Decisions adopted by the 26th session, 24-29 June 2002

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World Heritage

26 COM

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WHC-02/CONF.202/25
Paris, 1 August 2002
Original: English/French

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,
SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE
WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
1972-2002
30th Anniversary
WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Twenty-sixth session
Budapest, Hungary
24 - 29 June 2002

DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE 26TH SESSION OF
THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

This is the report adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 26th session. Summary Records of the discussions will be available as an information document (WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.15).

Table of Contents

1 Opening session

2 Reports on 30 years of the World Heritage Convention

3 Adoption of the agenda and timetable

4 Election of the Chairperson, Vice-chairpersons and Rapporteur

5 Report of the Rapporteur on the 26th session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee

6 Protection of the cultural heritage in the Palestinian Territories

7 Report of the Secretariat on the activities undertaken since the 25th session of the World Heritage Committee

8 Progress report on the preparation of the 30th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention

9 Budapest Declaration on World Heritage

10 Overview of progress with reforms and strategic reflection

11 Ways and means to reinforce the implementation of the World Heritage Convention

12 Policy and legal issues concerning the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the potential deletion from the World Heritage List

13 Progress report on the analyses of the World Heritage List and tentative lists and the identification of underrepresented categories of natural and cultural heritage

14 Nominations to be examined in 2003 and 2004

15 Proposed World Heritage visual identity and legal protection of the emblem

16 Discussion on the relationship between the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO

17 Progress report on the preparation of strategic objectives of the World Heritage Committee and revised structure of the budget of the World Heritage Fund
17A Strategic objectives
17B World Heritage Programmes
17C World Heritage Partnerships Initiative (WHPI)
17D Revised budget structure

18 Revision of the Operational Guidelines

19 Revision of the Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee

20 Periodic Reporting: Report on the state of conservation of the World Heritage in Africa

21 State of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and on the World Heritage List

21(a) State of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Natural Heritage
Cultural Heritage

21(b) Reports on the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List
Natural heritage
Mixed cultural and natural heritage
Cultural heritage

22 Progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Afghanistan

23 Information on tentative lists and examination of nominations of cultural and natural properties to the list of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List
23A Tentative lists
23B New inscriptions on the World Heritage List
23C New inscriptions on the List of World Heritage in Danger

24 Adjustments to the World Heritage Fund Budget for 2002-2003

25 International assistance requests

25.1 International assistance requests approved by the Bureau
Preparatory assistance
Technical co-operation
Emergency assistance

25.2 International assistance requests approved by the Committee
Technical co-operation
Training assistance

25.3 General Issues

26 Provisional agenda for the 27th session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, March 2003)

27 Provisional agenda for the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee (Suzhou, China, 30 June - 5 July 2003)

28 Other business

29 Adoption of the report

30 Closure of the session

Notes

ANNEXES

List of Participants

Recommendations adopted by the World Heritage Committee concerning the Heritage in Afghanistan

Provisional agenda for the extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, March 2003)

Provisional agenda for the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee (Suzhou, China, 30 June - 5 July 2003)

Index of Properties

1 OPENING SESSION

The 26th session of the World Heritage Committee was opened on 24 June 2002 in Budapest, Hungary by Dr Henrik Lilius (Finland), Chairperson. The 21 members of the Committee attended the session: Argentina, Belgium, China, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe.
60 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention who are not members of the Committee were represented as observers: Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, France, Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Yemen and Yugoslavia. The Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to UNESCO also participated at this session as an observer.
Representatives of the Advisory Bodies to the Committee, namely the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of the Cultural Property (ICCROM), the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) also attended the meeting.
26 COM 1 The World Heritage Committee,
Accepts the presence of the following international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the session:

Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO)
Bird Life International
International Council of Museums (ICOM)
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
Mihai Eminescu Trust
Nordic World Heritage Foundation (NWHF)
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC)
Simon Wiesenthal Centre
United Nations Foundation (UNF)
World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (FMACU)
The List of Participants is included as Annex I to this document.

2 REPORTS ON 30 YEARS OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION

26 COM 2 The World Heritage Committee,
Decides, with regret, not to open this item of the agenda in view of the time constraints.

3 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND TIMETABLE

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/1 Rev.3
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.1 Rev.2

26 COM 3.1 The World Heritage Committee decides:

To restrict the discussion on item 19 "Revision of the Rules of Procedure" on ways to proceed in order to facilitate decision making on this agenda item at its 27th session;¹

To postpone the discussion on item 7 "Report of the Secretariat" until later in the week in order to allow delegations further time to examine the document.²
26 COM 3.2 The World Heritage Committee,
Establishes the following working method for the adoption of its Report (based on the procedures of the Executive Board of UNESCO):

The Report to be adopted by the Committee shall consist of a complete set of decisions taken at its session. The text of each decision shall be adopted when the item is discussed, to the extent possible;

The Summary Records of the discussions held in the plenary session shall be circulated separately from the Report and will be provided to the Committee as an information document.
26 COM 3.3 The World Heritage Committee,
Adopts the working method, as established in 26 COM 3.2, at its present session on an experimental basis, with the understanding that:
The Report and the Summary Records shall be submitted simultaneously, in so far as possible, the first for adoption, and the latter for information;

The Report (compilation of decisions) adopted by the Committee during this session shall be published not later than one month after its close;

A completed draft text of the Summary Records shall be submitted to members of the Committee, observers and Advisory Bodies for correction of their own statements. The revised text of the Summary Records shall be published not later than three months after the close of the session;

The above-mentioned procedure is to be applied for this session pending a full discussion on the revision of the Rules of Procedure and working methods.

4 ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON, VICE-CHAIRPERSONS AND RAPPORTEUR
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.3

26 COM 4 The World Heritage Committee, Elects Mr Tamás Fejérdy (Hungary) as Chairperson and Ms Bénédicte Selfslagh (Belgium) as Rapporteur. The following Committee members are elected as Vice-Chairpersons: China, Egypt, Greece, Mexico and South Africa.

5 REPORT OF THE RAPPORTEUR ON THE 26TH SESSION OF THE BUREAU OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
26 COM 5 The World Heritage Committee, Takes note of the Report of the Rapporteur of the 26th session of the Bureau.

6 PROTECTION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/3;
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.16
26 COM 6.1 The World Heritage Committee,

Recalling all the United Nations resolutions related to the conflict and in particular Resolutions 1397, 1402 and 1403 of the Security Council of the United Nations, the Resolution 53/27 of the General Assembly on Bethlehem-2000 and the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) and its additional Protocols;

Noting the provisions of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 1954) and other relevant international legal instruments;

Taking note of the Executive Board decision taken at its 164th session (164EX/3.1.1);

Deplores the destruction and damage caused to the cultural heritage of Palestine;

Emphasizing the exceptional universal value of cultural heritage in Palestine;

Considers that, until the conditions for the inscription of this heritage on the World Heritage List are fulfilled, appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure its protection;

Invites the Director-General, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to assist with the task of establishing an inventory of this cultural and natural heritage, assessing state of conservation and the measures for its preservation and rehabilitation;

Further decides to provide financial support for the implementation of this task and that part of this contribution should be used for training and capacity building of Palestinians specialists in the field of preservation and safeguarding of cultural and natural heritage;

Appeals to the concerned parties to co-operate with the Director-General in his efforts in the protection of the cultural and natural heritage in Palestine;

Invites the Director-General to report on the execution of this decision during the 27th session of the Committee in 2003.

26 COM 6.2 The World Heritage Committee,
Requests the Director-General, as a consequence of decision 26 COM 6.1, to seek additional resources to complement the contribution from the World Heritage Fund, with a view to launching the first phase of the plan of action before the end of 2002, and to strengthen its operational phase in the following year.³
26 COM 6.3 The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the declarations made by the Observers of Palestine and Israel after the adoption of decisions 26 COM 6.1 and 26 COM 6.2 and decides to include them in extenso in the Summary Records.

7 REPORT OF THE SECRETARIAT ON THE ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN SINCE THE 25TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.6
26 COM 7 The World Heritage Committee,
Decides, in view of the time constraints to defer the discussion of this item until the next ordinary session of the World Heritage Committee in 2003.

8 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PREPARATION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/4
26 COM 8.1 The World Heritage Committee,

Endorses the objectives of the International Congress entitled World Heritage 2002: Shared Legacy, Common Responsibility;

Thanks the Italian Government for offering to host and participate in the funding of the Congress;

Authorizes the use of the World Heritage Emblem for the Congress;

Invites the Director-General, when the auspices of the World Heritage Committee and the World Heritage Emblem are requested for an international conference or congress, to submit the concept and the draft programme to the Committee for its approval.

26 COM 8.2 The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the proposed programme of activities co- organized or supported by UNESCO in the framework of the 30th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention;

Encourages States Parties to develop and implement activities to promote the Anniversary and to communicate the outcomes of these activities to the Centre for transmission to the Committee.

26 COM 8.3 The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the proposal to publish a work on 30 years of implementation of the World Heritage Convention;

Encourages the World Heritage Centre to develop a work plan for this publication in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies;

Requests the World Heritage Centre to apply high-quality control standards for the preparation of the publication;

Invites the World Heritage Centre to identify possible extrabudgetary funding sources for the publication.

9 BUDAPEST DECLARATION ON WORLD HERITAGE
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/5
26 COM 9 The World Heritage Committee,

Noting that in 2002, United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage, the World Heritage Committee celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972;

Considering that in 30 years, the Convention has proven to be a unique instrument of international co-operation in the protection of cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value;

Adopts the Budapest Declaration on World Heritage as follows:

BUDAPEST DECLARATION ON WORLD HERITAGE

We, the members of the World Heritage Committee, recognize the universality of the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the consequent need to ensure that it applies to heritage in all its diversity, as an instrument for the sustainable development of all societies through dialogue and mutual understanding;

The properties on the World Heritage List are assets held in trust to pass on to generations of the future as their rightful inheritance;

In view of the increasing challenges to our shared heritage, we will:

encourage countries that have not yet joined the Convention to do so at the earliest opportunity, as well as join other related international heritage protection instruments;

invite States Parties to the Convention to identify and nominate cultural and natural heritage properties representing heritage in all its diversity, for inclusion on the World Heritage List;

seek to ensure an appropriate and equitable balance between conservation, sustainability and development, so that World Heritage properties can be protected through appropriate activities contributing to the social and economic development and the quality of life of our communities;

join to co-operate in the protection of heritage, recognizing that to harm such heritage is to harm, at the same time, the human spirit and the world's inheritance;

promote World Heritage through communication, education, research, training and public awareness strategies;

seek to ensure the active involvement of our local communities at all levels in the identification, protection and management of our World Heritage properties;

We, the World Heritage Committee, will co-operate and seek the assistance of all partners for the support of World Heritage. For this purpose, we invite all interested parties to co-operate and to promote the following objectives:

strengthen the Credibility of the World Heritage List, as a representative and geographically balanced testimony of cultural and natural properties of outstanding universal value;

ensure the effective Conservation of World Heritage properties;

promote the development of effective Capacity-building measures, including assistance for preparing the nomination of properties to the World Heritage List, for the understanding and implementation of the World Heritage Convention and related instruments;

increase public awareness, involvement and support for World Heritage through Communication.

We will evaluate, at our 31st session in 2007, the achievements made in the pursuit of the above mentioned objectives and in support of this commitment.

Budapest, 28 June 2002

10 OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS WITH REFORMS AND STRATEGIC REFLECTION
Document: WHC-02/CONF.206/6
26 COM 10 The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the overview of progress made with reforms and strategic reflection.

11 WAYS AND MEANS TO REINFORCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/7 Rev⁴
26 COM 11 The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of document WHC-02/CONF.202/7 to be amended as requested by the Committee before it is given public access;

Recalls the decision of the 164th session of the Executive Board on the establishment of a working group to explore and examine ways and means of creating necessary conditions for prevention of the intentional destruction of culturally important monuments and sites (164 EX/48 and 164 EX/51);

Invites the Director-General to consider the role of the World Heritage Convention with regard to initiatives being developed to explore and examine ways and means of creating necessary conditions for the prevention of intentional destruction of culturally important monuments and sites;

Further invites the Director-General to inform the World Heritage Committee at its 27th session (June/July 2003) on the developments concerning these initiatives and to provide the Committee at each of its sessions with a comparative table of state of ratification to all UNESCO cultural heritage conventions.

12 POLICY AND LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING THE INSCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES ON THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER AND THE POTENTIAL DELETION FROM THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Documents: WHC-O2/CONF.202/8
WHC-O2/CONF.202/INF.12
26 COM 12 The World Heritage Committee, Decides, in view of the time constraints, to defer the decision on this item until its extraordinary session in March 2003.⁵

13 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE ANALYSES OF THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST AND TENTATIVE LISTS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNDERREPRESENTED CATEGORIES OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/9
26 COM 13 The World Heritage Committee,

Recalls the objectives of the Global Strategy adopted by the Committee in 1994 and the decisions concerning the representivity of the World Heritage List adopted by the Committee (Cairns, 2000);

Emphasizes that the main objective is to facilitate the tasks of the States Parties to identify properties of potential outstanding universal value, prepare tentative lists and nominations;

Invites ICOMOS to:

revise the broad categories presented as agreed at its 24th session [Cairns, 2000, VI.2.3.2 (ii) and (iii)], clearly defining each of them, and adopt a multiple approach combining (a) geographical, regional and (b) chronological factors, with (c) the diversity of uses (e.g. religious, civil, military etc.) and (d) thematic analysis (e.g. cultural landscapes, urban centres);

identify the gaps and underrepresented categories based on this approach;

enlarge the composition of the Steering Committee and involve more experts with a broader interdisciplinary background;

complete the bibliography (Annex IV of document WHC-02/CONF.202/9) including references to reports on meetings and studies in conformity with the proposal by the 26th session of the Bureau (WHC-02/CONF.202/2, para. VII.7);

Invites IUCN to:

give greater emphasis to the analysis of biodiversity both in terms of qualitative and quantitative richness and endemism;

continue with the development of a methodology which allows to evaluate objectivity realms, biomes and biogeographical regions and which takes into account global studies on specific features (e.g. geological/fossil sites) as well as other variables;

define categories within each biogeographical unit towards a classification system;

Encourages ICOMOS and IUCN to:

take into account the comments provided by the Committee on Phase I of the analysis, and in particular to move from a quantitative to a qualitative analysis in Phase II;

look for common denominators in particular with regard to mixed properties and cultural landscapes;

Recommends a close collaboration between the Advisory Bodies and the Centre in the development of the analysis;

Invites States Parties to undertake in-depth analysis of their tentative lists on the national level working towards a more inclusive identification of diverse heritage categories with special attention to, but not exclusively, underrepresented types of heritage;

Encourages States Parties to include natural heritage in their tentative lists;

Requests the Centre to co-ordinate the harmonization of tentative lists and thematic workshops with the States Parties and the Advisory Bodies, while addressing the particularity of each region;

Requests the Director-General to provide the detailed report on the analysis compiled by the Advisory Bodies in time for the 28th session of the Committee in 2004.

14 NOMINATIONS TO BE EXAMINED IN 2003 AND 2004
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/10Rev.
26 COM 14 The World Heritage Committee,

Accepts as "complete" all nominations listed as "complete" and "almost complete" in Table A of document WHC- 02/CONF.202/10 Rev and agrees that they be examined at the 27th session of the Committee in 2003;

Accepts for examination at the 27th session of the Committee in June/July 2003, on an exceptional basis in view of the transitional period, the three nominations: Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (India), Takht-e Soleyman (Iran), and Matobo Hills (Zimbabwe), which have been made complete following the deadline of 1 February 2002. (Consequently, the nomination of Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, India, a site belonging to an underrepresented category, is by this action substituted for the nomination of Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, India, in Table A). In total, 28 nominations will be examined in 2003;

Decides that, in the future, all nominations will be accepted only if they are "complete" - as defined in the Operational Guidelines - at the time of the deadline and abolishes hereafter the category of "almost complete";

Requests the Secretariat to establish and submit at each Committee session a list of all nominations received, including the date of reception, an indication of their status "complete" or "incomplete", as well as the date at which they are considered as "complete" in conformity with the Operational Guidelines.

15 PROPOSED WORLD HERITAGE VISUAL IDENTITY AND LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE EMBLEM

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/11
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.7
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.8
26 COM 15 The World Heritage Committee:

Invites the Director-General to take the necessary actions to ensure the legal protection of the World Heritage emblem and "World Heritage" name and its derivatives;

Decides to postpone the discussion on the manual and visual identity to its 27th session in June/July 2003.

16 DISCUSSION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE AND UNESCO
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/12
26 COM 16 The World Heritage Committee,

Conscious of the need for further reflection on these issues;

Decides to postpone this discussion;⁶

Resolves that the working document shall not be distributed publicly until a final decision is reached by the Committee.

17 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PREPARATION OF STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE AND REVISED STRUCTURE OF THE BUDGET OF THE WORLD HERITAGE FUND

17 A STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/13A

26 COM 17.1 The World Heritage Committee,

Adopts the following Strategic Objectives:

Strengthen the Credibility of the World Heritage List;
Ensure the effective Conservation of World Heritage properties;
Promote the development of effective Capacity Building in States Parties;
Increase public awareness, involvement and support for World Heritage through Communication.

Invites the Director-General to develop performance indicators for each of the Strategic Objectives to be presented to the 27th session of the Committee (June/July 2003) to enable the Committee to measure the success of the implementation of the Objectives over time.

17 B WORLD HERITAGE PROGRAMMES
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/13B

26 COM 17.2 The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the information contained in working document WHC-02/CONF.202/13B on an analysis of the major conservation issues identified through a review of the international assistance requests, state of conservation reports and the periodic reporting exercise;

Further notes the implementation status of the four World Heritage Programmes (Sustainable Tourism, Cities, Earthen Architecture and Forests) adopted by the Committee at its 25th session in December 2001 and initial proposals for future Programmes;

Invites the Director-General to develop new Regional Programmes based on the needs specifically identified through the regional periodic reporting exercise with a view to achieve the new Strategic Objectives and to submit these programmes for consideration and adoption at the 27th session of the Committee in June/July 2003;

Further invites the Director-General to propose targets (outputs) and a timetable for their implementation.

17 C WORLD HERITAGE PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE (WHPI)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/13C
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.13
26 COM 17.3 The World Heritage Committee,

Welcomes the World Heritage Partnerships Initiative as a means to achieve, on an experimental basis, a new systematic approach to partnerships;

Acknowledges that the work undertaken in identifying partnerships and criteria for new World Heritage partnerships is in progress;

Invites the Director-General to further develop a regulatory framework for the Partnerships Initiative to be added to the Committee's guidelines relating to the use of the World Heritage name, emblem and patronage;

Encourages the Director-General to ensure that the Initiative supports the Strategic Objectives adopted by the Committee;

Considers that funds generated through the World Heritage Partnerships Initiative should be channeled, to the extent possible, through the World Heritage Fund;

Requests the Director-General to ensure that the overheads charged on partnership contributions are appropriated to support the World Heritage Centre;

Emphasises that the overseeing authority for monitoring progress and performance of the World Heritage Partnerships Initiative rests with the Committee, and that the Initiative is launched on an experimental basis;

Welcomes the proposal to develop performance indicators for evaluating the Initiative for consideration by the Committee in 2003 and to submit progress reports, and invites the Director- General to submit to the Committee at its 30th session in 2006 an evaluation of the Initiative up to end of 2005.

17 D REVISED BUDGET STRUCTURE
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/13DRev.

26 COM 17.4 The World Heritage Committee,
Decides, in view of the time constraints to defer this item until its extraordinary session in March 2003.⁷

18 REVISION OF THE OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

Documents: WHC-O2/CONF.202/14A
WHC-02/CONF.202/14B

26 COM 18 The World Heritage Committee,
Decides, in view of the time constraints to defer this item until its extraordinary session in March 2003.⁸

19 REVISION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Document: WHC-O2/CONF.202/15
26 COM 19 The World Heritage Committee,
Decides, in view of the time constraints to defer the discussion of this item until its extraordinary session in March 2003.⁹

20 PERIODIC REPORTING: REPORT ON THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE IN AFRICA
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/16
26 COM 20 The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its satisfaction with this excellent Periodic Report for Africa 2001 noting that it gives direction for future World Heritage activities in Africa;

Noting that the Action Plan is already being implemented, requests that the activities specified therein should be restructured in line with the new Strategic Objectives and Article 5 of the World Heritage Convention;

Encourages Afro-Arab bi-regional co-operation and networking, based on the similarities of problems and suggested solutions revealed by this Periodic Report and the one for Arab States;

Emphasizes that the implementation of the World Heritage activities in Africa should be linked with other initiatives within UNESCO, with the Global Agenda and other Conventions, and particularly with the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD);

Adopts the Periodic Report for Africa 2001 subject to its restructuring;¹⁰

Requests that a progress report on the implementation of the action plan be presented to its 27th session in June/July 2003.

21 STATE OF CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES INSCRIBED ON THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER AND ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
WHC-02/CONF.202/18
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.9
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.10
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.11
GENERAL ISSUES
26 COM 21.1 The World Heritage Committee,
Invites the Director-General to seek further coordination, and possibly the establishment of a permanent mechanism of consultation, with the World Bank on projects related to World Heritage properties.

26 COM 21.2 The World Heritage Committee,
Invites the Director-General to present in written form information and draft decisions on the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21.3 The World Heritage Committee,
Invites the Director-General to present a report and statistics on the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger at its extraordinary session in March 2003.

21(a) STATE OF CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES INSCRIBED ON THE LIST OF WORLD HERITAGE IN DANGER
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18

NATURAL HERITAGE
26 COM 21 (a) 1 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Invites the State Party to shortly finalize the management plan and confirm its adoption by the Government and to submit a calendar of activities for preparing a proposal for a transborder World Heritage area in the Danube Delta in cooperation with other concerned States Parties;

Urges the State Party to take necessary action to purchase the portable electric generator to ensure the rapid closing of the sluice gates as and when needed and to minimize the risks of contamination from any future toxic spills;

Recommends that the site be removed from the List of World Heritage Danger, effective from the date at which the State Party submits to the Centre, IUCN and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, a copy of the approved management plan, and a statement committing the necessary resources for the timely implementation of the plan.

26 COM 21 (a) 2 World Heritage sites of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Regrets the widespread damage caused by the volcanic eruption in January 2002 and requests the Director-General to transmit its sympathies and solidarity to the people of Goma through appropriate UN and other channels;

Requests the Director-General to consult with the UN authorities and other appropriate partners to put in place natural-disaster-prevention and risk-assessment systems to protect lives and minimize damage to property in the event of future eruptions;

Notes the efforts of the UNESCO/DRC/United Nations Foundation (UNF) Project to support the conservation of all five World Heritage sites of DRC and requests that a detailed progress report be submitted for examination by the Committee at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Takes note of the fact that the state of conservation of Garamba, Kahuzi Biega and Salonga National Parks and the Okapi Faunal Reserve remain unchanged from conditions reported to the 25th session of the Committee;

Expresses its serious concerns over the illegal encroachments and settlements in Kiolirwe and Kararuma in the Virunga National Park, some of them being attributed to people coming from across the border with Rwanda, and requests the Centre to urgently find ways and means to alert the authorities in Goma and in Rwanda of the need to fully respect the integrity of the Virunga National Park;

Calls for urgent and high-level diplomatic initiatives to check illegal encroachments and settlements threatening the Virunga National Park and to ensure that all authorities in Eastern DRC and Rwanda respect the international significance and neutrality of World Heritage sites and assist site staff and other conservation authorities to effectively protect those sites;

Welcomes the forthcoming visit of the Director-General to the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in early 2003 and requests the Director-General to take all possible steps to promote transborder co-operation between the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda for the conservation of Virunga National Park and other World Heritage sites in the Great Lakes Region of Africa;

Recommends that the Centre concentrate its efforts to strengthen conservation in areas in and around the World Heritage sites of the DRC that are returning to normality as on-going UN peace-building efforts in the country take root;

Invites its Chairperson and the Director-General to take all other possible diplomatic measures, e.g. writing to the UN Secretary General, to Heads of States and important personalities in other concerned States Parties etc., to build international solidarity to promote peace and other necessary conditions for effective World Heritage conservation in Eastern DRC;

Retains the five National Parks: Virunga, Garamba, Kahuzi Biega and Salonga and the Okapi Faunal Reserve on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 3 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its pleasure to welcome Liberia as a State Party to the Convention;

Congratulates the exemplary collaboration between the three States Parties, UN and conservation NGOs for establishing a sound framework for transborder collaboration for the conservation of the Mt Nimba ecosystem;

Invites the three Parties to review the draft tri- national framework agreement and finalise it as soon as possible, and that Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire resolve their differences in the boundary of the Dere-Tiapleu Forest in an amicable and effective manner;

Decides to retain the site in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 4 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes with concern the continuing threats posed by insurgency and its impacts on the state of conservation of the site, particularly in its Eastern and the Western Ranges but also acknowledges several favourable conservation trends including: finalization of the management plan that is awaiting State Government approval, progressive reconstruction of camps and guard posts and increasing staff ability to carry out on-site management actions;

Invites the Government of India and the State Government of Assam to investigate the possibilities of including the state of conservation of Manas as an agenda item in on-going discussions and dialogues with the militant and rebel leaders, and as part of appropriate bilateral talks between India and Bhutan;

Notes with satisfaction that the cordial working relations between staff of the Manas World Heritage area and their counterparts in the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan are helpful in the conservation of the site;

Notes with satisfaction that the Government has included Manas as part of the Project Elephant and is facilitating the work of economic development committees to improve participatory planning and rural development projects;

Invites the Centre and IUCN to co-operate with the State Party to find ways and means of financing a number of projects prepared by the site Director and the feasibility of using the trust fund established by the State Government of Assam as a financing mechanism for attracting resources from international and national donors;

Invites the State Party to consider inviting another UNESCO/IUCN mission, within the next four years, to review progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the IUCN mission undertaken in February 2002;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 5 Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Invites the State Party to submit a detailed report on the vehicle, purchased using the resources of the World Heritage Fund, which has been reported stolen, and as part of the same report address the staffing, infrastructure development, management and security issues impacting the integrity of the site;

Calls for an up-to-date assessment on the state of implementation of the rehabilitation plan for the site approved by the Bureau in 1999 and a review of the sustainability of donor and government financing for the conservation of the Natural Reserves;

Urges the Centre and IUCN to work with the State Party on the preparation of such a report for submission to its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 6 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee:

Notes that a workshop to define the indicators, benchmarks and other components of a scientific monitoring programme to guide the Committee's future assessments of the performance of the rehabilitation programme for the Ichkeul Lake National Park, will be organized in September 2002 using funds provided under an emergency grant of US$50,000 from the World Heritage Fund in May 2002;

Invites the State Party to submit a detailed report on the results of the emergency assistance project, including a description of the monitoring programme, its financing and plans for its implementation, for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 7 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes with satisfaction that concerns raised by IUCN regarding the recent issue of mining permits relate to limestone quarries outside the World Heritage area and commends the State Party's decision to allocate US$4.1 million on wastewater management improvements within the Everglades region;

Invites the State Party to co-operate with IUCN and the Centre to prepare a report for submission to its 27th session in June/July 2003, containing the steps it intends to take to develop action plans and define parameters and conditions to monitor progress in the restoration of the integrity of the site, with a view to facilitating the Committee's future considerations for removing the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 8 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes that the State Party has prepared the draft Supplementary Environmental Impact Study and has received 350,000 comments which are currently being evaluated;

Urges the State Party to continue to report on Yellowstone's snowmobile phase-out and other efforts to ensure that winter travel facilities respect the protection of the Park, its visitors, and its wildlife;

Invites the State Party to co-operate with IUCN and the Centre to prepare a report for submission to its 27th session in June/July 2003, containing steps it intends to take to develop action plans and define parameters and conditions to monitor progress in the restoration of the integrity of the site with a view to facilitating the Committee's future considerations for removing the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

Decides to retain the site in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
26 COM 21 (a) 9 Butrint (Albania)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the report provided by the State Party and welcomes the progress made to enhance the protection, preservation and presentation of the World Heritage site;

Reiterates the recommendations made by the Bureau at its 25th session, notably regarding the enlargement of the Butrint National Park Board to include, at the national and regional level, all relevant authorities to ensure a strong and effective co-ordination of the management of the World Heritage site;

Urges the State Party to take all appropriate measures, at the national level, to ensure that the Butrint National Park Law be enacted as soon as possible in order to better protect the site;

Reiterates its recommendation to the State Party to work closely with the Centre for the smooth implementation of emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a report on the measures taken to comply with these recommendations for examination at its next session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM. 21 (a) 10 Angkor (Cambodia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes with appreciation the recent return of the two Angkor sculptures from the Academy of Fine Arts of Honolulu to the National Museum of Phnom Penh;

Notes that support has been provided to the International Co-ordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of Angkor (ICC) by new partners (Switzerland and India) and expresses appreciation for the support of the Municipality of Paris to strengthen the Documentation Centre;

Urges the State Party to make available to its 27th session in June/July 2003, within the framework of the Periodic Reporting Exercise for the Asia-Pacific Region, a report with technical details on all activities carried out over the past ten years;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 11 Group of Monuments at Hampi (India)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its appreciation to the Government of India and the State Government of Karnataka for establishing a "Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority" to ensure effective co- ordination of conservation and development activities within the Hampi World Heritage areas;

Encourages the State Party and the authorities concerned to continue their efforts in the formulation of a comprehensive management plan and to this end requests the World Heritage Centre to continue co-operating with the concerned authorities;

Invites the State Party to submit a technical co- operation request to mobilize national and international resources and expertise to finalize this comprehensive management plan;

Requests the State Party to report by 1 February 2003 on the progress made in removing the threats facing the site through corrective measures and the state of conservation of the site, for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 12 Bahla Fort (Oman)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the Omani authorities for the substantial achievements in the advancement of conservation works at the Fort, and for engaging in the preparation of the Management Plan;

Recommends that the State Party ensure as a matter of urgency the necessary technical supervision of the conservation works being implemented at the site, and that a comprehensive survey and analysis of cultural and natural values of the Bahla Oasis and its surroundings be included in the scope of work of the consultant firm;

Expresses its concern with regard to the proposed construction of a new market within the site and suggests that an environmental impact assessment be made of this new construction on the values of the site;

Requests that the State Party transmit to the Centre a copy of all reports prepared by the consultant as well as any technical documentation relating to the proposed construction of the new market within the Oasis, including an assessment of its potential impact on the values of the site;

Requests the State Party to submit by 1 February 2003, a report on the progress of all the above-mentioned issues for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 13 Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Reiterates its request made to the State Party at its 24th session to take corrective measures to remove the threats to the property and to clarify ownership, land-use and the legal status of the land within 60 meters of the partially demolished hydraulic works, particularly in view of the Punjab Special Premises Ordinance applicable to the site;

Takes note with appreciation of the positive actions taken and being planned by the State Party and the Centre for the rehabilitation of the Shalamar Gardens and in elaborating a comprehensive management plan for the site, although regretting the delays in implementing the emergency assistance activity for taking corrective measures to remove the threats to the property;

Requests the State Party and the Centre to continue their co-operation in order to ensure that an integrated conservation, management and development plan is elaborated, adopted and implemented as soon as possible;

Requests the State Party and the Centre to report to its 27th session in June/July 2003, on the progress made in removing the threats to the site;

Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 14 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the important work initiated by the local authorities and congratulates the State Party for its declared willingness to correct the present situation;

Requests the State Party to present a progress report by 1 February 2003 on the work carried out for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to maintain, in agreement with the State Party, the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 15 Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its deep concern over the situation that calls for urgent corrective measures as the fragile natural environment continues to be affected by:

uncontrolled construction of shelters on the Rice Terraces;
climate-induced erosion of the Rice Terraces;
abandonment of the Rice Terraces;
unsustainable agricultural practices for the local communities;

Expresses its appreciation of the State Party's action to establish a permanent effective body to co-ordinate and lead efforts to rehabilitate the Rice Terraces in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee at its 25th session;

Urges the State Party to take all steps to ensure a smooth and efficient hand-over between the abolished Banaue Rice Terraces Task Force (BRTTF), the Governor of the Ifugao Province, who has been temporarily mandated to manage the World Heritage property, and the proposed new authority being established for the Rice Terraces;

Commends the State Party for allocating US$1 million for the repair of damaged irrigation systems;

Requests the Centre, to take all steps to release without delay the requested technical co-operation assistance (US$75,000) allocated by the Committee at its 25th session;

Requests the State Party to provide a report by 1 February 2003, on the state of conservation of the site and the progress made in removing the threats to the site, for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 16 Old City of Zabid (Yemen)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Recommends the Yemeni authorities to strengthen, in close consultation with the Centre, the coordination of all efforts for the safeguarding of the Historic Town of Zabid;

Requests the Centre to finalize the outline of the Urban Conservation Plan and technical specifications for the repair of residential buildings, in view of a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities among the responsible Yemeni authorities and the international community of donors;

Encourages the State Party to establish at the site a Technical Unit, to act as a partner for the local authorities, UNESCO and other international players in the finalization and implementation of the Urban Conservation Plan;

Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (a) 17 Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor (Yugoslavia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/18
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes that preliminary consultations took place between the Centre and the State Party concerning the state of conservation of Kotor;

Requests the authorities to invite a UNESCO-ICOMOS mission to evaluate the restoration of the site and its current state of conservation;

Requests the mission to provide a recommendation as to whether or not the site could be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

21(b) REPORTS ON THE STATE OF CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES INSCRIBED ON THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17

NATURAL HERITAGE
26 COM 21 (b) 1 World Heritage Natural Properties of Australia
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes that information exchange on the state of conservation of several properties of Australia is underway between the State Party, the Australian Committee for IUCN and the Centre and that a National Periodic Report will be prepared by the State Party for examination at the 27th session of the Committee in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 2 Pirin National Park (Bulgaria)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.9
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the results of the report provided by the UNESCO-IUCN mission to the site and the number of existing and potential threats to the site's values and integrity, including boundary issues, the lack of a management plan, and a new ski development proposal with forest disturbance;

Welcomes the response by the State Party to the concerns contained in the mission report, and acknowledges the support provided by the Swiss Government to the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Project, in the preparation of the Management Plan for the site;

Urges the State Party to implement the recommendations of the mission and take remedial actions to ensure that the World Heritage values of the site are protected. These actions should include: the development of effective management mechanisms, restoration of the forest ecosystem of disturbed areas, the creation of a scientific advisory body and the provision of an interim management plan awaiting the management plan which should be finalized as a matter of urgency;

Welcomes the immediate response by the State Party to some of the concerns raised by the mission and invites the authorities to apply for international assistance as indicated in the mission report;

Defers the decision on the inscription of Pirin National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger until its 27th session, with decisions on this to be based on an assessment of the State Party's response to the UNESCO/IUCN Mission Report.

26 COM 21 (b) 3 Nahanni National Park (Canada)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses strong concern with regard to the zinc mine, as well as the findings of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) report, including the comments on the inadequacy of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA) to resolve the issues of land use and policy conflicts involving the site and its surroundings;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, information on how the concerns and recommendations contained in the MVEIRB report will be addressed in relation to the impact on the World Heritage site to be examined by the Committee at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Encourages the State Party to extend the site.

26 COM 21 (b) 4 Wood Buffalo National Park (Canada)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, information on the status of the proposal to build a winter road and, specifically, the outcome of the appeals submitted to the Federal Court to be heard in the second half of 2002 for examination by the Committee at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 5 Cocos Island National Park (Costa Rica)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 44-46, and

Decides to review the proposed extension of the property under item 23 Nominations.¹¹

26 COM 21 (b) 6 Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Requests the State Party to provide a detailed report of the wildlife poaching situation at the site, including information on reported intentions to reopen hunting throughout the country and follow-up to the recommendations. If affirmative, the State Party should elaborate the plans and methods it proposes to regulate and control the activity at the World Heritage site;

Urges the State Party to invite a monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the site with the aim of informing the Committee whether the site should be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (b) 7 Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee:

Notes that there has been significant progress on invasive-species and marine conservation, quarantine and institutional strengthening actions, notably through the implementation of the UNESCO/United Nations Foundation (UNF)/Charles Darwin Foundation, Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) projects. There have been clear signs of Government commitment to conservation, most notably the successful nomination of the Galapagos Marine Reserve for World Heritage status and the mobilization of resources to support reserve management. However, these positive steps are increasingly undermined by the failure to complete and promulgate the Special Regulations, without which the Special Law for Galapagos - and particularly the environmental components thereof - cannot be properly implemented;

Urges the State Party to adopt as soon as possible the Regulations deriving from the Special Law for Galapagos, as recommended by the 25th session of the Committee in 2001 at the time of inscription of the Galapagos Marine Reserve on the World Heritage List.

26 COM 21 (b) 8 Caves of the Aggtelek and Slovak Karst (Hungary/Slovakia)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 19-22.

26 COM 21 (b) 9 Sundarbans National Park (India)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee:

Invites the State Party to provide up-to-date information on the current status of the Public Interest Petition (PIP) on the impacts of tiger prawn seed harvesting and the measures taken by authorities to address the concerns raised by the PIP;

Recommends that the State Party with the participation of Indian experts and the experts of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN, consider undertaking a review in order to provide additional inputs regarding methodologies and techniques used for tiger census to improve reliability of estimates of the tiger population in the Sundarbans, as well as a rigorous scientific ungulate study to establish the available prey base;

Notes the offer of support to the State Party from IUCN and the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group;

Invites the State Party to consider these issues within the context of the review of the state of conservation of the site as part of the Periodic Reporting process now underway for reporting at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 10 Kaziranga National Park (India)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the National and State Government for having provided adequate resources to establish and maintain control over poaching, encroachment and illegal activities;

Notes that the level of on-the-ground staff presence, law enforcement and patrolling mechanisms backed up by relevant communication facilities are satisfactory;

Invites the National and State Governments to accelerate the finalization of the management plan, ensure the steady and predictable flow of technical and financial support and recognizes the need to introduce consultative and transparent management planning processes. In this way the needs of local communities would be integrated, while informing and educating them on the Park's local, national and global significance;

Urges the authorities concerned to explore ways and means of developing, as part of the management planning process, (a) an outreach and community strategy, (b) conservation education and awareness programmes, (c) a research agenda focusing on key management issues, (d) tourism-related activities and programmes;

Urges the Centre to co-operate with the State Party to explore ways and means to increase direct support for the site from the World Heritage Fund, donors such as the UN Foundation and other sources.

26 COM 21 (b) 11 Komodo National Park (Indonesia)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.3 - XII.5.

26 COM 21 (b) 12 Lorentz National Park (Indonesia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Invites the State Party to determine, as soon as possible, the appropriate time for a UNESCO/IUCN mission to the site, and inform the Centre and IUCN well in advance of the date so that the mission can be planned in order to address all issues relevant to strengthening the state of conservation of this site;

Requests the State Party to elaborate on the continuing problems with the Park border and concession in advance of the mission;

Recommends that a detailed report on the mission be presented to its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 13 Aeolian Islands (Italy)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the positive outcome of the Court case on the legitimacy of the Landscape Territorial Plan;

Expresses concern that another Court decision is delaying the adoption and implementation of the key instrument for management of the site;

Requests further information from the State Party with respect to the mining of pumice within the World Heritage site;

Urges the State Party to prohibit expansion of pumice extraction, as it may impact on the values for which the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a report on this situation for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 14 Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (Kenya)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the efforts of the State Party to address conservation problems at this site, particularly in relation to encroachment control and implementation of community projects;

Requests the State Party to provide for review by the Centre and IUCN: a final copy of the Kenya Forests Working Group (KFWG)/Laikipia et al. Report; a map of the proposed Sirimon Forest excision, clearly showing its relationship to the World Heritage site, as well as the location of the increase in plantation forest, and an update on the proposed excision including information on any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken for the excision and the consideration of the impacts on the World Heritage site, including measures to be employed to mitigate these impacts;

Welcomes the invitation from the State Party for a mission to the site in the second half of 2002.

26 COM 21 (b) 15 Gunung Mulu National Park (Malaysia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes that no decision regarding the possible extension of the Gunung Mulu World Heritage site to include the Gunung Buda National Park has been made;

Recommends that the Centre and IUCN continue to communicate with the State Party and raise the issue of the possible participation of indigenous people in the planning of the extension of the World Heritage site at the appropriate time in the future.

26 COM 21 (b) 16 Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Urges the State Party to undertake a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the road that complies with internationally recognized standards, in collaboration with interested donors;

Notes the completion of the German International Cooperation (GTZ) study on the legality of oil exploration within the Park and requests that it be submitted to IUCN and the Centre for review;

Urges the State Party to develop and implement urgent measures to protect the Park, above all to guarantee the long-term regeneration of Mauritania's marine resources, in the face of the intense and unsustainable pressure on the nation's fisheries and to extend the areas exclusively reserved for traditional fishing;

Encourages other States Parties to the Convention to comply with internationally recognized methods for sustainable exploitation of the fish stock in order to protect the resources of other State Parties, in accordance with the World Heritage Convention.

26 COM 21 (b) 17 Sian Ka'an (Mexico)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Welcomes the efforts of the State Party to regulate tourism development at Sian Ka'an, and invites it to monitor closely the development on private property;

Notes that the State Party has submitted copies of the maps prepared for the Coastal Development Plan showing how it relates to the World Heritage site boundaries;

Requests the State Party to report by 1 February 2003, on the impact on the site of the removal of the moratorium on construction for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Invites the State Party to inform on the progress made in updating the Management Programme and proposed measures to be taken to ensure its application.

26 COM 21 (b) 18 Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.6-XII.10.

26 COM 21 (b) 19 Lake Baikal (Russian Federation)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes that there remain serious concerns relating to the state of conservation of this site, particularly with regard to pollution impacts, including from the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill, the lack of progress with the Federal Law on the "Protection of Lake Baikal", the establishment of the Baikal Commission, and uncertainties about gas exploration and exploitation in the Selenga Delta;

Requests the State Party to provide:

Precise time-schedules for the implementation of the first stage of the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) Programme in the next 1-2 years;

For the Baikal Law: a map of the zones, indicating clear and logical borders;

For the Baikal Commission: documentation detailing the establishment of the co-ordination body, including means of establishment, mandate, composition, date of commencement of duties, competence;

Concerning the Baikal Seals: information on the training of legal hunters and establishment of a sound monitoring regime;

For the Gas Exploration in the Selenga Delta: clear statement of intentions if and when gas is found through "scientific research";

Recommends that regular meetings between the State Party, the UNESCO Moscow Office and IUCN-Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) be encouraged to improve co-operation and communication, and that a meeting between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and IUCN be held before the end of 2002;

Requests a detailed report by 1 February 2003 on all actions undertaken to address the threats to the World Heritage values of the site, taking into account the benchmarks of the mission report noted by the 25th session of the Committee in 2001;

Decides, having noted the new report provided by the State Party and the comments provided by IUCN, to defer the decision on the inclusion of Lake Baikal on the List of World Heritage in Danger until its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 20 Volcanoes of Kamchatka (Russian Federation)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 30-33.

26 COM 21 (b) 21 Doñana National Park (Spain)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the State Party for its continued efforts towards the conservation of the site, and in particular the initiatives for the Iberian Lynx population;

Urges the State Party to give priority to promoting integrated regional land-use planning in order to minimise impacts related to irrigation and road design, construction and management around the site.

26 COM 21 (b) 22 Ngorongoro Conservation Area (United Republic of Tanzania) Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17 The World Heritage Committee,
Acknowledges the support provided by the State Party to produce the Ngorongoro Crater Ungulate Study, while requesting the State Party to implement its recommendations;

Urges the State Party to consider imposing a moratorium on new development in and around the Crater (Crater Highlands), until the impacts of the current lodges, road system and other tourism developments are assessed, with particular emphasis on water usage;

Requests the State Party submit a report on the state of conservation of the site, including its response to the Ngorongoro Crater Ungulate Study, by 1 February 2003 for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 23 Serengeti National Park (United Republic of Tanzania)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Urges the States Parties of the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya to initiate a dialogue on the transboundary effects on the Serengeti World Heritage site from changes in the upstream catchment, and to request that IUCN, through its Regional Office for Eastern Africa, support the process leading to this dialogue.

26 COM 21 (b) 24 Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (United Kingdom)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 36- 40;

Notes the new information that a mission has been invited to the site.

26 COM 21 (b) 25 St Kilda (United Kingdom)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision by the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII. 41-43.

26 COM 21 (b) 26 Henderson Island (United Kingdom)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Recommends the State Party to implement, as a matter of urgency, the 1995 Management Plan for this site, with provision for its on- going improvement (based on input received and lessons learnt) and to provide a report on the situation by 1 February 2003 for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 27 Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States of America)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the efforts of the site management and the National Park Service to address air-quality problems;

Expresses the hope that the implementation of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) standards will have a significant positive effect on air quality at the site;

Requests the State Party to keep the Committee informed of actions taken at Federal and State levels to address the air- pollution problems affecting the site.

26 COM 21 (b) 28 Mammoth Cave National Park (United States of America)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses strong concern regarding the potential impacts of the proposed development and the lack of a comprehensive environmental assessment, in particular noting the potential impacts for hydrocarbon and chemical spills from this type of development and the gaps in hydrogeological information;

Urges that a research programme be conducted to include analysis of alternative site options and a detailed structural geologic and hydro-geologic study with a study of water flow patterns in a range of climatic conditions between the Graham Springs Basin and Mammoth Cave Basin in order to determine the risk to the World Heritage site;

Requests that the State Party keep the Committee informed of progress with the Inter-modal Transportation Authority (ITA) report Site Evaluation and Design Assistance for the Proposed Kentucky Trimodal Transpark, the progress of research and the status of the Transpark project.

26 COM 21 (b) 29 Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17

The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.11-XII.13.

MIXED CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

26 COM 21 (b) 30 Kakadu National Park (Australia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its concern to the State Party about new leaks of contaminated water at the Ranger uranium mine and the Jabiluka mineral lease adjacent to Kakadu National Park. The Committee is also concerned about reported shortcomings in the regulatory reporting procedures at both mine sites and deficiencies in the management of ore stockpiles at the Ranger mine which reduce public confidence, in the management and monitoring of the two sites. Finally, the Committee stresses the need to adopt a strict environmental regime appropriate to a World Heritage property;

Notes the report of the Supervising Scientist which concluded that the environment and people downstream of the mine were not at risk at any time during or after the incident. Nevertheless, the State Party recognizes the need to follow international best practice. To this end the Minister for Environment and Heritage has discussed these issues with the Traditional Owners of Kakadu, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. (ERA) and the Supervising Scientist;

Notes that the State Party has reported that the mining company has made a commitment to meet ISO14001 standards of environmental management at both Jabiluka and Ranger by July 2003;

Requests the State Party to provide details of how these new, more stringent conditions will be fully met by ERA;

Notes that the State Party will co-operate with the Australian Senate Inquiry which will examine the regulatory, monitoring and reporting regimes at Ranger, Jabiluka and uranium operations elsewhere in Australia. The State Party will also co-operate with the Northern Territory technical review into the regulation of the Ranger and Jabiluka operations;

Welcomes the fact that the Minister has decided to appoint a suitably qualified conservation NGO representative to the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC), and will consult with NGOs on this appointment. ARRTC, at the request of the World Heritage Committee, continues to monitor and review the water management and other environmental issues at Jabiluka and Ranger, including those referred to in document WHC-02/CONF.202/17;

Is pleased to note with satisfaction that a cultural heritage management workshop was recently organized by Australia ICOMOS and the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation with the support of Environment Australia. The Committee requests ICOMOS to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of continuing co-operative efforts with Traditional Owners in this regard;

Requests that the State Party report on progress on all the issues raised above by 1 February 2003 for review by its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 31 Tongariro National Park (New Zealand)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report presented in paragraphs XII.47 to XII.52 of document WHC-02/CONF.202/2.

26 COM 21 (b) 32 Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
WHC-02/CONF.202/INF.10
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the mission recommendations as well as of the recommendations made by the Bureau;

Expresses its very serious concern about the continued inadequacy of the management and planning arrangements for the Sanctuary while recognizing the recent progress made in certain aspects, particularly the management of the Camino Inca and the establishment of the new Presidential decree;

Encourages the Peruvian authorities to continue co-operating with the World Heritage Centre in view of the implementation of measures leading to an improved management of the site, in particular through funds already allocated, the nomination of a site manager for the implementation of the Master Plan and the participation of all the stakeholders through inter-sectorial work;

Requests the State Party to submit by 1 February 2003, a progress report for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 33 Hierapolis-Pamukkale (Turkey)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Notes the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau presented in paragraphs XII.53 to XII.55 of document WHC-02/CONF.202/2.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
26 COM 21 (b) 34 Archaeological site of Tipasa (Algeria)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses strong concern with regard to the situation incompatible with maintaining the outstanding universal values of the site, which had justified its inscription on the World Heritage List;

Invites the World Heritage Centre to send a new mission to Tipasa, to discuss with the State Party immediate safeguarding measures to be undertaken and to halt all on-going or future actions that might affect the integrity of the site and its buffer zone;

Recommends that the Centre assist the State Party in preparing and implementing a remedial plan for the site, including visitor management and public-awareness programmess, linking the site and its environment;

Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a report on this site for examination by the Committee at its 27th session in June/July 2003;

Decides to inscribe the Archaeological Site of Tipasa on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

26 COM 21 (b) 35 Historic Centre of Vienna (Austria)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Reiterates its recommendations made at its 25th session at the time of the inscription of the property;

Recalls paragraph 22 of the Operational Guidelines: "Where the intrinsic qualities of a property nominated are threatened by action of man and yet meet the criteria and conditions of authenticity or integrity - an action plan should be submitted with the nomination file. Should the corrective measures submitted by the nominating State not be taken within the time proposed by the State, the property will be considered by the Committee for delisting in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Committee.";

Expresses its serious concern about the Wien-Mitte urban development project, adjacent to the World Heritage site of Vienna and located in the buffer zone of the site, and in particular about the architectural solutions and the height of the proposed towers;

Recognizes the need to develop and rehabilitate the area above the Bahnhof and acknowledges that from the economic and urban transport point of view no major impacts on the World Heritage values of the protected zone are to be expected;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 October 2002 detailed information demonstrating that the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of the inscription have been taken into account. In case the State Party cannot provide the assurance for an acceptable solution, which conforms with the Committee's recommendation, the Committee will start the process of delisting the site in accordance with the established procedures;

Strongly recommends to limit any future large redevelopment activities in the buffer zone;

Expresses concern for the restoration practices currently observed in the Historic Centre, and requests the authorities to establish building renovation regulations and authorisation procedures appropriate to its status as a World Heritage property;

Recommends to the State Party to continue to improve its technical capacities in the field of historical building conservation, in order to ensure a more efficient control of any possible negative impacts. Timely information on planned interventions should be provided to the World Heritage Centre, in compliance with Paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines;

Decides to examine the situation at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 36 The Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Welcomes the invitation by the national authorities for a joint UNESCO - ICOMOS mission to be undertaken to the site as soon as possible;

Requests that a report of the mission be presented for examination by the Committee at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 37 Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (Bangladesh)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined the state of conservation of the property, the findings and recommendations of the April 2002 UNESCO expert mission, new information provided by the State Party and ICOMOS;

While commending the authorities for their efforts to increase the protection of the property, expresses concern over the deterioration of the terracotta plaques and the structure and partial loss of authenticity of the property through the systematic removal and replacement of the 9th-century terracotta plaques which originally decorated the lower terraces of the Vihara walls;

Noting that a UNESCO mission will be organized in July 2002 to hold consultations with the authorities to enhance conservation, management and presentation of the property;

Requests the authorities together with the UNESCO mission to:

consider the nomination of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger in order to mobilize the significant international financial and technical resources for addressing the conservation challenges facing the property;

elaborate an action plan to enhance long-term conservation and management of the site, and to remove the ascertained and potential threats facing the property;

Encourages the authorities to submit an international assistance request;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a report on the state of conservation of the property for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 38 Historical Centre of the City of Goiás (Brazil)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a progress report on the restoration works carried out on the property, for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 39 Historic Area of Québec (Canada)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the report transmitted by the State Party;

Congratulates the Canadian authorities on the actions undertaken in accordance with the recommendations made by the ICOMOS mission and by the 25th session of the Committee;

Requests the State Party to continue working in close consultation with ICOMOS and the Centre;

Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a progress report on this matter for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 40 Churches of Chiloé (Chile)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the State Party for the rapidity of its intervention and for the detailed study provided summarizing the important damage caused by the winds;

Recommends that the requested emergency assistance be granted in order to finalize the work as soon as possible;

Requests the State Party to submit by 1 February 2003, a detailed progress report on the restoration works, for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 41 Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (China)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the state of conservation report and decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.78-83.

26 COM 21 (b) 42 Historical Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (China)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined the report on the state of conservation of this property and further information provided by the Centre;

Takes note of the additional information presented by the State Party;

Encourages the State Party to continue its efforts to rehabilitate and enhance the state of conservation of this World Heritage property;

Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for welcoming the proposal for a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission to examine the state of conservation of the property and to undertake consultations with the site management authorities;

Requests that a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission with this mandate be organized before the 27th session of the Committee;

Decides to examine the findings and recommendations of this mission at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 43 Colonial City of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the state of conservation report and adopts the decision of the Bureau, contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII, 116-117;

Requests the State Party to provide a report by 1 February 2003, to include additional information on progress made, as well as on the report of the Environment Secretariat and on the decisions taken concerning the draft law on monumental heritage, to be examined by the 27th session of the Committee in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 44 Islamic Cairo (Egypt)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Commends the State Party for its great commitment towards the rehabilitation of Islamic Cairo, and particularly for having opened the debate on the current restoration and conservation projects and initiated, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre, the activities that the Committee recommended at its 25th session, including the Conservation Handbook;

Recommends that these activities be continued and strongly encourages the State Party to concentrate its efforts on the priorities indicated in the conclusions of the International Symposium, including awareness programmes for the inhabitants of Islamic Cairo, in close consultation with the Centre and through periodical technical missions by UNESCO experts who would review and advise on current projects;

Reiterates its recommendation to the State Party to invest adequate resources towards capacity building in the area of urban and architectural conservation for the staff of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

26 COM 21 (b) 45 Memphis and its Necropolis, the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur (Egypt)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Takes note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the proposed project to execute a tunnel under the Plateau of the Pyramids;

Further notes, with satisfaction, the assurances provided by the Delegate of Egypt that this proposal would not be implemented;

Requests the Centre to report on the progress on this matter at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 46 City-Museum Reserve of Mtskheta (Georgia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Strongly urges the State Party of Georgia to provide before the 1 September 2002, a report on the on-going constructions and degradations at the site;

Requests the Government authorities to ensure that all these works are halted and that no further restoration works or constructions in close proximity to the Cathedral be undertaken;

Requests that the authorities invite an UNESCO-ICOMOS mission to the site in the near future and that a report be presented for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 47 Classical Weimar (Germany)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII, 101-102.

26 COM 21 (b) 48 Hanseatic City of Lübeck (Germany)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17 The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the information provided by ICOMOS on the meeting held in Lübeck;

Requests the German authorities to provide a detailed report on the results of the meeting, including the progress of the project by 1 February 2003;

Further asks the authorities to provide information in a timely manner on any planned interventions within the site, in compliance with article 56 of the Operational Guidelines.

26 COM 21 (b) 49 Acropolis, Athens (Greece)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Notes the information provided concerning the construction project located outside the site, outside the buffer zone and outside of the historic centre of Athens;

Requests the State Party to give urgent consideration to a redefinition of the buffer zone in order to better protect the visual setting of the monument;

Requests the State Party to undertake a visual impact study, notably concerning the site of the Acropolis;

Further requests the State Party to provide information on any development projects which have an impact on the visual integrity of the World Heritage site;

Invites the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a report on these matters for examination by its 27th session in June/July 2003.

26 COM 21 (b) 50 Ajanta Caves / Ellora Caves (India)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,
Takes note of the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII, 84-86 and the additional information provided by the State Party at this session.

26 COM 21 (b) 51 Sun Temple of Konarak (India)

Documents: WHC-02/CONF.202/2
WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee, Takes note of the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraph XII, 87 and the additional information provided by the State Party at this session.

26 COM 21 (b) 52 Sangiran Early Man Site (Indonesia)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for hosting the UNESCO Training Seminar on Conservation, Preservation and Management of Zhoukoudian and Sangiran Cultural World Heritage Sites in April 2002, supported by the World Heritage Fund;

Notes the absence of a permanent site-management authority supported by both conservation and development authorities and expresses its gratitude to the authorities for establishing a "Co-ordinating Board for the Protection and Management of Sangiran World Heritage Site";

Encourages the Board to elaborate a comprehensive management plan for the property, including a systematic monitoring scheme;

Encourages the authorities to seek technical and financial co-operation from the World Heritage Fund and through UNESCO agreements in order to increase the capacity of the officers responsible for the conservation, preservation and management of the property and to enhance site interpretation and presentation as well as community awareness;

Requests the World Heritage Centre to assist the authorities in mobilizing resources in an appropriate and timely manner;

Notes that recent archaeological excavations surrounding the existing World Heritage property have revealed valuable archaeological and scientific deposits;

Encourages the authorities to consider extending the World Heritage property to include the newly excavated areas of potential World Heritage value.

26 COM 21 (b) 53 Meidan Emam, Esfahan (Iran)
Document: WHC-02/CONF.202/17
The World Heritage Committee,

Congratulates the high level of conservation of the public monuments composing the Historic Centre of Esfahan, including the Meidan Emam World Heritage area;

Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for its efforts to implement the recommendation of the 1995 UNESCO mission to extend the World Heritage protected area to include key monuments and historic architectural ensembles representing the Safavid period urban planning scheme, and encourages the authorities to submit by 1 February 2003 th

World Heritage	26 COM
Distribution limited	WHC-02/CONF.202/25 Paris, 1 August 2002 Original: English/French