reconstruction of the palaeo-environment of the entire Turkana Lake basin of the Quarternary Period. The Lake Turkana ecosystem with its diverse bird life and desert environment offers an exceptional laboratory for studies of plant and animal communities. The Committee expressed its concern and drew the attention of the Kenyan authorities to illegal grazing by ...
Sites: Lake Turkana National Parks
The Valley of Vinales Pinar del Rio
840
Cuba
The Committee noted that the site does not meet the natural criteria, lacked clearly defined boundaries and does not have sufficient legal protection. Hence, the Committee decided not to inscribe this site on the List. The Committee noted that the Cuban authorities may wish to consider nominating the area as a cultural landscape.
Sites: Viñales Valley
Natural Reserve El Triunfo
807
Mexico
The Committee noted that the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau decided, after having heard the evaluation by IUCN, to bring this nomination to the twenty-first session of the Committee.
In presenting its evaluation, IUCN noted that the field inspection originally planned for March had to be postponed until November. The conclusions of the report were: (1) the site is one of high importance for conservation within Mexico but, however, in the regional context it is one of many cloud forest protected areas; (2) the conditions of ...
VIII.4 The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8BRev and decided to include the following natural properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Okapi Faunal Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic)
VIII.5 The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8A and decided to remove the following natural property from the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Pyrénées - Mount Perdu
773
France/Spain
N(i)(iii) C(iii)(iv)(v)
The Committee inscribed the site under natural criteria (i) and (iii). The calcareous massif of the Mount Perdu displays classic geological land forms, including deep canyons and spectacular cirque walls. It is also an outstanding scenic landscape with meadows, lakes, caves and forests on mountain slopes. In addition, the area is of high interest to science and conservation.
Concerning cultural values, the Committee inscribed the property on the basis of criteria (iii), (iv) and (v): The Pyrénées-Mont Perdu area between ...
Sites: Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8BRev and decided to include the following cultural property on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Butrinti (Albania)
Sites: Butrint
Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape
806
Austria
C(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv), considering that the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut alpine region is an outstanding example of a natural landscape of great beauty and scientific interest which also contains evidence of a fundamental human economic activity, the whole integrated in a harmonious and mutually beneficial manner.
The Historic Centre of Sao Luis
821
Brazil
C(iii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (iii), (iv) and (v), considering that the Historic Centre of São Luis do Maranhão is an outstanding example of a Portuguese colonial town that adapted successfully to the climatic conditions in equatorial South America and which has preserved its urban fabric, harmoniously integrated with its natural setting, to an exceptional degree.
Sites: Historic Centre of São Luís
The Old Town of Lijiang
811
China
C (ii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (v). Lijiang is an exceptional ancient town set in a dramatic landscape which represents the harmonious fusion of different cultural traditions to produce an urban landscape of outstanding quality.
Sites: Old Town of Lijiang
The Ancient City of Ping Yao
812
China
C (ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the Ancient City of Ping Yao is an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (14th-20th centuries) that has retained all its features to an exceptional degree and in doing so provides a remarkably complete picture of cultural, social, economic, and religious development during one of the most seminal periods of Chinese ...
Sites: Ancient City of Ping Yao
The Classical Gardens of Suzhou
813
China
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), considering that the four classical gardens of Suzhou are masterpieces of Chinese landscape garden design in which art, nature, and ideas are integrated perfectly to create ensembles of great beauty and peaceful harmony, and four gardens are integral to the entire historic urban plan. The Committee, however, recommended that the State Party submit a nomination to extend the World Heritage protection to cover ...
Sites: Classical Gardens of Suzhou
21 COM VIII.C
Inscription: The Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Porec (Croatia)
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 Historic City of Trogir
810
Croatia
C(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that Trogir is an excellent example of a medieval town built on and conforming with the layout of a Hellenistic and Roman city that has conserved its urban fabric to an exceptional degree and with the minimum of modern interventions, in which the trajectory of social and cultural development is clearly visible in every aspect of the ...
Sites: Historic City of Trogir
San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba
841
Cuba
C(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (iv) and (v), considering that the Castle of San Pedro de la Roca and its associated defensive works are of exceptional value because they constitute the largest and most comprehensive example of the principles of Renaissance military engineering adapted to the requirements of European colonial powers in the Caribbean.
The Historic Centre (Old Town) of Tallinn
822
Estonia
C(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that Tallinn is an outstanding and exceptionally complete and well preserved example of a medieval northern European trading city that retains the salient features of this unique form of economic and social community to a remarkable degree.
The Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
345rev.
France
C(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that the historic town of Carcassonne is an excellent example of a medieval fortified town whose massive defences were constructed on walls dating from Late Antiquity. It is of exceptional importance by virtue of the restoration work carried out in the second half of the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc, which had a profound influence on subsequent developments in conservation principles and ...
21 COM VIII.C
Inscription: The 18th Century Royal Palace at Caserta, with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex (Italy)
The 18th Century Royal Palace at Caserta, with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex
549rev
Italy
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the monumental complex at Caserta, whilst cast in the same mould as other 18th century royal establishments, is exceptional for the broad sweep of its design, incorporating not only an imposing palace and park, but also much of the surrounding natural landscape and an ambitious new town laid out according to the urban planning ...
Residences of the Royal House of Savoy
823
Italy
C(i)(ii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iv) and (v), considering that the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in and around Turin represent a comprehensive overview of European monumental architecture in the 17th and 18th centuries, using style, dimensions, and space to illustrate in an exceptional way the prevailing doctrine of absolute monarchy in material ...
The Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua
824
Italy
C(ii)(iii)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iii), considering that the Botanical Garden of Padua is the original of all botanical gardens throughout the world, and represents the birth of science, of scientific exchanges, and understanding of the relationship between nature and culture. It has made a profound contribution to the development of many modern scientific disciplines, notably botany, medicine, chemistry, ecology, and ...
21 COM VIII.C
Inscription: Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) (Italy)
Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
826
Italy
C(ii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), considering that the eastern Ligurian Riviera between Cinque Terre and Portovenere is a cultural site of outstanding value, representing the harmonious interaction between people and nature to produce a landscape of exceptional scenic quality that illustrates a traditional way of life that has existed for a thousand years and continues to play an important socio-economic role in the life of the ...
The Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena
827
Italy
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the joint creation of Lanfranco and Wiligelmo is a masterpiece of human creative genius in which a new dialectical relationship between architecture and sculpture was created in Romanesque art. The Modena complex bears exceptional witness to the cultural traditions of the 12th century and is one of the best examples of an architectural complex where religious and civic values are combined ...
21 COM VIII.C
Inscription: The Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculanum and Torre Annunziata (Italy)
The Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculanum and Torre Annunziata
829
Italy
C(iii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (iii), (iv) and (v), considering that the impressive remains of the towns of Pompei and Herculaneum and their associated villas, buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, provide a complete and vivid picture of society and daily life at a specific moment in the past that is without parallel anywhere in the world.
The Committee asked Italy to submit a progress report in time for the Bureau meeting in June 1998, on ...
The Costiera Amalfitana
830
Italy
C(ii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), considering that the Costiera Amalfitana is an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values resulting from its dramatic topography and historical evolution.
Sites: Costiera Amalfitana
The Archaeological Area of Agrigento
831
Italy
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that Agrigento was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world, and it has been preserved in an exceptionally intact condition. Its great row of Doric temples is one of the most outstanding monuments of Greek art and culture.
Villa Romana del Casale
832
Italy
C(i)(ii)(iii)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and (iii), considering that the Villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina is the supreme example of a luxury Roman villa, which graphically illustrates the predominant social and economic structure of its age. The mosaics that decorate it are exceptional for their artistic quality and invention as well as their extent.
The Committee asked the State Party to provide a report on the conservation and management of the site and in particular on the monitoring of ...
Sites: Villa Romana del Casale
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
833
Italy
C(i)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (iii) and (iv), considering that the nuraghe of Sardinia, of which Su Nuraxi is the pre-eminent example, represent an exceptional response to political and social conditions, making an imaginative and innovative use of the materials and techniques available to a prehistoric island community.
Sites: Su Nuraxi di Barumini
The Ch'angdokkung Palace Complex
816
Korea (Republic of)
C(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the Ch'angdokkung Palace Compound is an outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design, exceptional for the way in which the buildings are integrated into and harmonized with the natural setting, adapting to the topography and retaining indigenous tree ...
Sites: Changdeokgung Palace Complex
Hwasong Fortress
817
Korea (Republic of)
C(ii)(iii)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iii), considering that the Hwasong Fortress is an outstanding example of early modern military architecture, incorporating the most highly developed features of that science from both east and west.
The Delegate of the Republic of Korea thanked the Committee for having decided to inscribe the above two sites on the World Heritage ...
Sites: Hwaseong Fortress
The Historic Centre of Riga
852
Latvia
C(i)(ii)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i) and (ii), considering that the historic centre of Riga, while retaining its medieval and later urban fabric relatively intact, is of outstanding universal value by virtue of the quality and the quantity of its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture, which is unparalleled anywhere in the world, and its 19th century architecture in wood.
Sites: Historic Centre of Riga
Hospicio Cabanas, Guadalajara
815
Mexico
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the Hospicio Cabañas is a unique architectural complex, designed to respond to social and economic requirements for housing the sick, the aged, the young, and the needy, which provides an outstanding solution of great subtlety and humanity. It also houses one of the acknowledged masterpieces of mural ...
The Archaeological Site of Volubilis
836
Morocco
C(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe the Archaeological Site of Volubilis on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii), (iv) and (vi), considering that this site is an exceptionally well preserved example of a large Roman colonial town on the fringes of the Empire.
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.
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
666rev.
Nepal
C(iii)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (iii) and (vi). As the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, the sacred area of Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from a very early period. The Delegate of Thailand declared that apart from Lumbini, there are two other sites closely associated with Buddha which are in the process of preparation to be presented as serial ...
The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout
818
Netherlands
C(i)(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and (iv) considering that the Kinderdijk-Elshout mill network is an outstanding man-made landscape that bears powerful testimony to human ingenuity and fortitude over nearly a millennium in draining and protecting an area by the development and application of hydraulic technology.
The Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour
819
Netherlands
C(ii)(iv)(v)
The Committee decided to inscribe this site on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), considering that the Historic Area of Willemstad is a European colonial ensemble in the Caribbean of outstanding value and integrity, which illustrates the organic growth of a multicultural community over three centuries and preserves to a high degree significant elements of the many strands that came together to create ...
Rohtas Fort
586rev
Pakistan
C(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that the Rohtas Fort is an exceptional example of the Muslim military architecture of central and south Asia, which blends architectural and artistic traditions from Turkey and the Indian sub-continent to create the model for Mughal architecture and its subsequent refinements and adaptations.
Sites: Rohtas Fort
Historic District of the Town of Panama with the Salon Bolivar
790
Panama
C(ii)(iv)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of cultural criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi), considering that Panamá was the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas, in 1519, and the Historic District preserves intact a street pattern, together with a substantial number of early domestic buildings, which are exceptional testimony to the nature of this early settlement. The Salón Bolivar is of outstanding historical importance, as the venue for ...
The Medieval Town of Torun
835
Poland
C(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv), considering that Torun is a small historic trading city that preserves to a remarkable extent its original street pattern and outstanding early buildings, and which provides an exceptionally complete picture of the medieval way of life.
Sites: Medieval Town of Toruń
The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork
847
Poland
C(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that Malbork Castle is the supreme example of the medieval brick castle that characterizes the unique architecture of the Crusading Teutonic Order in eastern Europe. It is also of considerable historical significance for the evidence that it provides of the evolution of the modern philosophy and practice of restoration and conservation.
Following the inscription of these two properties from Poland, the ...
Las Médulas
803
Spain
C(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), considering that the Las Médulas gold-mining area is an outstanding example of innovative Roman technology, in which all the elements of the ancient landscape, both industrial and domestic, have survived to an exceptional degree.
The Delegate of Thailand informed the Committee that he was unable to accept the inscription of this site as a cultural property as it did not correspond to the definitions given in Article 1 of the Convention. ...
Sites: Las Médulas
The Palau de la Musica and the Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona
804
Spain
C(i)(ii)(iv)
The Committee decided to inscribe these two properties on the basis of criteria (i), (ii) and (iv), considering that the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona are masterpieces of the imaginative and exuberant Art Nouveau that flowered in early 20th century Barcelona.
San Millan Yuso and Suso Monasteries
805
Spain
C(ii)(iv)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi), considering that the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso at San Millán de la Cogolla are exceptional testimony to the introduction and continuous survival of Christian monasticism, from the 6th century to the present day. The property is also of outstanding associative significance as the birthplace of the modern written and spoken Spanish ...
San Millan Yuso and Suso Monasteries
805
Spain
C(ii)(iv)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii), (iv) and (vi), considering that the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso at San Millán de la Cogolla are exceptional testimony to the introduction and continuous survival of Christian monasticism, from the 6th century to the present day. The property is also of outstanding associative significance as the birthplace of the modern written and spoken Spanish ...
Dougga/Thugga
794
Tunisia
C(ii)(iii)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iii), considering that Dougga is the best preserved Roman small town in North Africa and as such provides an exceptional picture of everyday life in antiquity.
Sites: Dougga / Thugga
Maritime Greenwich
795
United Kingdom
C(i)(ii)(iv)(vi)
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of cultural criteria (i), (ii), (iv) and (vi), considering that the public and private buildings and the Royal Park at Greenwich form an exceptional ensemble that bears witness to human artistic and scientific endeavour of the highest quality, to European architecture at an important stage of its evolution, and to the creation of a landscape that integrates nature and culture in a harmonious whole.
The Delegate of Morocco informed the Committee that he felt that the ...
Sites: Maritime Greenwich
The Committee took note of Information Documents WHC-97/CONF.208/INF.7, WHC-97/CONF.208/INF.8, WHC-97/CONF.INF.12 and WHC-97/CONF.208/INF.13.
IX.1 The Global Strategy approved by the Committee in 1994 aims at improving the representivity of cultural heritage on the World Heritage List and redressing the imbalance due to the pre-eminence of Europe, Christianity and monumental architecture, as well as to encourage the nomination of properties illustrating archaeological, industrial and technical heritage from non-European cultures and, in general, of all living cultures, particularly ...
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 ...
X.1 The Committee examined International Assistance requests submitted by States Parties and advisory bodies presented in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/12Rev. In accordance with paragraphs 91-117 of the Operational Guidelines, the Committee took decisions concerning International Assistance requests for natural and cultural heritage above US$ 30,000.
X.2 The Committee's decisions and comments concerning International Assistance requests for natural and cultural heritage have been summarized in the following tables.
NATURAL HERITAGE
1. Training
India
Meeting ...
21 COM XI.3-6
Examination of the World Heritage Fund and Approval of the Budget for 1998, and Presentation of a Provisional Budget for 1999 - General Issues
XI.3 The Deputy Comptroller of UNESCO then introduced the financial statements of the World Heritage Fund for 1996 as well as the provisional accounts for 1997 as of 31August 1997 of which the Committee took note.
One delegate drew the attention of the Committee to the fact that the cash at bank of the Fund was in excess of US$ 5 million and considered that this balance was unnecessarily blocked. He was informed that this balance should be reduced over time through the implementation ofthe increased budget. The Delegate of Italy stated that he considered the staff costs should not be ...
21 COM XI.9-11
Budget: Future Work Plans and Budgets Based on Precise Forecasts of the Resources and Identified Needs and Priorities
XI.8 The delegates expressed the wish that future work plans and budgets submitted to the World Heritage Committee be prepared based on precise forecasts of the resources and identified needs and priorities.
XI.9 A draft resolution prepared by the Italian Delegation and discussed earlier was distributed as amended by a working group created by the Chairperson for this purpose (Italy, Benin, Japan, Thailand, France, Lebanon and Germany). The text of this resolution approved by the Committee is the following:
Resolution presented by Italy
"The Committee,
Underlining its responsibilities ...
XI.7 The Committee then examined the different budget chapters and components and took the following decisions:
XI.7.1 Chapter I The amount proposed for participation in statutory meetings is available to all developing States Parties. The amount was increased from US$ 70,000 to US$ 80,000.The amount proposed for co-ordination with other Conventions and programmes, etc. was approved. The Centre will make a report on the use of this amount at the Bureau meeting to be held in June 1998 which will decide upon its future use. An amount of US$ 50,000 was approved for the work of the ...
XII.16 With regard to partnerships with the media and publishing houses, the Committee expressed concern about the use of the emblem and quality control The Committee requested the Consultative Body to submit to it recommendations on the use of the emblem and guidelines for fund-raising. This would allow the development of a policy for outside partnerships that the Centre would implement. The Delegates of China and Japan commended the efforts of the Centre in building partnerships with the media, stating that in their countries World Heritage films produced by Beijing Television and Tokyo ...
XIII.3 [...] During a short discussion certain amendments were proposed to the Recommendation in Document WHC-97CONF.208/15 (Annex VIII).
XIII.3 [...] During a short discussion certain amendments were proposed to the Recommendation in Document WHC-97CONF.208/15 (Annex VIII).
21 COM XIV.1-2
Date, Place and Provisional Agenda of the Twenty-second Session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee
XIV.1 The Committee decided that the twenty-second session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee would be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 22 to 27 June 1998.
XIV.2 The Committee adopted the provisional agenda for the Bureau's session which is attached as ANNEX IX.
XV.1 The Committee decided that, following the invitation by the Government of Japan previously expressed at the twentieth session of the World Heritage Committee, the twenty-second session of the World Heritage Committee would take place in Kyoto, Japan from 30 November to 5 December 1998 (to be preceded by an extraordinary session of the Bureau on 27 and 28 November 1998). The Committee expressed its gratitude for this generous invitation.
XV.2 The Delegate of Morocco informed the Committee that his country would like to host the Committee in 1999. The Chairperson informed the ...
XVII.1 The Rapporteur presented the draft report of the session to the Committee and thanked the Secretariat for their support in its preparation. Following the examination of the report, the Committee adopted it with the amendments noted and received in written form during its debate.
XVII.2 The Delegate of Niger regretted that due to his late arrival he was not able to participate in the discussions on the state of conservation of properties. In referring to paragraph VII.20 concerning Air and Ténéré Reserve (Niger), he informed the Committee that a meeting between the Local Management ...
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 ...
Sites: Asante Traditional Buildings Baroque Churches of the Philippines Complex of Hué Monuments Dja Faunal Reserve Kathmandu Valley Kaziranga National Park Khami Ruins National Monument Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor Morne Trois Pitons National Park Town of Luang Prabang Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park W-Arly-Pendjari Complex