The Bureau reviewed state of conservation reports on thirteen of the fifteen natural World Heritage sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Bureau was informed that no new information was received with regard to the two natural World Heritage sites of the United States of America, namely the Everglades and Yellowstone National Parks, and that up-to-date information on the state of conservation of those two sites, based on reports requested from the State Party by 15 September 1998, and expected to be received by then, will be submitted to the twenty-second session of ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995), had requested the Bulgarian authorities to submit, in 1998, a status report on measures taken to mitigate threats to the integrity of this site. Hence, the Bureau requested the Bulgarian authorities to submit the threat mitigation status report to the Centre before 15 September 1998, and IUCN to review that report and to make recommendations to the twenty-second session of the Committee.
The Bureau suggested that the State Party consider inviting an IUCN mission to the site for verification of the results ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its last session, was seriously concerned about the uncontrolled poaching by armed groups which had resulted in the death of four members of the Park staff in 1997 and the decimation of more than 80% of the Park's wildlife populations. Deteriorating security conditions had brought tourism to a halt. The Committee had welcomed the efforts of the Government of CAR to assign site management responsibilities to a private Foundation and had requested the Centre and IUCN to contact the State Party and the Foundation to prepare a detailed state of ...
Virunga National Park, Garamba National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park, Okapi Faunal Reserve
The Bureau recalled that the four sites under consideration were declared as World Heritage in Danger by the Committee, during the years between 1994 and 1997, when the country had been affected by war and civil strife. The Bureau after reviewing the report of the Secretariat, based on the reports received through IUCN and other international NGO partners, decided to:
(i) reiterate the Committee’s concerns for the conservation and management of the four sites and recommended that ...
The Bureau noted that at its last session, the Committee 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 had also urged the Centre, in collaboration with IUCN, agreement with the State Party and possible support from WWF, to plan and organise a site visit to address the problem of the Guamote-Macas road construction project and other threats to the integrity of the site.
The Bureau learnt that IUCN has received considerable ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Regional authorities in Bahir Dar, where Simen National Park is located, had expressed their disagreement with the decision of the Committee, taken at its twentieth session (Merida, 1996), to include Simen in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Bureau noted with satisfaction the efforts undertaken by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Ethiopia and the UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa to provide more information to the Bahir Dar authorities on the meaning and implications of the Committee’s decision to include Simen in the List of World ...
Sites: Simien National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its last session, had requested the State Party (Guinea) and the Centre to contact the relevant mining companies, which foresee exploiting an iron-ore mine in the vicinity of the Reserve, to learn more details of their interest and willingness to set up an international foundation for the conservation of Mt. Nimba. The Bureau was informed that the Secretariat was intending to participate at a meeting, on 25 June 1998, jointly organised by the “Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique” (CNRS) and a certain number of French ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996, 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 Bureau noted that the elaboration of a management plan is being carried out with a contribution of US$ 30,000 from the World Heritage Fund, as part of a large scale project for strengthening the conservation of Rio Platano financed by GTZ-KFW (Germany). Furthermore, the Bureau learnt from IUCN that a hydroelectric development ...
The Bureau recalled the fact that the Committee, at its last session, had noted that the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) of India and the State Government of Assam had begun implementing a 2-3 year rehabilitation plan at a total estimated cost of US$ 2,135,000 of which US$ 235,000 had been requested by the State Party as emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund. The Committee was satisfied with the use of the first instalment of US$ 75,000, approved by the Bureau at its twenty-first session in June 1997. This was used for the purchase of three vehicles, two boats and ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twentieth (Merida, 1996) and twenty-first (Naples, 1997) sessions approved a mission to this site to: evaluate the state of conservation of the site; determine the significance of prevailing threats to the site; compare data and information on the Reserve before and after its inclusion in the List of the World Heritage in Danger (1992); prepare a long-term action plan for the protection of the site with the assistance of the IUCN field project staff; and prepare a detailed report for the twenty-second session of the Committee. Although a ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee inscribed Ichkeul on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site. It alerted them to the possibility of the deletion of Ichkeul from the World Heritage List, if rehabilitation of the site were not possible. Following discussions on a "Report on the action programme for the safeguarding of Ichkeul National Park", submitted by the "Ministère de l'environnement et de l'aménagement du territoire", which had been critically reviewed ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
The Bureau welcomed the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures at Butrinti and the start of the process that should lead to the adoption of a management plan for the site. It recommended that due attention be given to the problem of illicit traffic of archaeological objects from Butrinti as well as the unauthorised constructions in its vicinity.
The Observer of Greece repeated the interest of her country to collaborate in and provide expert advice for the preservation of Butrinti.
The Bureau requested the Secretariat to submit a progress report to the ...
Sites: Butrint
The Bureau expressed its appreciation for the report of the Secretariat and for the continued efforts of UNESCO in mobilising international co-operation for the protection, preservation and presentation of the site of Angkor, especially through the International Co-ordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of Angkor.
The Bureau, however, requested UNESCO to continue its work in the strengthening of training activities for local and national capacity-building, especially in measures prohibiting and preventing the illicit traffic of cultural property. In this regard, and ...
Sites: Angkor
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the Croatian authorities had submitted a substantive report on the state of conservation of Dubrovnik requesting the Committee to delete the Old City of Dubrovnik from the List of World Heritage in Danger. ICOMOS informed the Bureau that it was greatly impressed by the restoration works undertaken in Dubrovnik and that it strongly supported the request made by Croatia.
The Bureau congratulated the Croatian authorities on the progress made in the restoration and rehabilitation of the city. With great satisfaction, the Bureau decided to recommend ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
Having taken note of the report of the Secretariat concerning the situation at the Bahla Fort, the Bureau thanked the Omani authorities for their effort in safeguarding the site. However, considering the serious deterioration of the monument, the Bureau requested the Omani authorities to continue the collaboration with the international expert and inform the Committee of the progress through the Secretariat. In this connection, it approved the continuation of co-operation on a cost-sharing basis as previously agreed, to continue rehabilitation and prepare a management plan for the site. ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
The Bureau commended the Government of Peru for its initiative to prepare a management plan for the Chan Chan Archaeological Zone. It requested the Government to submit a second report on the progress made in this respect by 15 September 1998 for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-second session. The Bureau furthermore requested the Government to inform the Committee on the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of the emergency measures taken.
The Bureau, at its twenty-first extraordinary session in November 1997, requested that the Australian authorities provide specific information on the results of the financial review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). The Bureau noted that the Minister for the Environment of Australia has informed the Centre that the financial review of the GBRMPA has been completed, and that more detailed information on the recommendations of that review would be made available to the Centre as soon as the Government has considered those recommendations and has taken relevant ...
Sites: Great Barrier Reef
The Observer of Australia informed the Bureau that the granting of a petroleum exploration permit, on 29 November 1996, by the State Government of West Australia was brought to the attention of the Commonwealth Government in January 1997. In Australia decisions to issue mining exploration permits are taken at the level of the State Government. The State Government appeared to have been unaware that the area for which an exploration permit was issued was located within the World Heritage site. Following the intervention of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, the Environmental ...
Sites: Shark Bay, Western Australia
The Observer of Australia informed the Bureau that based on the concern that clearing may have occurred within the World Heritage property, the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment appointed a senior officer from the Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) as an inspector under the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act (1983). This official would determine the nature of any vegetation clearance that may have occurred on private properties within the World Heritage area.
The investigator reported three cases of clearing, two of which were within the World Heritage area. Based on ...
Sites: Wet Tropics of Queensland
The Bureau recalled that at its twenty-first ordinary session it requested the Brazilian authorities to close the 18km road traversing the Park that had been illegally re-opened by local people. The Committee at its last session (Naples, 1997), was informed by IUCN that the road had been temporarily closed, and that several actions had been undertaken by the Brazilian authorities to strengthen management of the Park. Nevertheless, the Committee called for the permanent closure of the road and requested the Brazilian authorities to provide information concerning the rehabilitation of the ...
Sites: Iguaçu National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its twenty-first session, 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. Moreover, logging roads facilitate access for hunters, and concessionaires have logged forests up to the boundary of the ...
Sites: Dja Faunal Reserve
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its twenty-first session, expressed its serious concerns with regard to 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 2.8 km from the Jasper National Park portion of this World Heritage area. A range of conservation organisations and Parks Canada had expressed concern regarding the negative impacts which the proposed mining project would have on the integrity of the World Heritage site. Nevertheless, the Federal Government of Canada and the ...
The state of conservation of this Park was the subject of an extensive review submitted by a representative of Colombia's Ministry of Environment at a Regional World Heritage Workshop held in the Everglades National Park in November 1997. IUCN drew the attention of the Centre to serious threats to the integrity of this Park, caused by a breakdown of law and order in the area. The Centre contacted the Colombian authorities for confirmation of reports received by IUCN on the state of conservation of Los Katios. The Bureau noted that the Colombian authorities have provided a report on 19 ...
Sites: Los Katíos National Park
IUCN and the Centre have been informed of a proposed cable car construction project through the centre of the Park. The feasibility of the project, proposed by a private individual concerned with tourism development, is questionable due to the heavy rains, high winds and steep terrain which characterise the site. The construction of major access facilities in this area is not consistent with the management plan of the Park. IUCN was advised by the Dominican authorities that they will exercise great caution when considering the feasibility of this proposal.
The Bureau requested the Centre ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twenty-first session invited the Government of Ecuador to notify in a timely fashion, the Chairperson of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Galapagos Special Law. The Committee, although it did not include the site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee of the enactment and entry into force of the ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
The Bureau recalled that it was informed of an interim plan submitted by the authorities of Oman in 1997, which foresaw a new outer boundary, and provisional boundaries for five management zones, the construction of an administrative headquarters, visitor and local service centres and other facilities. Also foreseen was the launching of pilot projects in a variety of fields, including environmental tourism, and possible allocation of financial and human resources for the development of the site as Oman's first national park. As requested by the Bureau, the authorities of Oman submitted a ...
The Bureau noted that a Canadian/Peruvian mining consortium is in the final stages of obtaining approval to develop one of the world's largest copper and zinc deposits found at Antamina, located 20km east from this Park. Mining would commence in 2001 and have a life span of 20 years. The concentrates from this mine would be transported either via an existing road through or around the Park to the coast.
The Bureau noted the Centre’s consultations with INRENA (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales), the site managers and NGOs during a recent mission to Peru, and that a meeting ...
Sites: Huascarán National Park
The Bureau recalled the report by IUCN at the twenty-first session of the World Heritage Committee reviewing a proposed mining project, the location of which was determined to be about 5 km outside of the Bystrinsky portion of the World Heritage area. The location of the mine will disrupt migratory wildlife that inhabit the region and impact fishery resources. IUCN has been in contact with proponents of the mine and has had a request from Canada regarding financial service support that could be provided by the Export Development Corporation (EDC). In this request it is noted that "as a ...
Sites: Volcanoes of Kamchatka
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, when it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List at its twentieth session, noted that the Special Lake Baikal Law was in its second reading in the Duma, and expressed its concern over a number of integrity issues, including pollution of the Lake. The Bureau, at its twenty-first extraordinary session, expressed its concern regarding the inadequacy of the legal basis available for the protection of the entire World Heritage site. It requested the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the status of the ...
Sites: Lake Baikal
The Bureau at its twenty-first session expressed its serious concern about the proposed gold mining project in the World Heritage site and requested the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the proposal, including any environmental impact studies that may have been carried out. In addition, the Bureau requested the Russian authorities to keep the relevant authorities in the Komi Republic fully informed of the Bureau's concerns and involve them in discussions aimed at ensuring the integrity of the World Heritage site. A letter from the Deputy Minister ...
Sites: Virgin Komi Forests
Information indicated that a toxic spill in southern Spain upstream from Donana has caused an ecological disaster, and will seriously affect this World Heritage site. The crisis began on 25 April 1998, when a giant holding pool of the Aznalcollar mine owned by a Canadian-Swedish company burst. The toxic spill affected the surrounding areas of the World Heritage site. The Ramsar Convention Bureau informed IUCN that whilst the main toxic flow may have been diverted away from the National Park itself, the adjoining areas, including the Regional Natural Park 'Entorno de Donana', have been ...
Sites: Doñana National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twenty-first session expressed its concern with regard to the integrity of the Canaima National Park due to considerable threats posed by a proposal to erect a series of power transmission lines across the Park. The Committee invited the Director-General to write to the President of the State Party asking his intervention to search for possible alternatives and to determine the appropriate boundaries of the World Heritage site. The Venezuelan Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, wrote a letter to the Centre on 12 March 1998, explaining the actual ...
Sites: Canaima National Park
The Bureau recalled that at its twenty-first session, it urged the Vietnam authorities to co-operate with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in designing and implementing the study on environmental management for Ha Long Bay. A draft of the scope of work for the environmental study was provided to the World Heritage Centre by the Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Department. The draft has been transmitted to IUCN for information, review and comments. The study on environmental management for Ha Long Bay is to be carried out from February 1998 to October ...
The Bureau recalled that at its twenty-first session it had requested the Park management to submit a map showing the proposed modification of the Park's boundaries to excise a 40 ha. area around the village of Zabljak, which had already been approved by the Government of the Republic of Montenegro. Furthermore, the Bureau had sought clarification from the Park authorities on whether they considered that an engineering evaluation of the earthen containment structures in the flood plains of the Tara River was needed. The Bureau had expressed its concerns regarding plans for tapping the ...
Sites: Durmitor National Park
The Secretariat recalled that the Bureau, at its twenty-first extraordinary session in November 1997, had invited the Australian authorities to provide the World Heritage Centre with any new information concerning the proposed uranium mine at Jabiluka in Kakadu National Park. The Australian authorities were requested to provide information pertaining to their efforts to ensure that the proponents of mining in the enclave, within but outside of the boundaries of the Park, address the seventy-seven environmental conditions imposed by the Government. The Bureau was informed that the ...
Sites: Kakadu National Park
The Bureau noted that the Tasmanian Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA) signed by the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Governments on 8 November 1997, has enabled the following:
establishment of a significantly increased reserve system for Tasmania’s Forest Estate;
participation by the signatories in further World Heritage assessment of relevant Australia-wide themes; and
initiation of discussions between the signatories on possibilities for further World Heritage nominations of parts of Forest Estate as “Dedicated Reserves”, or additions to the present World Heritage ...
Sites: Tasmanian Wilderness
IUCN informed the Bureau that the Department of Conservation in New Zealand has recently submitted a progress report on a number of management issues at Tongariro National Park, inscribed on the World Heritage List under both natural and cultural criteria. The report was distributed to the Bureau.
IUCN reported that Mount Ruapehu had erupted in 1995 and 1996 draining the volcano’s crater lake and creating a build-up of ash that blocked the lake’s outlet. IUCN noted that the best available scientific opinion is that, when the crater lake refills, probably within the next few ...
Sites: Tongariro National Park
The Bureau recalled that the World Heritage Committee examined the state of conservation of Machu Picchu at earlier occasions and that it had made specific recommendations to the State Party on the basis of the recommendations of a joint ICOMOS/IUCN mission on the management, preservation and planning for the Sanctuary. These recommendations and the report of the IUCN/ICOMOS mission were transmitted to the Peruvian authorities for response.
The Secretariat stressed that Machu Picchu is a mixed World Heritage site that includes the well-known ruins of the Inca City, as well as an ...
The Bureau took note of the information on the fire that occurred in Mompox and the damage caused to six of its historic buildings. The Bureau noted that the Chairperson had approved emergency assistance for the restoration of the six damaged buildings, as well as technical co-operation for the purchase of fire-fighting equipment and the training of a voluntary fire brigade. It urged the national and local authorities to take the necessary measures for fire-prevention and requested the Colombian authorities to keep the Committee informed on the measures taken in this respect as well as on ...
The Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretariat and the interventions made by the Delegates of Morocco and Lebanon addressing the importance of awareness-building of those responsible for religious properties in the Arab region and their good conservation. The Moroccan Delegate proposed a new version of the recommendation concerning this property.
Consequently, the Bureau encouraged the national authorities to present a strategy and a conservation programme of Historic Cairo, to the next session of the Committee. With regard to the Al-Azhar Mosque, the Bureau ...
Sites: Historic Cairo
The Bureau thanked the civil and religious authorities of Ethiopia and the Delegation of the European Union for the support they have provided for the integrated preservation of the site of Lalibela. It noted the positive results of the mission organized by the World Heritage Centre which took place in February 1998, and requested that information on the implementation of the mission’s recommendations be communicated to the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-second session in December 1998.
The Bureau expressed the wish that the co-operation between Ethiopia, UNESCO and the ...
Sites: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
In response to the report provided by the Secretariat on the construction of a media library at the square of the Reims Cathedral, the Observer of France pointed out that French legislation for the protection of monuments provides for a protective zone of five hundred meters around classified monuments. She clarified that this zone can be considered the buffer zone and that any modification or new construction in this zone has to be object of approval by the Architect des Bâtiments de France or by the Minister of Culture himself. In the case of the media library, the building permit ...
The Bureau took note of the report provided by the German authorities and of the information provided by ICOMOS on the participation of its expert in a consultative meeting on the Roman amphitheatre that took place in February 1998. It was reported that the planned buildings north of the amphitheatre are now at an acceptable distance from the theatre and that their overall volume had been reduced considerably.
The Bureau expressed its satisfaction that the main requirements to protect the integrity and authenticity of the Roman amphitheatre had now been fulfilled by reaching a compromise ...
The Bureau requested the Secretariat to assist the State Party, if necessary, to ensure that the report on the structural stability study on the Sun Temple of Konarak is ready in time for examination by the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.
Sites: Sun Temple, Konârak
In view of the information provided by ICCROM and the Secretariat, the Bureau requested the Government of Iran to keep the Secretariat informed on the progress of the Japanese Trust Fund project for the conservation and management of Tchoga Zanbil, especially in relation to the urgently required measurement of the moisture content of the ziggurat of Tchoga Zanbil. This information will enable a structural analysis to be made for its appropriate conservation. The Observer of Iran thanked the Japanese authorities, UNESCO and ICCROM for their efforts to identify the problems at the site and ...
Sites: Tchogha Zanbil
After having taken note of information provided by the Secretariat, the Bureau warmly commended the Jordanian authorities effort to follow-up to the recommendation made by UNESCO in 1994. The Bureau also thanked UNESCO for the forthcoming transfer of a specialist to the UNESCO Office in Amman to provide technical co-operation on cultural heritage, mainly for Petra.
Sites: Petra
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau requested the Jordanian authorities to reconsider the proposed location of the Visitors’ Centre because of its excessive visibility and proximity to the monument. Furthermore, the Bureau also requested the authorities to study the possibility of diverting the present road.
Sites: Quseir Amra
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau requested the Secretariat to follow-up with the Lebanese authorities on the recommendations of the report, mainly the removal of any military presence from the vicinity of the site.
Sites: Anjar
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat and the Delegate of Lebanon, the Bureau commended the Lebanese authorities for the relocation of the construction of the planned technical school outside of the inscribed zone. Moreover, the Bureau noted that the ongoing works for the Centenary exhibition foreseen in November at the site are totally reversible. Furthermore, the restoration work of the Grand Mosque is controlled by the Directorate General of Antiquities. The Bureau also thanked the Lebanese authorities for having requested technical assistance from the World Heritage ...
Sites: Baalbek
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau warmly commended the Lebanese authorities for their co-operation and their decision to change the location of the new harbour. The Bureau also thanked the Technical University of Delft for its contribution and requested the authorities to begin the preparation of a management plan for the site in accordance with the recommendations of the specialist mission of the University, thus preventing other uncontrolled development taking place within the perimeter of the property, and improving its protection and ...
Sites: Byblos
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat and the information provided by the Delegate of Lebanon, the Bureau congratulated the Lebanese authorities for the official launch of the International Campaign of Tyre. The Bureau encouraged the Lebanese authorities to continue the Campaign in co-operation with UNESCO, and requested the Secretariat to promote it broadly. Finally, the Bureau urged the Lebanese authorities to immediately halt all works endangering the heritage of Tyre, to reinforce co-operation between the national institutions involved in the region of Tyr and to ...
Sites: Tyre
The Bureau noted that the international assistance to Puebla had been concluded and that the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) in collaboration with the State Council for the Historical Centre of Puebla had prepared a conservation plan and urban and architectural ordinance for the Paseo del Rio San Francisco in Puebla. It requested the Mexican authorities to provide the Secretariat with the details of this plan for information.
The Bureau took note of the intervention of the Observer of Mexico who stated that the results of the expert meeting on Indicators for ...
Sites: Historic Centre of Puebla
The Bureau took note of the report submitted by the Mexican National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) on the actions taken for the management and conservation of Teotihuacan and thanked the Mexican authorities for the positive response given to the recommendations made by the 1997 UNESCO expert mission.
The Bureau expressed concern over the continued demolition of traditional buildings of architectural value and illegal new development within the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site, despite the building control efforts made by His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the concerned local authorities. It requested that the Report of the Joint UNESCO/ICOMOS/Government of Nepal Mission be submitted to its members well in advance of the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau to enable a careful examination of the progress made in building control and the programme of corrective ...
Sites: Kathmandu Valley
The Bureau took note of the information on the emergency situation at Chavin caused by the El Nino phenomenon and that the Chairperson had approved emergency assistance to take corrective measures at the site. It requested the Peruvian authorities to keep the Committee informed on the measures taken in this respect as well as on the impact of El Nino on the site. It also encouraged the authorities to plan for long-term preventive measures and the stabilization of the site in the context of a comprehensive management plan.
Sites: Chavin (Archaeological Site)
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that it had not received a response from the State Party to its request to provide information on the new development proposal for a marina in the Bay of Angra. The Director of the Cultural Heritage Division of UNESCO pointed out that a mission to the site was recently carried out by an expert, the Co-ordinator of the UNEP Action Plan for the Mediterranean, at the invitation of the Mayor and Municipality of Angra do Heroismo, who are responsible for the approval of the project. The expert has transmitted a report to the Secretariat.
ICOMOS informed the ...
The Bureau was not able to examine the eventual impact of infrastructural works in the River Douro on the World Heritage values of Porto, due to the lack of response from the State Party to enquiries made by the Secretariat.
The Bureau requested the State Party to submit detailed information and an assessment of the impact of the works on the World Heritage site by 15 September 1998 for examination by the Bureau at its twenty-second extraordinary session.
The Bureau urged States Parties to respond in due time to Secretariat’s requests for information which would greatly facilitate ...
The Bureau took note of the report presented by the Principal Director of the Culture Sector on the plans to enhance the site of the Fortress of Burgos. The Bureau expressed its satisfaction to the local authorities for the decision to re-study the project for the site of the Fortress, taking into account the authenticity of the cultural landscape and the adequate interpretation and presentation of the historical remains.
It recommended the authorities to undertake a complete and integral study (including aspects of landscaping, urbanism, architecture and archaeology) of the hill on ...
Sites: Burgos Cathedral
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat and information provided by the Observer of Spain, the Bureau thanked the national, regional and local authorities for the efforts undertaken and the results achieved in the conclusion of the matter concerning the new construction of the Rey Chico. The Bureau also commended the UNESCO Centre of Andalucia for the success of the seminar in revitalising the Albayzin and thanked those who contributed towards its convening and successful outcome. It finally thanked the Mayor’s Office, the Junta of Andalusia and the religious and ...
After having noted the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau commended the authorities of Cuenca as well as those of the Castilla-La Mancha for the positive attitude that they adopted in favour of the appropriate protection and management of the site. The Bureau requested that the authorities present to the Secretariat, as soon as it is ready, a special plan for Cuenca, and requested the Secretariat to provide technical assistance to the Town of Cuenca to this end. The Bureau then thanked ICOMOS-Spain for the positive role they played in this matter.
The Bureau took note of the reports from ICOMOS, the Secretariat and the Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka. The Bureau expressed its deep concern over the terrorist bombing in the Sacred City of Kandy, and requested the Secretariat to appeal to the international community to assist the State Party to complete restoration work. Furthermore, in light of the increasing conflicts which threaten heritage sites around the world, the Bureau strongly encouraged the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to keep abreast with new developments in the 1954 Hague Convention. The Bureau was ...
Sites: Sacred City of Kandy
22 BUR V.B.63
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (Sri Lanka) / Golden Temple of Dambulla (Sri Lanka)
ICOMOS will undertake a mission to these two sites, as well as to Kandy, in autumn of 1998, and will present a report at the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.
The Bureau took note of the final report on fire protection measures for the Old City of Berne and thanked the State Party for its effort in improving the fire protection measures at this World Heritage site.
Sites: Old City of Berne
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau thanked the Syrian authorities for their efforts in addressing the issue of Tekiya Suleymaniah. It also requested the Syrian authorities to continue informing the Secretariat of the progress of the consolidation work. It finally requested the Centre to continue this co-operation as requested by the authorities.
Sites: Ancient City of Damascus
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau recommended that the Secretariat provide support to the Syrian authorities to elaborate the necessary management and development plans and to ensure capacity-building training courses.
Sites: Site of Palmyra
The Secretariat informed the Bureau on the European Union-funded project on the Feasibility Study for the Rehabilitation of the Areas of Balat and Fener of Fatih District, Istanbul executed by the World Heritage Centre. This study initially included the area of Zeyrek, renowned for the wooden buildings of the Ottoman period, which is part of Fatih District and one of the three districts of the historic centre of Istanbul that is protected under national law as a conservation area. The three districts contain monuments, sites or buffer zones of the World Heritage site.
It was reported ...
Sites: Historic Areas of Istanbul
The Bureau took note of the report presented by ICOMOS and commended the State Party on the importance it has attached to restoration and rehabilitation projects at these two sites. The Bureau, however, expressed concern over the development projects within the two sites, and urged the State Party to give special attention to the upgrading of street surfacing and furniture in the vicinity of the major monuments, to the control over non-listed buildings in the historic centres, and in the case of Bukhara, to the clearance of blocked cisterns and channels so as to lower the water ...
The Bureau requested the State Party to reconsider its hotel-building policy and specific hotel projects in respect of their historical context. It requested the authorities to submit a report on this matter by 15 September 1998 for consideration by the twenty-second extraordinary session of the Bureau.
The Bureau expressed its satisfaction with the management and presentation proposals for the Stonehenge World Heritage site. It stressed, however, the need for the closure of the road passing close to the monument, foreseen when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986 and for the completion of a management plan with the minimum delay.
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau invited the Yemeni authorities to prepare an overall management plan in collaboration with the Secretariat. The Bureau also requested the Secretariat to study the impact of the new sewerage project on the architecture and conservation of buildings of the city.
Sites: Historic Town of Zabid
After having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau invited the Yemeni authorities to prepare an overall management plan in collaboration with the Centre. The Bureau also requested the Centre to study the possibility of initiating a large-scale rehabilitation programme in co-operation with potential regional and international partners.
Sites: Old Walled City of Shibam
NATURAL HERITAGE
Dominica (Technical Co-operation for the Morne Trois Pitons National Park inscription ceremony and Regional Conference on the World Heritage Convention)
The Bureau approved US$ 30,000 for the organization of this regional conference.
United Republic of Tanzania (Technical Co-operation for a Natural Heritage Workshop for “Kilimanjaro Stakeholders”)
The Bureau approved US$ 30,000, subject to the Tanzanian authorities providing information concerning other organizations contributing to the activity and confirming the exact dates of the Workshop.
CULTURAL ...
Sites: Ancient City of Bosra Angkor Boyana Church Historic Areas of Istanbul Kilimanjaro National Park Morne Trois Pitons National Park National Archeological Park of Tierradentro Sacred City of Kandy