World Heritage	7 EXT.COM	

Distribution limited	
WHC-04/7 EXT.COM/6.Add
Paris, 25 November 2004
Original: English/French	

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATION

CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

Seventh Extraordinary Session

Paris, UNESCO Headquarters, Room II
6 – 11 December 2004

Item 6 of the Provisional Agenda: Requests for international assistance

SUMMARY

The World Heritage Centre received four requests for International Assistance as of 1 October 2004 for examination in December 2004. One request is for examination and decision by the Committee, and the other three are for examination and decision by the Bureau.

Draft decision: 7 EXT.COM/6, see Point IV.

The Committee is requested to:

- take a decision concerning the request presented in this document.

SECTION  I

TECHNICAL  COOPERATION

Cultural Properties

N° 	
Region	
State Party - Name of activity	
Amount requested (US$)	Amount recommended for approval (US$)	

1	
Asia	India – Improved Geographic Information System (GIS) for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)
The multidisciplinary GIS would facilitate processing, synergizing, planning and systematically addressing conservation and sustainable development issues for DHR and its surroundings.
	
100,000	
100,000	

Funds available as at 17 November 2004 for approval under 2004 budget:
US$ 1,848

Total amount of requests submitted for approval by the Committee:
US$ 100,000

Comments of the Secretariat: inadequate funds available for approval under the 2004 budget.

Furthermore,
- in accordance with decision 28 COM 10A, four requests for technical cooperation will be submitted to the Chairperson/Committee in 2005 for a total amount of US$ 104,915: namely, Bangladesh (US$ 40,000), Morocco (US$ 20,000), Sudan (US$ 30,000) and Uganda (US$ 14,915);
- only an amount of US$ 160,000 is available for cultural properties under technical cooperation assistance in the 2005 budget.

Consequently, there will be inadequate funds available for approval under the 2005 budget.

REQUEST N° 1
Technical Cooperation
Cultural Heritage
Asia

State Party:		INDIA

Status of dues to the World Heritage Fund as at 31 December 2003: all dues paid

Name of Activity: 	Improved Geographic Information System (GIS) for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

Amount Requested:	US$ 100,000

Previous contributions from the World Heritage Fund for this property/activity:
- Training Assistance (2001), US$28,000
- Promotional Assistance (2003), US$10,000
- Technical Cooperation (2004), US$20,000

I.	Background

Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is the first, and still is the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, it applied bold, ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty. It is still fully operational and retains most of its original features. 

DHR’s social, cultural and tourist importance has prevented its closure and enabled it to survive for over 100 years, notwithstanding losses in its operation. Its inscription as World Heritage has catalysed, stimulated and strengthened the efforts of the Ministry of Railways, stakeholders and worldwide-networks for holistic integrated conservation and sustainable development not only of DHR, but also its neighbouring surroundings/community as a World Heritage Area.

Owned by the Ministry of Railways (Government of India), the DHR enjoys full legal and legislative protection, as available to central government properties. 
There is a need, however, for integrated holistic development of the DHR, its immediate buffer zones and its environment, which can be facilitated through the use of an improved and high resolution Geographic Information System (GIS).

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based technology for producing, organizing and analysing spatial information. GIS defines features on a map using spatial and descriptive data. The ability of GIS to refer and describe objects by location distinguishes it from databases and spreadsheets. The GIS will help emphasize the aspects of a holistic and integrated approach and utilize the most appropriate methods for development, without damaging the cultural and natural assets of the area, bringing together the various stakeholders and partnerships involved in development issues. Recognising GIS as a core and common thread for site protection and management, the Ministry of Railways funded the preparation of a preliminary GIS for the entire length of the DHR. There is a need, however, for better model resolution and surveys with further data.

Such an improved GIS is considered critical for the DHR’s adapted management that includes multidisciplinary involvement of stakeholders including the West Bengal State Government and the Darjeeling Gorkha Autonomous Hill Council (DGAHC). GIS is also important for the Conservation and Management Plan that is being formulated to encompass the broad spectrum of concerned stakeholders/authorities/community, and to include a holistic plan for conservation, management, environment and sustainable development. 

While the various stakeholders including Railways can undertake surveys, actions and GIS activities in terms of their own purview, the multidisciplinary binding of all the GIS layers needs to be funded and coordinated by a multidisciplinary agency. 

II.	Project description

A.	Objectives	

- 	Conservation and sustainable development of DHR and its surroundings by using GIS information for planning, mapping, interventions, reporting and monitoring.
- 	Address ICOMOS’s recommendations while inscribing the property as World Heritage, i.e. adapted management plan, conservation plan and buffer zone considerations, and to lay the groundwork for planning in a broader sense, linking development/tourism with settlements along the DHR.
- 	Addressing DHR and its surroundings in a holistic manner. 

B.	Project plan

The project will be administered by the Indian Railway’s Expert Consultant, as a focal point under the authority of the UNESCO New Delhi Office, and in coordination with the Ministry of Railways. 

The project will take place over one year with four stages as follows:

1. 	Project establishment, including project management team, stakeholder participation framework, initial development of GIS, and preliminary mapping and collection of data. Three months.
2. 	Data collection, compilation and cultural mapping. Three months.
3. 	Facilitation of needs analysis and negotiation of DHR and World Heritage priorities. Identify priorities of DHR and World Heritage Area based on the various layers of GIS. Three months.
4. 	Presentation and finalization of GIS. Three months

C.	Expected outcomes

The multidisciplinary GIS would facilitate processing, synergizing, planning and systematically addressing conservation and sustainable development for DHR and its surroundings.

D.	Budget Breakdown

Total activity budget (in US$)	1,217,711	
National or other contributions in kind (equivalent in US$): surveys, satellite imagery, forest survey maps, software, hardware, infrastructure, office staff, GIS specialists	1,117,711	
Amount requested from the World Heritage Fund (in US$)	100,000	

1. Satellite imagery and maps:
- Geocoded Image 
- Survey management (100 km² x US$50)
- Verification of satellite data (360 km² x US$25)
- Map conversion (24 1:25 000 maps x US$500)
- Map conversion of revenue maps (5 000 maps x US$30)

2. Software and training
- MapInfo GIS Software
- Customization for seven project areas

3. Hardware
One P4 Based Hardware

4. Facilitation and monitoring 
- Indian railway expert (12 months x US$1,900)
- Local coordinator (12 months x US$250)
- Local travel (12 months x US$750)
- International travel (one mission)
- Reporting costs
	
44,000
3,000
5,000
9,000
12,000
15,000

16,500
1,500
15,000

1,000
1,000

38,500
22,800
3,000
9,000
2,500
1,200	

III.	Comments

A.	Comments of the Advisory Bodies: 
ICOMOS feels that whilst the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) can in specific circumstances constitute an important planning and management tool, it should not be considered as a priority in situations where resources are limited. Appropriate management and comprehensive plans can be prepared and implemented without the assistance of such advanced technology, as is currently the case in most countries even when sufficient funds are available.

In light of the above considerations, ICOMOS does not recommend the approval of this International Assistance Request.

B.	Comments of the Secretariat: 
The Secretariat considers the proposal's objectives to be justifiable. However, the Secretariat has some reservations about whether the project represents a strategic use of international assistance given its cost, the other requests being considered, and the amount of international assistance provided for the DHR in recent years.

IV.	Draft decision

Draft decision: 7 EXT.COM/6

India: Improved Geographic Information System (GIS) for Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.	Noting that in accordance with decision 28 COM 10A, four requests for technical cooperation will be submitted to the Chairperson/Committee in 2005 for a total amount US$ 104,915,

2. 	Considering that only an amount of US$ 160,000 is available for cultural properties under technical cooperation assistance in the 2005 budget,

3.	Taking into account ICOMOS' comments, the Bureau’s recommendation, as well as the amount of international assistance provided to the DHR in recent years (US$ 58,000),

4. 	Decides not to approve this request for technical cooperation;

5.	Encourages the State Party concerned to seek other funding sources for this activity.