The Committee decided to defer until a later session its decisions on the establishment and publication of the List of World Heritage in Danger and of the list of properties for which international assistance is granted and also with respect to the share to be contributed by the recipient State in any given project.
2 COM V.24
Examination of the form and Periodicity of Publication of the World Heritage List, the List of World Heritage in danger and the List of Properties for which technical cooperation is granted
The Committee followed the recommendation of the Bureau and agreed to publish and disseminate annually the World Heritage List, the World Heritage in Danger List and the list of properties for which technical cooperation is granted from the World Heritage Fund as combined lists. (see document CC-78/CONF.010/6). It was pointed out that this arrangement would allow for timely updating of these lists after each annual session of the Committee.
The Chairman invited the delegate of Canada to take the floor since this item had been added to the agenda upon his proposal. The delegate of Canada explained that after discussing with the Secretariat of UNESCO the terms of Article 11.4 of the Convention he considered that there was no need for a special procedure to be adopted for the establishment of the List of World Heritage in Danger.
3 BUR XI.19
Nomination submitted by Yugoslavia of the Kotor natural and historical region to the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger
The Bureau decided to recommend that this site be entered on the two lists provided that the Committee agreed with a special procedure for the emergency inscription of properties on the World Heritage List.
The Bureau decided that the technical cooperation request should be examined after the Committee had taken decisions on the above mentioned matters.
On the publication of the World Heritage List, the Committee decided:
(a) to retard the publication of the List in order to include the properties placed thereon at its third session;
(b) that the List of World Heritage in Danger and the List of properties for which international assistance has bean granted would be published as appendices of the List;
(c) that the list of properties for which international assistance has been granted would include reference to properties for which technical assistance has been granted but would make no mention of preparatory assistance;
(d) to ...
The Committee approved without reservation the technical co-operation request from Senegal concerning Djoudj National Park.
It expressed its concern, however, concerning the consequences of the changes in the hydrological system on Djoudj National Park which would result from the works envisaged on the River Senegal and suggested that the authorities of Senegal request the inscription of this site on the List of World Heritage in ...
6 EXT.COM 4
Policy and legal issues concerning inscription of properties on the List of Lorld Leritage in Danger and the potential deletion of properties from the World Heritage List
The World Heritage Committee,
Decides to maintain in the revised Operational Guidelines existing text from the July 2002 Operational Guidelines concerning:
reactive monitoring (paragraph 68),
the development of a programme of corrective measures (paragraphs 22, 46b, 86, 87 and 89),
inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger (paragraphs 80-93) and,
possible deletion from the World Heritage List (paragraphs 46-56).
Requests the World Heritage Centre to re-order the text in the revised Operational Guidelines to ensure a logical and consistent presentation of the ...
26. The Committee examined four nominations to the List of World Heritage in Danger submitted by the States Parties concerned. The Committee noted the recommendations of ICOMOS and IUCN and made the following decisions:
Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland)ICOMOS provided the Committee with the information which the Polish authorities had given for this property. The Committee considered that there was insufficient geological information at present to evaluate the dangers facing this property. The Committee therefore decided to defer a decision on this nomination until more information had been ...
30. Taking account in particular of the considerable damage caused by the 1984 tornado and the urgency of the work needed to preserve the site, the Committee decided to include the Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
Djoudj National Park, Senegal: The immediate situation of this Park, which is threatened by a large hydro-agricultural project, has been alleviated by the construction of a temporary canal. The longer term solutions were investigated by IUCN, Unesco, the Senegalese and Mauritanian authorities at a special workshop held in Senegal in July 1985. The main conclusions of this meeting included the agreement to establish the contiguous area to Djoudj in Mauritania known as Diawling as a national park and to eventually nominate this site with Djoudj as a transfrontier World Heritage property. ...
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania: The Tanzanian authorities had organised a commission of enquiry into the management of this property but as yet the conclusion had not yet been made known. However, with the financial support of NORAD (Norway), a major technical workshop was being held in December 1985 to study improving the management of this property. IUCN considered that this progress was positive and indicated that Ngorongoro could perhaps be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger by 1987.
Sites: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Garamba National Park, Zaire: The representative of Zaire, the President Delegate General of the Zaire Institute for the Conservation of Nature (IZCN), presented the Committee with an up-to-date report on the progress of work undertaken by IZCN and the consortium formed by Unesco-World Heritage, IUCN/WWF and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The main objective of the project is to safeguard the population of endangered northern white rhinoceros in the park. The project was progressing well and the equipment provided with support of the World Heritage Fund had helped to strengthen the ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
Tai National Park, Ivory Coast: IUCN reported that the situation had not improved since its reports of 1982 and 1984. The Secretariat had written to the Ivory Coast authorities indicating the possibility of nomination to the List of World Heritage in Danger but to date no response had been received. The Committee requested the Secretariat to continue its contacts and inform the Bureau of progress in this respect.
Sites: Taï National Park
Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia: The critical situation of this park, as reported to the Bureau at its 9th session had not altered and IUCN noted that if compensatory measures to re-establish the water regime of this Park were not taken very soon, the property would lose its international importance for migratory wildfowl. IUCN therefore strongly recommended the inclusion of this Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Tunisian authorities had not responded to the Secretariat's request for further information, however, the representative of Tunisia informed the Committee that he ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
41. The Committee approved two requests concerning properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Benin - Royal Palaces of Abomey: $20,000
- Zaire: Garamba National Park: $20,000
The Committee authorized the Bureau to approve an additional amount of $20,000 under technical cooperation for this property subject to the receipt of an appropriate request.
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone
366
Peru
C(i)(iii) On the recommendation of the Bureau and following a request from the Peruvianauthorities, the Committee also decided to inscribe Chan Chan archaeological zoneon the List of World Heritage in Danger. In so doing, the Committee recommendedthat appropriate measures be taken for the conservation, restoration andmanagement of the site and specifically that the excavation work on the site behalted unless it was accompanied by appropriate conservation measures and thatall possible steps be taken to ...
Chan Chan archaeological zone
366
Peru
C(i)(iii)
On the recommendation o f the Bureau and following a request from the Peruvian authorities, the Committee also decided to inscribe Chan Chan archaeological zone on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In so doing, the Committee recommended that appropriate measures be taken for the conservation, restoration and management of the site and specifically that the excavation work on the site be halted unless it was accompanied by appropriate conservation measures and that all possible steps be taken to control the plundering of the ...
Khami Ruins National Monument
365
Zimbabwe
C(iii)(iv)
The Committee shared the concerns expressed by ICOMOS on the state of preservation of the site which was seriously deteriorating due to the climatic conditions and the encroaching vegetation. It recommended that the state of the site be carefully followed and recognized that inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger may be warranted. The Committee expressed its willingness to provide help for the safeguarding of the ...
14. As in previous years, IUCN reported on the conservation of natural properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. An information document (CC-86/CONF.003/INF.4) prepared by IUCN presented up-to-date information on some 16 natural properties.
15. The Committee was glad to learn of improvements or of a stabilisation in the previously deteriorating situation of certain properties, notably Djoudj National Park (Senegal), Ngorongoro Conservation area (Tanzania) and Garamba National Park (Zaire) (all inscribed on the List of World Heritage in ...
Sites: Aldabra Atoll Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary Garamba National Park Great Barrier Reef Ichkeul National Park Iguazu National Park Los Glaciares National Park Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve Ngorongoro Conservation Area Niokolo-Koba National Park Pirin National Park
17. The Committee was greatly concerned with the continuation of the serious threats to Tai National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) and requested the Secretariat to redouble efforts with the national authorities to inscribe this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and, at the same time, to develop a project, in cooperation with IUCN, to improve the protection of this Park.
Sites: Taï National Park
Bahla Fort
433
Oman
C(iv)
Concerned by the degradation of the earth structures of the fort and of the oasis of Bahla, the committee suggested that the Sultanate of Oman submit a request for technical cooperation and consider the possibility of nominating this property for inscription on the World Heritage List in Danger.
Sites: Bahla Fort
11 COM VIII.17
SOC: Djoudj National Park (Senegal), Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania) & Garamba National Park (Zaire)
17. The Committee noted with satisfaction that the situation in two of the natural sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger - namely Djoudj National Park (Senegal) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania) - had considerably improved in the last year and that IUCN would be proposing that they be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in the next two years. The situation of Garamba National Park (Zaire) was also improving but was still critical.
21. The Committee noted the very serious problems of poaching in the Mana Pools Complex (Zimbabwe) and noted that the procedure had been started by the Zimbabwe authorities to nominate this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
1) Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
The Committee was glad to be informed that the conservation status of this property had greatly improved but that the Tanzanian authorities had requested that it be maintained on the List of World Heritage in Danger, particularly in view of the continued threat of poaching. The Committee agreed to maintain this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger but expressed the wish that it be removed from this List in 1989.
Sites: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
2) Djoudj National Park (Senegal)
The Committee was glad to learn that due in part to assistance provided from the Fund, the conservation status of this property had greatly improved. The Committee decided to comply with the request of the Senegalese authorities to remove this property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
4) Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The representative of IUCN reported that this property was currently under extreme pressure with the invasion of some 50,000 refugees and settlers into the Reserve. The Committee requested the Secretariat to contact the Honduran authorities to obtain further information and to ask them to consider inscribing this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Djoudj National Park (Senegal)
The Committee recalled that under the agenda item on monitoring the state of conservation of World Heritage properties the Committee had decided to comply with the request of the Senegalese authorities to remove this property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Bahla Fort
433
Oman
In accordance with the wishes of the Omani authorities the Committee decided to inscribe Bahla Fort on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Bahla Fort
12 COM XIV.D
Deferred Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland)
Wieliczka Salt Mine
32
Poland
In the absence of information on the state of conservation of this property and the most urgent needs in terms of protection thereof, the Committee requested that a mission be organized to seek such information before the next session of the Bureau. Therefore, a decision on this matter was deferred.
26. The Bureau considered that, if the Government of Mali so wished, a preparatory assistance mission could be organized with a view to helping the authorities concerned to work out an appropriate nomination file on Timbuktu (mosques, cemeteries and mausoleums) to the List of World Heritage in Danger. This nomination file could be presented to one of the next sessions of the Bureau.
Sites: Timbuktu
13 COM XV.44-46
Nominations to the World Heritage List and to the List of World Heritage in Danger: Overview
44. The Committee examined 18 nominations of cultural and natural properties to the World Heritage List. It decided to inscribe seven properties and extend one property (Section A), to defer the examination of two properties (Section B), and not to inscribe eight properties (Section C). In addition, the Committee inscribed one property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and withdrew another property from this List (Section D).
45. The Committee was informed by the Secretariat that by a letter dated 6 November 1989, the Federal Republic of Germany had withdrawn the nomination of the ...
Sites: Wadden Sea
13 COM XV.D
Removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger: Ngoronaoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
Ngoronaoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
The Committee was glad to learn of improvements in the management and protection of this site, due in part to the support from the World Heritage Fund, since it was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1983. The Committee decided to comply with the request from the Tanzanian authorities to remove this property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland)
In accordance with the wishes of the Polish authorities, the Committee decided to inscribe the Salt Mine of Wieliczka on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Garamba National Park (Zaire)
The representative of Zaire thanked the Committee for its continued support for improving the protection and management of this site, which was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1984 due to the alarming reduction in the northern white rhinoceros population. The joint project by the Frankfurt Zoological Society, WWF and the World Heritage Committee had resulted in a promising recovery of these animals. The Committee accordingly recommended that the Zairois authorities should formally request the removal of this site from the List of World ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
Timbuktu
119Rev
Mali
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the threat of sand encroachment. A programme to safeguard the property has been set up in order to combat the most pressing dangers, including the consolidation of the Djingareiber Mosque and improvement of terrace rainwater drainage systems.
Sites: Timbuktu
27. Special attention was given by the Committee to the dangers threatening the World Heritage sites during armed conflict. The Secretariat informed the Committee of the situation of the historical City of Dubrovnik. It also announced the decision of the Director-General to launch an international campaign for the restoration of Dubrovnik.
28. Aware of the fact that it represents 123 States, including Yugoslavia, which are signatories of the Convention, the Committee expressed deep concern about the armed conflict, devastating a region that comprises several sites inscribed on the World ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
Garamba National Park (Zaire)
The Committee was glad to learn that the rhino population in this Park had increased to 31 and the local management capacity and budget have increased substantially. Poaching has also been brought under control. The Minister for Environment and Nature Protection of Zaire, by his letter of 26 February 1991, requested the removal of this site from the list of World Heritage in Danger. Although the Bureau at its last session in June 1991 recommended the removal of this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, the Committee took note of the fact that in ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
Old City of Dubrovnik
95
Yugoslavia
Noting the state of exceptional emergency caused by the armed conflict, the Committee decided to inscribe the Old City of Dubrovnik on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4 of the Convention.
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
Srebarna Biosphere Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee recalled that at its last session, it recommended that the Bulgarian authorities nominate this small (600 ha) site for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee was informed of the conclusion of two IUCN missions to this site undertaken in early 1992: although Srebarna's importance as a Ramsar site and a biosphere reserve could still be retained by the implementation of specific remedial measures, its World Heritage status can no longer be justified because it has deteriorated to a state where it has irretrievably ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Committee noted that the Croatian authorities officially informed UNESCO in June 1992, that they will abide by the obligations of the World Heritage Convention and requested that a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission be undertaken to assess the impacts which unrest in the region has had on the state of conservation of Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Using part of the US$30, 000 approved by the Bureau at its last session, for the organization of such a mission, a team of three experts representing IUCN, the Federation of Nature and National ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee noted that the Sub-Secretariat of Forestry and Renewable Natural Resources, which is responsible for the management of this site, has been successful in temporarily halting a proposed road construction project in order to bring together the relevant provincial and national agencies to discuss the environmental impact of the project and plan mitigating measures. The Committee commended the Ecuadorean authorities for having included substantial areas south of the World Heritage site in the National Park. The Committee, however, was concerned ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
Mt. Nimba Nature Reserve (Cote d'Ivoire/Guinea)
The Committee recalled its decision taken at its last session in Carthage, Tunisia, that the reduction in the size of this site proposed by the Government of Guinea in order to exclude areas that would be impacted by a proposed iron-ore mining project, posed a major threat to its integrity. The site is also threatened by the arrival of a large number of refugees to areas in and around the Guinean part of the World Heritage site.
The Committee noted that a meeting of experts of Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea, with participants from UNDP and ...
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Centre informed the Committee that the damage caused by the invasion of this Sanctuary by the Bodo tribe in Assam, India, was estimated to be about 50 million Indian rupees (about 1.6 million US dollars). Although the Park infrastructure suffered considerable damage, the habitat in the inaccessible parts of the Sanctuary appeared to be intact. The Committee, while noting that the conditions for introducing normal management and administration regimes for the site may be improving, was nevertheless concerned that a full assessment of damage had not ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Air and Tenere Nature Reserve (Niger)
The Committee expressed concern that the region in which this site is situated has recently been affected by civil disturbance. The Committee was informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Niger had requested the Director-General of UNESCO to launch an appeal for the protection of this site. The competent authorities in Niger, in accordance with the recommendation of the Bureau made at its last session in Paris in July 1992, have requested the Committee to include this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Niger ...
Garamba National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that at its last session, it deferred taking a decision to remove this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, due to the uncertainties associated with prevailing civil unrest in Zaire at that time.
The Committee was happy to note that the rhinoceros population in the Park has now increased to 32 individuals and that the state of conservation of the site continues to be stable. Hence, the Committee recommended, in accordance with the request made by the State Party by letter of 26 February 1991, to remove this site from the ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Committee took note of the report on the state of conservation of Dubrovnik, which was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in Carthage in 1991, and was also informed of the request received by the World Heritage Centre for the creation of a buffer zone. This request will be submitted to ICOMOS for review.
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
16 COM X.E
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Srebarna Biosphere Reserve (Bulgaria)
Srebarna Biosphere Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee, as requested by the authorities of Bulgaria by letter of 7 October 1992 decided, to include this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee's observations and recommendations regarding the state of conservation of this site are described in Chapter VIII, page 21.
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
Garamba National Park (Zaire)The Committee, in accordance with a request made by the State Party in their letter of 26 February 1991, decided to remove this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. Observations and recommendations of the Committee for sustaining the improvements to the state of conservation of this site are described in Chapter VIII, page 31.
Sites: Garamba National Park
16 COM X.E
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia, Republic of)
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia, Republic of)
The Committee as requested by the authorities of Croatia by letter of 24 April 1992 decided to include this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee's observations and recommendations regarding the state of conservation of this site are described in Chapter VIII, page 24.
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
16 COM X.E
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Air-Tenere National Nature Reserve (Niger)
Air-Tenere National Nature Reserve (Niger)
The Committee as requested by the authorities of Niger, by letter of 1 October 1992, decided to include this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee's observations and recommendations regarding the state of conservation of this site are described in Chapter VIII, page 29.
Even though there were no requests from the States Parties concerned, the Committee on the basis of state of conservation reports provided by IUCN (see Chapter VIII, page 20) decided, in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4 of the Convention to include the following sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Angkor (Cambodia)
Mt. Nimba Nature Reserve (Cote d'Ivoire/Guinea)
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary ...
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Representative of IUCN recalled that the site was inscribed in 1983 and added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 due to threats from poachers, boundary encroachment and unplanned road construction. A field mission was conducted by IUCN's Office in Ecuador and the Committee discussed the proposed six-point action plan including the recommendation that an environmental impact assessment of the road construction be undertaken. The technical assistance request for Sangay National Park (US$ 28,500) will be reviewed in the light of the ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its sixteenth session in 1992 due to threats caused by the encroachment of the Bodo tribe. No response had been received from the Government of India to several letters transmitting the Committee's previous requests for information since 1990. The Director of the World Heritage Centre informed the Committee furthermore that a mission to India was undertaken by a staff member of the Centre to contact the authorities directly. The Committee had an extensive ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Air et Tenere National Nature Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its session in 1992. The Committee noted that very little could be done until political negotiations are concluded. It was further noted that the Centre had sent condolences to the families of the reserve staff who were killed during the civil disturbances at the site.
Mount Nimba Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee recalled that this site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its sixteenth session in 1992. In its presentation, IUCN continued to stress its concern over the long-term risks associated with potential mining operations adjacent to the World Heritage site. It further noted the growing population pressure in the region.
Recalling that a comprehensive report had been submitted to the Bureau in June 1993, the Secretariat highlighted several developments which occurred since the mission in May 1993. A ...
Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that the damage caused to the site by Hurricane Andrew on 24 August 1992 was discussed at the sixteenth session of the Committee. Further discussion on the ecological impacts took place at the seventeenth session of the Bureau. IUCN reported that it had not been able to carry out a site mission.
The United States Delegation informed the Committee that the Superintendent of the Everglades National Park was present and that he would be pleased to present a report. The Superintendent indicated that a significant ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
17 COM XI
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Everglades National Park (United States of America)
Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee's considerations and recommendations regarding the state of conservation of this site are described in Chapter X.2 of this report.
Sites: Everglades National Park
Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee was informed that the Secretariat is continuously in contact with the Bulgarian authorities, which presented a report on their restoration efforts at the last session of the Bureau and have recently updated this report.
The Committee confirmed the decision of the Bureau at its eighteenth session that a detailed report on conservation measures should be presented to the nineteenth session of the Bureau in 1995. The Committee decided to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. Missions to the site were carried out in 1992 and 1993. Given the fact that there had been a recent outbreak in fighting in the Bihac region, the situation remains critical. The Committee decided, therefore, that another fact-finding mission to this area, particularly to the Korkaova Uvala Virgin forest should take place. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The site was inscribed in 1983 and added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 due to' threats from poachers, boundary encroachment and unplanned road construction. The situation at the site was discussed between a representative of the President of Ecuador and World Heritage Centre staff and the Committee's continuous concerns were brought to the attention of the Government of Ecuador.
The Committee decided to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and that another fact-finding mission should be carried ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
Mount Nimba strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/cote d'Ivoire)
The site was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees. An expert mission was undertaken in 1993 and proposals to revise the boundaries of the site were endorsed by the seventeenth session of the Committee in 1993. An international assistance project under the World Heritage Fund was carried out in 1994. The Committee was informed that the French Ministry of Cooperation and the Ministry of the Environment in ...
Manas wildlife Sanctuary (India)
At its eighteenth session, the World Heritage Bureau took note of the response by the Indian Government concerning Manas wildlife Sanctuary which was inscribed on the List of World Heritage In Danger in 1992.
The Committee was informed that the Secretariat received a report on the conditions of the site from WWF-India. The report emphasises the critical situation in the area. Furthermore, the Government of India has indicated its interest in a joint mission to the site by World Heritage Centre staff and local NGOs.
The Committee commended the Indian ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Aïr-Tenere Natural Nature Reserves (Niger)
The Committee was informed that the wildlife in this site has been decimated due to the consequences of the conflict between the Resistance Army of the Tuaregs and Government forces. Hence, the Committee was encouraged to note that the warring parties had signed a peace accord on 9 October 1994. The implementation of this accord by the new Government is however an essential prerequisite for the conservation of this site. The Committee requested the Centre to write to the new Government, recalling Niger's international obligations under the ...
Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1993 due to an increasing number of threats since the date of its inscription on the List in 1979. The State and Federal Governments and the Agricultural Industry are providing significant financial support for the management of the site and for its long-term restoration in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. The American authorities had prepared a report for the eighteenth session of the Committee.
The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
Virunga National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that at its last session it was deeply concerned about the civil unrest in Zaire which led to donors (EEC and USAID) suspending their support to this site. Many Park staff had not been remunerated for almost a year. Despite the fact the Bureau granted emergency assistance of US$ 20,000 to meet costs of field operations, poaching of wildlife has continued and the capability of staff to patrol the 650 km long boundary of the Park remains far below desirable levels. Human population in the fishing village near Lake Idi Amin has grown ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
Palace of Abomey (Benin)
The Committee commended the Government of Benin and ICCROM for the activities undertaken since 1992 in training in preventive conservation and for the project for the conservation and enhancement of the Royal Palaces of Abomey which is foreseen for 1994-1996 in collaboration with ICCROM and the Government of Italy. The Committee decided to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and requested the Secretariat to ensure that a monitoring mission be undertaken to Abomey to evaluate the state of conservation of the eleven palaces that have not yet ...
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
Angkor (Cambodia)
The Committee noted that at its eighteenth session, the Bureau expressed satisfaction with the progress accomplished by the Royal Cambodian Government in response to the requests formulated by the Committee at its sixteenth session, when Angkor was inscribed on the World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger.
At the invitation of UNESCO and at the request of the Chairperson of the Committee, the Minister of State of the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Mr Vann Molyvann, made a presentation to Committee members, highlighting the main tasks undertaken by the Royal ...
Sites: Angkor
Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Committee was informed that the restoration of what is called the fifth facade of the city -the roofs- was almost completed and that there remained but a few insulae awaiting repairs, and that important progress had been made in the restoration of several of the most important monuments of the city.
The Committee commended the Government of Croatia and UNESCO on the progress made in the conservation and restoration of Dubrovnik. It noted, however, that after the priority needs had been taken care of, other works such as the restoration of nine destroyed palaces ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
Timbuktu (Mali)
The Committee was informed that the Government of Mali had fully endorsed the recommendations of a UNESCO mission that was undertaken in early 1994 and which recommended a method of intervention involving the local population which, since the construction of the mosques, had been responsible for their upkeep, thus perpetuating a living religious cultural tradition. The Committee also endorsed this proposal and decided that it would support its implementation, if and when requested by the State Party. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage ...
Sites: Timbuktu
Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Committee recalled that it was informed during its seventeenth session, that intensive restoration works were being undertaken at this site and that it appeared probable that the nature of the material used for the restoration work, the rapidity with which the work was being carried out and the methods used could raise a certain number of questions with regard to conserving the authenticity of the monument. The Committee was informed that the Director of the World Heritage Centre, at the invitation of the Government of Oman, undertook a mission to Oman in March 1994 ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Committee welcomed the initiative of the Government of Peru to organise in October 1995, in collaboration with ICCROM and CRATerre, a regional course on the conservation of adobe, parallel to which the participants and international experts would also evaluate the past conservation practices and experiences in Chan Chan and define new conservation policies for this site. The Committee requested the authorities to submit the results of the course and the assessment of the conservation policies and practices to the Secretariat so that ...
Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland)
The Committee took note of the long-term conservation strategy that had been developed for this site, which included a project for ventilation and dehumidification. The Committee encouraged the Polish authorities to implement this long-term conservation strategy and requested to be kept informed of its implementation. It decided that this site be retained on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Kathmandu Valley (Nepal)
The Secretariat recalled the concern raised over the state of conservation of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site and the debate during the seventeenth session of the Committee in December 1993 and the Bureau at its eighteenth session in July 1994 on the possible inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the delisting of certain parts of the site damaged by uncontrolled development. The 16-point recommendation of the UNESCO/ICOMOS Review Mission of November 1993 and the pledge made by' the Representative of His Majesty's Government ...
Sites: Kathmandu Valley
Virunga National Park
Zaire
During its examination of monitoring reports, the Committee noted the serious threats to Virunga National Park arising from the Rwandan refugee immigration. Accordingly, the Committee agreed to place Virunga National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Virunga National Park
18 EXT.COM 5.1
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Lebanon
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli, Lebanon, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv);
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
Brief synthesis
The Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli has been erected in Tripoli, the second largest city in Lebanon and the capital of the Northern Governorate, and was designed by Oscar Niemeyer between 1962-1967 and built until 1975. The ...
18 EXT.COM 5.2
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Ukraine
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Historic Center of the Port City of Odesa, Ukraine, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (ii) and (iv);
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
Brief synthesis
The historic centre of Odesa is part of a port city located on the Ukrainian shores of the Black Sea. It stands on a shallow indentation of the seacoast about thirty kilometres north of the Dniester River estuary. The city was ...
Sites: The Historic Centre of Odesa
18 EXT.COM 5.3
Any other matter: Nominations to the World Heritage List - Nominations to be processed on an emergency basis - Yemen
The World Heritage Committee,
Having examined Documents WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/5 and WHC/23/18.EXT.COM/INF.5,
Inscribes the Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba in Marib Governorate, Yemen, on the World Heritage List according to the emergency procedure, on the basis of criteria (iii) and (iv);
Taking note that the authenticity, integrity, protection and management of the property or its potential vulnerabilities could not have been fully evaluated at this stage due to the lack of a technical evaluation mission to the site,
Adopts the following Statement of Outstanding Universal ...
VII.6 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Cote d' Ivoire)
The Committee recalled that the site was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries. It furthermore recalled that an extensive report was presented to the Bureau at its nineteenth session in July 1995.
The Committee noted that in response to the Bureau's request for clarifications on the legal protection and classification of the site, the Ministry for ...
V11.7 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The IUCN Representative informed the Committee that recent information on the site indicates that the civil unrest continues to restrict management efforts. Habitat conditions in a portion of Manas were still intact, but numbers of large fauna species were particularly low due to commercial poaching.
The Committee recalled that it had on numerous occasions expressed its concerns on the state of conservation of the site and requested the State Party to provide detailed information.
The Committee took note of the intervention by the Observer of ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
VII.8 Air-et-Tenere Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that at the request of the Niger authorities, the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 as it was affected by civil disturbances. A Peace Accord was signed in October 1994.
The Delegate of Niger took the floor and recommended that an evaluation mission be organized to review the situation at the site.
Meanwhile, the Committee decided that the site would remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The situation will be reviewed by the Committee at its twentieth session in the light of information ...
VII.9 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1993 due to an increasing number of threats since the date of its inscription on the World Heritage List in 1979 and that Federal State and local governments, as well as private foundations, had joined forces in providing significant financial support for the management of the site and its long-term restoration.
The World Heritage Centre presented a monitoring report, received from the State Party in November 1995, indicating that the ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
VII.3 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 and that the Bureau at its nineteenth session examined a substantive state of conservation report, prepared by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Representative of IUCN informed the committee that a monitoring mission was undertaken by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention and a detailed monitoring report was prepared. This report indicates that the new water control structure allows an inflow of water on a small scale, ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VII.4 Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 and that information was received from both the Permanent Delegation of the Republic _of Croatia to UNESCO and the Croatian National Commission for UNESCO, indicating that damage from the period of occupation was evident. The Committee furthermore noted that the site was reopened to the public on 10 August 1995 and that the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee approved a request for emergency assistance (communications equipment) for an ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
VII.5 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 and placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 due to threats from poachers, boundary encroachment and unplanned road construction. It took note of the preliminary report by INEFAN (Instituto Ecuatoriano Forestal y de Areas Naturales y Vida Silvestre) on the environmental impact of the construction of the Guamote-Macas road in the Park, and an extensive report of October 1995 provided by the IUCN Office in Ecuador. This report indicates that the road ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VII. 10 Virunga National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that Virunga National Park was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the last session of the World Heritage Committee in December 1994, due to the tragic events in Rwanda and the subsequent massive influx of refugees from that country. It noted that the site is seriously threatened by the uncontrolled arrival of refugees, causing deforestation and poaching at the site.
The Committee took note of the reports provided both by the Secretariat and IUCN, as well as the responses received by the Ministry for the ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
VII.25 Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
In accordance with the recommendation adopted by the Bureau at its eighteenth session in July 1995, the Committee was informed of a mission organized by the World Heritage Centre to Abomey to complete and update the nomination documents and prepare a state of conservation report. The mission recommended to the authorities concerned:
1) to identify more precisely the boundaries of the site and enhance the respect of the buffer zone which should take into account the enclosing walls and the old entrance doors;
2) establish a global conservation and ...
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
VII.26 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Secretariat recalled that at the time of inscription of Angkor on the List of World Heritage and on the List in Danger at the sixteenth session of the World Heritage Committee in Santa Fe, on 14 December 1992, the Committee set forth five obligations it requested the Cambodian authorities to fulfill within a period of three years. This period coming to its term at the end of December this year, H. E. Mr Vann Molyvann, Minister of State of the Royal Government of Cambodia, took the floor at the invitation of the Chairperson to inform the Committee on the ...
Sites: Angkor
VII.27 Old city of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Committee, having taken note of the difficulties which hindered the execution of the programme for which it had approved funds in 1994, requested the Secretariat to continue monitoring its implementation and to present a progress report to the Bureau at its twentieth session. The Committee decided to retain this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
VII.28 Timbuktu (Mali)
The Committee was informed of the state of progress of the pilot project for the preservation of the three mosques of Timbuktu inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The first phase, which was carried out by the national authorities, will be followed in 1995 by the intervention of experts from ICCROM and CRATerre - EAG. This second phase should receive support from the World Heritage Fund.
Having noted that the Mali authorities granted emergency assistance from the national budget to finance conservation work, the Committee endorsed the launching of a ...
Sites: Timbuktu
VII.29 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Committee was informed that since its eighteenth session two expert missions had visited the site. The observations and recommendations of the first mission are set out in a Consolidated Report transmitted to the national authorities, confirming that the work being carried out was of a clearly "renovation" type, risking to irremediably compromise the authenticity of this historic monument. The second mission, carried out from 27 May to 11 June 1995, with the financial support of Oman, by a specialist in mud-brick architecture, provided valuable advice on the ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
VII.30 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Committee decided to wait for the results of the assessment of the conservation policies and practices at the Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, to be undertaken in the context of the course on adobe conservation that will be held at Chan Chan, in late 1996. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
VII.31 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Committee took note of the information provided by the Secretariat that UNESCO had taken all the necessary measures for the implementation of the technical cooperation project that was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its eighteenth session but that it had not received to date the consent of the Polish authorities as to UNESCO's proposals regarding the purchase of the equipment. In the absence of any further clarification from the State Party concerned, the Delegate of the United States of America informed the Committee that the Polish ...
19 COM VIII.A.5
Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
During its examination of monitoring reports, the committee noted threats to Yellowstone National Park (United States of America). On the basis of both ascertained dangers and potential dangers, the committee decided that Yellowstone National Park be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
VII.17 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Cote d'Ivoire)
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 because of negative impacts from a proposed iron-ore mining project and threats due to the arrival of a large number of refugees from neighbouring countries.
The Ministry for Energy and Environment, in collaboration with the "Mission Francaise de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle", organized a Round Table on Mount Nimba which was held in Conakry (Guinea) on 17 and 18 April 1996 with participation from the Secretariat. The Round Table included ...
VII.18 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee recalled that the site was included in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. At the nineteenth session of the Committee, the Observer of India indicated that her Government was ready to welcome a mission by members of the World Heritage Committee and the Director of the Centre to New Delhi, Assam and Manas. In her recent letters, the Ambassador of India to UNESCO reiterated this information and advised that an updated state of conservation report would be available in due course; the latter has not been received to date. The ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
VII.19 Air-et-Tenere Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 at the request of Niger as it was affected by civil disturbances. The Committee recalled that a peace agreement was signed on 20 April 1995 and that it had encouraged the authorities to strengthen their efforts to safeguard the site. In 1995 the dialogue established between the Parties, allowed for a detailed evaluation of the state of conservation of the site as well as the development of an action programme for the recovery of the site.
The Committee ...
VII.20 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1993 and that at its last session, it examined the detailed monitoring report presented by the State Party, which outlined the precedent-setting long-term experimental restoration work necessary to restore the balance of the Everglades ecosystem. The State Party presented an interim monitoring report dated May 1996 outlining the Federal and State of Florida government's US$2 billion partnership efforts with the private sector to protect ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
VII.21 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its nineteenth session it decided that, on the basis of both ascertained dangers and potential threats outlined by the State Party, Yellowstone National Park be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and that the State Party was invited by the Committee to provide information on the results of its required Environmental Impact Statement as related to proposed mining activity adjacent to the Park boundary and mitigating actions. In May 1996, the State Party advised the Centre about the ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
VII.14 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee recalled that at its nineteenth session it examined a monitoring report prepared by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention. This report indicated that the new water control structure allowed for an inflow of water on a small scale and that a colony of the Dalmatian Pelican had been re-established. The report concluded, however, that the integrity of the site had not yet been adequately restored.
As a result, the Committee decided at its nineteenth session to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and requested ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VII.15 Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Committee took note of the results of a international rapid assessment mission organized by the Centre and the Croatian authorities from 5 to 9 May 1996. The mission made an interdisciplinary review of the state of conservation of the site and determined that the World Heritage values had not been adversely impacted by the armed conflict. To the contrary, the mission concluded the natural systems of the area were recovering from pre-war overdevelopment and over-use. The mission surveyed the war damage to Park commercial and ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
VII.16 Sanqay National Park (Ecuador)
At its nineteenth session, the World Heritage Committee called for an Environmental Impact Assessment of road construction activities in the Park and requested information from INEFAN, the National Park administration, on road modifications, a land tenure study and steps for an updated management plan. INEFAN informed the Centre that with respect to the road construction a meeting had been organized with the concerned political authorities and local communities. It was also noted that the road was declared of military interest. The Centre received a ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VII.22 Virunga National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that Virunga National Park was included on the List of World Heritage in Danger in December 1994, due to the tragic events in Rwanda and the subsequent massive influx of refugees from that country. Virunga National Park, situated on the border between Rwanda and Uganda, has been destabilized by the uncontrolled arrival of refugees, causing illegal extraction of wood and poaching at the site.
The Centre wrote to the authorities requesting that the World Heritage Committee be informed about any action to be undertaken to stop ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
VII.24 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Committee was informed of the Secretariat's report to the Bureau on the progress made by the Government of Cambodia in meeting the obligations made to the Committee at the time of the inscription of the site on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee was informed that it continues to assist the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia to prepare the decrees necessary for the enforcement of the Law for the Protection of National Cultural Heritage which was promulgated on 25 January 1996.
The Authority for the Protection ...
Sites: Angkor
VII.2S Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
On September 5, 1996, the area of Dubrovnik was hit by an earthquake. In response to a request from the Croatian authorities, a fact-finding mission was sent to Dubrovnik late November to survey the effects of the earthquake. The expert mission reported that the earthquake caused minimum damage in Dubrovnik. Only some cracks dating back to the earthquake of 1979 had deteriorated.
Very serious damage, however, was caused to the historical town of Ston, which is on the Croatian Tentative List. Inside the city walls nearly all buildings were damaged ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
VII.26 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Bureau at its twentieth session was informed that an expert mission would visit the site. This mission was undertaken in September 1996 and several recommendations were made regarding conservation techniques, proj ect management etc. All of these were accepted by the Omani Government.
After having examined the report of the Secretariat on the expert mission to Bahla Fort, the Committee thanked the Omani authorities for their efforts towards safeguarding the site and the satisfactory use of traditional materials, and to have adopted the recommendations of the ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
VII.27 Archaeological zone of Chan Chan (Peru)
It was recalled that an extensive report on the state of conservation of Chan Chan was submitted to the Committee at its seventeenth session in Cartagena in 1993 which concluded that the issue of encroachment and land occupation needed to be addressed in order to reclaim and secure the site. In 1996, the Government of Peru initiated this process. Long-term protection of the site is now a concern for the site managers and several alternatives of securing the site are presently under study.
Furthermore, a Pan-American Course on the ...
VII.28 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
At its eighteenth session in 1994, the Committee approved an amount of US$ 100,000 to purchase the dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures of this World Heritage site in Danger.
A contract to this effect was negotiated and signed between the Culture Sector of UNESCO and the Polish Permanent Delegation. The project is to be completed before the end of 1997.
The Committee commended the Polish authorities and the Marie Curie Foundation for their efforts in order to preserve the precious salt sculptures at Wieliczka, ...
VII. 50 Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (Germany)
It was recalled that the Committee during its nineteenth session invited the German authorities to provide a full state of conservation report on the site, including statements concerning legal protection, current planning and development of Potsdam, as well as information on possible extensions of the site and/or buffer zones adjacent to the site.
Furthermore, during its twentieth session in June 1996, the Bureau expressed its serious concern about urban development plans in Potsdam, particularly the "Potsdam Centre" project, ...
VII.31 Galapagos National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee recalled extensive discussions at its eighteenth and nineteenth sessions, on the issues and threats facing the site and that the Bureau at its twentieth session considered the report of the mission led by the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee (1-11 June 1996) to examine the situation of the Galapagos Islands. The Bureau, while recognizing the considerable efforts made, concluded that serious problems existed, such that immediate remedial actions were essential to safeguard the values of the World Heritage site and the ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
VII.32 Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled discussions held at its twentieth session concerning reports received by the University of Berne (Switzerland) on the deterioration of the Walia ibex population and other large mammals (such as bushbuck, Simen fox and bushpig) which have become extremely rare. At the twentieth session of the Bureau additional information on the state of conservation of the site was provided by IUCN (loss of biodiversity, encroachment at the borders of the site, impacts of the road construction) and a report ...
Sites: Simien National Park
VII. 36 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee recalled that the site was included on the World Heritage List in 1980 and took note of the report presented by IUCN on threats to the site which was prepared in cooperation with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. The report confirmed that the construction of dams had a devastating impact on the wetland values of Ichkeul National Park. The significant adverse environmental impact of the construction of two dams limiting the freshwater flow to the area was also described in a recent report by the Tunisian Ministry of the Environment. ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VII.37 Garamba National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that due to the success of the safeguarding action of the northern white rhino population by the World Heritage Committee, IUCN, WWF, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zaire authorities, the site was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. In April 1996, the Centre and IUCN received information on the poaching of two white rhinos.
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session took note of additional information provided by IUCN on the loss of three rangers killed at the site and information based ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
VII.4 The Committee at its twentieth session examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-96/CONF.201/7B, and additional information provided in Information Document WHC-96/CONF.201/INF.23 and decided to include the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
Garamba National Park ...
VII.56 During the examination of the state of conservation, delegates raised the question of delisting properties from the World Heritage List. The Committee noted that while the procedure for the eventual deletion was outlined in paragraphs 46 to 56 of the Operational Guidelines, more detailed criteria would be required to evaluate if a property has lost all the values for which it was inscribed.
VII.16 Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, on the basis of the findings of a technical mission to the site and IUCN reports, and approved a sum of US$ 30,000 for a meeting with stakeholders and donors, scheduled to be held in April 1997. The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June 1997, learnt that the Regional Authorities in Bahr Dar, where Simen National Park is located, had disagreed with the Committee's decision to declare Simen as a World Heritage site in ...
Sites: Simien National Park
VII.17 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee recalled that at the time of its last session (Merida, 1996), UNESCO's Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs Office was considering a proposal for setting up an "International Foundation for Mount Nimba". The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June, 1997, was informed that such a foundation cannot be created by UNESCO but could be set up under the national legislation of a suitable State Party, following the example of the Foundation established for the Banc d'Arguin, (Mauritania) in ...
VII.18 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee, at its last session (Merida, 1996), included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, and requested the State Party to implement the eleven-point corrective action plan that had been endorsed by the Minister for the Environment of Honduras. The Sub-Secretary for the Environment of Honduras, via letter of 12 September 1997, has provided a description of the proposed use of the US$ 30,000 approved by the Bureau in 1996. These funds will form a component of the larger GTZ-KFW (Germany) project, which in its first year ...
VII.20 Air-and-Ténéré Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the Delegate of Niger, at the twenty-first session of the Bureau, was of the view that the state of conservation of the site had considerably improved and the site may be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger and that a monitoring mission to the site was foreseen for autumn 1997. The Centre informed the Committee that this mission did not take place due to time constraints. IUCN informed the Committee that a number of activities are underway to resume the IUCN/Danish/Swiss Cooperation project at this site.
In ...
VII.21 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it found that the construction of two dams had limited freshwater flow, dramatically increased the salinity of the lake and marshes and led to sharp reductions of migratory bird populations. In 1996, the Committee decided to declare Ichkeul as a World Heritage site in Danger and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site and alerted them to the possibility of the deletion of Ichkeul from the World Heritage ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VII.22 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it noted significant progress made with regard to acquisition of land, refinement of ecological indicators, and generous Federal and State allocations of financial and human resources, but decided to retain this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger due to continued prevalence of threats. In response to the Committee's call to the State Party to share knowledge and experience gained through the restorative effort, the Park authorities convened an ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
VII.23 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it commended the initiative of the President of the State Party to remove the potential mining threat to Yellowstone National Park, by offering a mutually agreed upon trade of land valued at US$ 65 million, and requested the State Party to outline, before 15 September 1997, the steps and schedule for threat mitigation which could be followed. Since then a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Cooke City Mineral Withdrawal was issued and ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
21 COM VII.B.9-10
Reports on the State of Conservation on Properties Inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
VII.9 The Committee examined reports on the state of conservation of twenty properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as submitted in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8A and complemented with information provided by the Secretariat and the advisory bodies during the session.
VII.10 The observations and recommendations of the Bureau at its twenty-first session (see WHC-97/CONF.208/4) were transmitted to the respective States Parties. The Committee took note of the integrated report provided by IUCN and the World Heritage Centre contained in Working Document ...
VII.11 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee recalled that at its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995) it requested the Bulgarian authorities to submit a threat-mitigation status report in 1998. The Committee requested the State Party to submit, before 1 September 1998, a status report on measures taken to mitigate threats to the site.
The Committee requested IUCN to review that report and to recommend measures to the consideration of the Committee at its next session. The Committee decided to retain Srebarna in the List of World Heritage in ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VII.12 Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Committee recalled that at its last session (Merida, 1996), it decided to retain this site on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to damage to the Park infrastructure and possible negative impacts due to over-visitation. The Bureau, at its twenty-first ordinary session held in June 1997, commended the Park authorities for having increased the total area of the Park to include the entire underground basin supplying the Park's lakes and streams. The Park had admitted and managed 270,000 visitors, using educational guided tours. The ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
VII.13 Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IUCN provided a detailed report, including a map showing locations of major areas of armed conflict, refugee camps and rebel activity in relation to Virunga and three other World Heritage sites in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The situation in and around Virunga is unstable with militia groups threatening human population and wildlife. Aerial census of wildlife has not been undertaken since 1995; there are frequent reports of deforestation, poaching and illegal gold mining in the Park. Many ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
VII.14 Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Since the Committee included this property in the List of World Heritage in Danger, at its last session in December 1996, the eastern regions of the country where this site is located have become further destabilised. Infrastructure of the Park has been damaged and wildlife poached. The uncertainty surrounding the new policy as regards nature conservation puts all World Heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under threat.
The Committee decided to retain Garamba in the List of World Heritage in Danger and ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
VII.15 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
At its last session (Merida, 1996), the Committee reiterated its concerns regarding road construction, poaching and colonisation and its call for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the road construction project. The Bureau, at its twenty-first session in June 1997, was informed that colonisation, and small scale mining activities had been stopped, a new management plan was nearing finalisation and that several conservation projects funded by WWF had begun.
The Committee decided to retain Sangay National Park in the List of World Heritage ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VII.24 Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
Having taken note of the amount of work accomplished at the site:
i) collection and analysis of documentation;
ii) elaboration of a maintenance plan for the buildings;
iii) training of craftsmen in co-operation with representatives of the Royal families;
iv) consideration of the anthropological dimension of the site;
v) site of living culture, international meeting "Present-Past-Future" on the Royal Palaces of Abomey which was held in Abomey in September 1997, bringing together international and governmental organizations;
vi) request for ...
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
VII.25 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Secretariat reported on the efforts made by the Royal Government of Cambodia and progress made in the safeguarding activities of this site, including those co-ordinated by UNESCO and funded by France, Indonesia, Italy and Japan. The Secretariat reported that the safeguarding activities, which had been interrupted due to the unrest in the region of Angkor in July 1997, had recommenced and were progressing normally. The Delegate of Japan indicated that the second phase of the Japanese project for the safeguarding of Angkor would begin upon the completion of the ...
Sites: Angkor
VII.26 Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
The Delegate of Croatia informed the Committee that considerable progress had been made in the reconstruction and restoration of Dubrovnik and that an expert committee will meet in January 1998 to review the state of conservation of the city and that the Croatian authorities will inform the Bureau and the Committee of its findings.
The Committee decided to defer the examination of the state of conservation of Dubrovnik and requested the Croatian authorities to submit a report on the state of conservation by 15 April 1998 for examination by the ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
VII.27 Timbuktu (Mali)
Mosques of Sankoré, Djingareyber, Side Yahia
In accordance with paragraph 56 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the Committee invited the Mali authorities to:
i) co-ordinate international aid for the mosques and the City of Timbuktu;
ii) inform the World Heritage Committee, through the UNESCO Secretariat of their intentions to undertake or authorize in a zone protected by the Convention, major restoration work or new constructions, which could modify the value of the World Heritage site, and
iii) evaluate in ...
Sites: Timbuktu
VII.28 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Committee decided that full information on the work undertaken would be submitted to the Bureau, in June 1998, based on the report of the expert mission which visited the site in October 1997.
Sites: Bahla Fort
VII.29 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it had received, on 27 November 1997, a report from the Peruvian authorities on the actions and programmes implemented between 1985 and 1997 for the conservation and management of the site, as well as on tourism infrastructure and educational activities. It also informed the Committee of the recommendations of an ICOMOS expert mission regarding the need to establish a management plan, the importance of the Earthen Architecture Research Centre at Chan Chan and the need to carefully monitor the ...
VII.30 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Committee noted that the installation of the dehumidifying equipment for the site, for which the Committee allocated an amount of US$ 100,000 in 1994, was being completed. The Delegate of Poland thanked the World Heritage Committee and the Government of the United States of America for their support to safeguard the salt mines and informed the Committee that the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system could only be assessed in the second half of 1998. An assessment report will be presented to the next Committee session.
The Committee decided to ...
21 COM VII.C.33-34
SOC: Okapi Faunal Reserve & Kahuzi Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
VII.33 Okapi Faunal Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
At its last session in June 1997, the Bureau, noted that equipment and facilities in this site had been looted and wildlife poached. Fortunately, the staff in this site did not suffer any harm although they had not been receiving any salaries. The Bureau was informed by IUCN that recently a US-based conservation foundation has come forward with financial assistance to pay staff salaries. There are reports of illegal gold mining in the Park occupied by the militia, and the staff have neither facilities nor resources to manage ...
VII.31 The Bureau at its twenty-first extraordinary session examined reports on the state of conservation of fifty-one properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (nineteen natural, three mixed and twenty-nine cultural). The Committee examined twenty-one of them (nine natural, one mixed and eleven cultural properties) and noted the decisions of the twentyfirst extraordinary session of the Bureau on the remaining properties as reflected in working documents WHC-97/CONF.208/4B (Report of the Bureau) and WHC-97/CONF.208/8B.Rev.
VII.32 Manovo-Gounda-St.Floris National Park (Central African Republic)
The Committee recalled that it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List in 1988, following assurances given by the State Party in respect of its commitment to improve the conditions of integrity of the Park, notably with regard to poaching and illegal grazing. A 10- year project, financed by the European Union (EU) at a cost of US$ 27 million, and launched soon after the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List, was expected to show positive results in the future.
The Committee was seriously ...
VII.44 Butrinti (Albania)
The Committee took note of the report of the UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission to the World Heritage site of Butrinti, Albania. It expressed its serious concern about the damages caused to the World Heritage site and about its conditions in terms of protection, management and conservation. The Committee noted that the Minister of Culture of Albania, by letter dated 20 November, fully endorsed the report and requested the World Heritage Committee to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee welcomed the Minister's ...
Sites: Butrint
VIII.4 The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8BRev and decided to include the following natural properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Okapi Faunal Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic)
VIII.5 The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8A and decided to remove the following natural property from the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Committee examined the state of conservation reports contained in Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/8BRev and decided to include the following cultural property on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Butrinti (Albania)
Sites: Butrint
VII.3 Manovo-Gounda-St.Floris National Park (Central African Republic (CAR))
The Committee, at its last session (Naples, 1997), was seriously concerned about the uncontrolled poaching by armed groups which had led to the death of four members of the Park staff, decimated more than 80% of the Park's wildlife populations and brought tourism to a halt. The Committee had welcomed the efforts of the Government of CAR to assign site management responsibilities to a private Foundation and had requested the Centre and IUCN to contact the State Party and the Foundation to prepare a detailed state ...
VII.5 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee, at its last session was informed that colonization and small-scale mining activities had been stopped, a new management plan was nearing finalization and that several conservation projects funded by WWF had begun. The Committee had urged the Centre, in collaboration with IUCN, and agreement with the State Party and possible support from WWF, to plan and organize a site visit to address the problem of the Guamote-Macas road construction project and other threats to the integrity of the site. The Committee was informed that the Bureau, ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VII.11 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee inscribed Ichkeul National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996 and requested the Tunisian authorities to provide a programme of corrective measures to reverse the degradation of the site. The Committee was informed that the Bureau, at its twenty-second ordinary session (June 1998), received a report from IUCN, which provided technical data to indicate that the salinity of the water in the lake may have reached excessively high proportions and that the chances of recovery of the World Heritage values of the site may ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VII.12 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
At its last session (Naples, 1997), the Committee noted significant progress made in the state of conservation of this site following generous Federal and State allocations of financial and human resources. The Delegate of the United States of America provided a detailed state of conservation report on this site, which outlined important measures undertaken to ensure continuing progress in the restoration of this site. In particular, the Committee noted the following:
(i) US$ 26 million worth of land purchases have been ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
VII.13 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
At its last session (Naples, 1997), the Committee noted that the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Minerals Management and the Under Secretary of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment had both signed, on 12 August 1997, the decision authorizing the withdrawal of mineral entry from 22,065 ha near Cooke City, Montana. The potential threat due to the extraction of the New World Mine by Crown Butte was thus mitigated. The Delegate of the United States of America informed the Committee that since then his ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
22 COM VII.1
Reports on the State of Conservation of Properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
VII.1 The Committee examined reports on the state of conservation of twenty-two properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger as submitted in Working Document WHC-98/CONF.203/7 and complemented with information provided by the Secretariat and the advisory bodies during the session.
VII.2 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
At its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995) the Committee had requested the Bulgarian authorities to submit a threat mitigation status report to its twenty-second session in 1998. The Bulgarian authorities submitted the report requested by the Committee on Srebarna Nature Reserve, on 28 August 1998, and invited the Centre and IUCN to field a mission to verify the results of measures undertaken to mitigate threats to the integrity of Srebarna. A team consisting of one specialist each from IUCN and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, and a consultant ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VII.6 Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
The Committee recalled the fact that the regional authorities in Bahir Dar, where this site is located, had disagreed with its decision to include this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996. The Committee was informed that the Bureau, at its twenty-second session (June 1998) had noted with satisfaction the efforts of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Ethiopia and the UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa, to provide more information to the Bahir Dar authorities on the meaning and implications of the Committee's decision to ...
Sites: Simien National Park
VII.7 Mount Nimba Nature Reserve (Guinea/ Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee, at its last session (Naples, 1997), had requested the State Party (Guinea) and the Centre to contact the relevant mining companies, which foresee the exploitation of an iron-ore mine in the vicinity of the Reserve, in order to learn more details of their interest to set up an international foundation for the conservation of Mt. Nimba. The Committee was informed of a letter dated 20 September 1998, from the Permanent Executive Secretary of the MAB National Committee for Guinea informing the Centre that the Nimba ...
VII.8 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee recalled the fact that it included this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1996, and requested the State Party to implement the eleven-point corrective action plan that had been endorsed by the Minister for the Environment of Honduras. The elaboration of a management plan for Rio Platano is being carried out with a contribution of US$ 30,000 from the World Heritage Fund, as part of a large scale project for strengthening the conservation of Rio Platano financed by GTZKFW (Germany). The Committee was informed of a ...
VII.9 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee was informed that the implementation of the rehabilitation plan for this site, approved at the twenty-second session of the Bureau (June 1997), was progressing satisfactorily. All equipment purchased using the first instalment of US$ 75,000 approved under emergency assistance by the Bureau in June 1997, has been delivered to the site. The Committee agreed to the use of the small sum of unspent balance from the US$ 75,000 (i.e. US$ 872) by the UNESCO Office in New Delhi for a sitevisit to Manas in early 1999. Construction of range posts ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
VII.10 Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger)
The Committee at its twentieth (Merida, 1996) and twenty-first (Naples, 1997) sessions had called for a site visit to evaluate the state of conservation in order to determine whether the site could be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee was pleased to note that the findings of the Centre/State Party/IUCN mission to the site, undertaken from 21 September to 3 October 1998, and those of previous exploratory field missions of the IUCN Office in Niger undertaken with the assistance of the Swiss Development ...
VII.14 Butrinti (Albania)
On the basis of a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission (October 1997), the Committee at its twentyfirst session decided to inscribe Butrinti on the List of World Heritage in Danger and to allocate US$ 100,000 as emergency assistance for the implementation of remedial actions.
The Secretariat reported that arrangements had been made with the Albanian authorities for the implementation of concrete actions, such as an inventory and publication of stolen archaeological objects, purchase of water pumps, improvement of fences, the construction of ...
Sites: Butrint
VII.15 Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
At the request of the World Heritage Committee, the Benin authorities prepared a conservation plan, partly financed by the World Heritage Fund. This conservation plan was developed as an instrument for co-operation and partnership to coordinate and ensure the coherence of actions carried out at the site. The Benin Government has allocated additional funding for the implementation of this plan.
Among the objectives set for the coming five years are:
- the establishment of partnerships at the local, national and international level,
- the increase ...
Sites: Royal Palaces of Abomey
VII.16 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Director of UNESCO's Division of Cultural Heritage, reported on progress made in the safeguarding of the site of Angkor which was inscribed on the World Heritage List and simultaneously on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. He recalled that international assistance for Angkor is coordinated by an International Co-ordinating Committee cochaired by the Ambassadors of Japan and France in Phnom Penh, with a Secretariat provided by UNESCO. The International Coordinating Committee for Angkor meets periodically to set priorities and monitor the ...
Sites: Angkor
VII.17 Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
On the basis of a substantive report on the state of conservation of Dubrovnik that was submitted by the Croatian authorities, ICOMOS advised that it was greatly impressed by the restoration works undertaken in Dubrovnik, and strongly supported the request made by Croatia to delete Dubrovnik from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee, following the recommendation of the Bureau, decided with great satisfaction to delete the Old City of Dubrovnik from the List of World Heritage in Danger. It congratulated the Croatian authorities for ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
VII.18 Bahla Fort (Oman)
Following previous expert missions, a third mission took place in September 1998 to assess the quality of the restoration works in terms of authenticity and use of materials, advise on future works and particularly on the preparation of a management plan for an extended area, including the Fort and the oasis, as well as on the hydro-graphic survey that should be urgently undertaken.
The mission reported that photogrammetric works were due to begin, facilitating therefore the restoration of the Fort. It recommended, among other things, that the conservation plan ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
VII.19 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Government of Peru submitted in the course of 1998 periodic progress reports on the preparation of the management plan by an interdisciplinary team of experts.
As to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, the Secretariat informed that this has been relatively modest and that the protective measures, undertaken with emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund, were effective.
As to training, a second Pan-American Course on the Conservation and Management of Earthen Architectural and Archaeological Heritage will be held in Chan Chan in ...
VII.20 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it had received from the Polish authorities a technical report assessing the effectiveness of the dehumidifying system at the mines. The report stated that the system had contributed to the elimination of one of the major preservation hazards to historic sculptures, chambers and passages in the salt mine.
ICOMOS advised that the report was credible and that it fully supported the deletion of the Salt Mines from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee noted with satisfaction that the ...
VII.42 World Heritage sites in Central America
The Secretariat reported that Hurricane Mitch swept over Central America during the final days of October 1998, causing heavy rains and storms and inundating important parts of Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. The region has a number of World Heritage sites, including:
El Salvador: Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site
Guatemala: Tikal National Park
Antigua Guatemala
Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua
Honduras: Maya site of Copan
Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (on the Danger List)
Nicaragua: The site of Leon Viejo, recognised by ...
VII.4 World Heritage sites of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):
Virunga National Park
Garamba National Park
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Okapi Faunal Reserve
The Committee had declared these four sites as World Heritage in Danger, during 1994-1997, as war and civil strife have ravaged the country. The Committee noted that the Bureau, at its twentysecond ordinary session (June 1998), had been of the view that the security situation in the country may be improving. Hence, the Bureau had encouraged the Centre to continue its efforts, in co-operation with international ...
22 COM VIII.2
Removals from the List of World Heritage in Danger: Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) & Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
VIII.2 The Committee recalled that, having examined the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, it had decided to delete the following two properties from the List:
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia)
On the basis of a substantive report on the state of conservation submitted by the authorities of Croatia, the positive advice of ICOMOS on the restoration works undertaken and the recommendations of the Bureau, the Committee decided to delete the Old City of Dubrovnik from the List of World Heritage in Danger (see also paragraph VII.17 of ...
VIII.1 Following the review of the state of conservation reports and at the recommendation of the Bureau, the Committee decided to inscribe the following natural and cultural properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Uganda)
Iguaçu National Park (Brazil)
Hampi (India)
VIII.2 The Committee did not recommend the deletion of properties from the List of World Heritage in ...
23 COM X.A.1
Reports on the State of Conservation of Properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
X.1 The Committee examined that state of conservation of fifteen natural and four cultural properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
X.2 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee was informed that the State Party had submitted a detailed report on the project for monitoring the state of conservation of Srebarna and, in accordance with the request of the twenty-second session of the Committee (Kyoto, Japan, 1998), the Ministry of Environment and Water of the Republic of Bulgaria had submitted a National Report "concerning the progress in restoration of ecological status of Srebarna Reserve in accordance with its removing from the List of World Heritage in Danger". IUCN and the Centre presented a review of the ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
X.3 Manovo-Gounda-St.Floris National Park (Central African Republic (CAR))
The Committee noted with concern that the President of the State Party has not responded to letters from the Director-General and the Chairperson, transmitting the recommendations of the twenty-second session of the Committee (Kyoto, Japan, 1998), inviting the President's urgent intervention for the preparation of a detailed state of conservation report and a rehabilitation plan for the conservation of the site. IUCN informed the Committee that it has received a report that calls for an urgent project formulation ...
23 COM X.A.4
SOC: Virunga National Park, Garamba National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC))
X.4 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Virunga National Park, Garamba National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park, Okapi Wildlife Reserve
The Committee recalled the fact that at its last session (Kyoto, Japan, 1998) it had requested the Centre and IUCN to consult with ICCN and conservation NGOs working in the DRC and estimate the cost of paying allowances to staff at Virunga National Park as an interim measure, and submit a proposal for emergency assistance for consideration by the twenty-third session of the Bureau in 1999. The conservation NGOs, ICCN, concerned bilateral ...
X.5 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee was pleased to note that, in accordance with the recommendation of its twenty-second session (Kyoto, 1998), the State Party had invited a mission to the site. The mission had been undertaken by IUCN experts and representatives of WWF, Fundacion Natura and the Ministry for the Environment of Ecuador, from 10 to 14 June 1999. The State Party did not have adequate time to respond to the mission's findings at the time of the twenty-third session of the Bureau (5-10 July 1999). Hence, the Bureau had requested that the State Party provide a ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
X.6 Simen National Park (Ethiopia)
The Committee noted with concern that the Centre has not yet received a response from the State Party to the letter transmitting the observations and recommendations of the twenty-third session of the Bureau (5 - 10 July 1999). IUCN had requested to consult with relevant authorities, particularly those in Bahir Dar, who disagreed with the decision of the twentieth session of the Committee (Merida, Mexico, 1996) to include Simen in the List of World Heritage in Danger. IUCN has not yet received any response to its requests in this regard. The lack of ...
Sites: Simien National Park
X.7 Mount Nimba Nature Reserve (Guinea/Cote d'Ivoire)
The Director-General of the Centre for Environmental Management of Mount Nimba (CEGEN), via his letter of 21 September 1999, has informed the Centre that the Government of Guinea created the CEGEN in 1995. It continues to explore the feasibility for exploiting the mine immediately adjacent to Mt. Nimba in a manner that would respect the integrity of the World Heritage site. The Government of Guinea, through CEGEN, has over the last few months entered into negotiations with UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to finance a ...
X.8 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee was informed that the State Party has not yet responded to the recommendation of the last session of the Committee (Kyoto, Japan, 1998), reiterated by the twenty-third ordinary session of the Bureau held from 5 to 10 July 1999, to invite an IUCN/Centre mission to the site. IUCN has informed the Centre that some reports it has received question whether the Patuca II hydro power project will get approval for its implementation. The damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 appears to have revived concerns over the ecological ...
X.9 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee was informed that, as requested by the twentythird ordinary session of the Bureau (5-10 July 1999), IUCN has reviewed the justifications, provided by Indian authorities, to the budgetary revisions for the utilization of the US$ 70,000 of the US$ 90,000 approved by the twenty-first session of the Committee (Naples, Italy, 1997). The US$ 70,000 was originally intended for the reconstruction of guard camps and staff residential facilities destroyed during the Bodo militancy from 1989 to 1992. The revisions proposed suggested that the ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
X.10 Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger)
The Committee was informed that the Chairperson had approved, in April 1999, US$ 20,000 for the sensitization of all stakeholders to the conservation needs of the site. The project is one of the five activities foreseen in the emergency rehabilitation plan prepared by the State Party and submitted to the twentythird session of the Bureau in July 1999. The total cost of implementing the plan is estimated at US$ 127,000. The Bureau had endorsed the plan and recommended that the Centre and IUCN explore ways and means for financing the ...
X.11 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee was informed that the Bureau, at its twenty-third ordinary session in July 1999, agreed with the recommendations of a joint IUCN/Ramsar/Centre mission to the site, undertaken in February 1999, in accordance with the wish of Bureau and the Committee expressed at their respective sessions in 1998. The Bureau had welcomed the suggestion of the mission team that the State Party include, in its threat mitigation status report to the twenty-third session of the Committee, definitions of current and expected values for a set of indicators, e.g. ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
X.12 Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session it had requested the State Party to submit an up-to-date state of conservation report on the site, including proposed action being taken by the State Party to determine impacts of rehabilitation measures on the integrity of the site and plans for the eventual removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Observer of the United States of America regretted the delay in the submission of the report requested by the last session of the Committee but informed the ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
X.13 Yellowstone National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that at its last session it had requested the State Party to submit an up-to-date state of conservation report on the site. This should include proposed measures being taken by the State Party to determine impacts of rehabilitation measures on the integrity of the site and plans for the eventual removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Observer of the United States of America regretted the delay in the submission of the report requested by the last session of the Committee but ...
Sites: Yellowstone National Park
X.14 Butrint (Albania)
In response to the UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation assessment mission (October 1997), the Government of Albania has taken important decisions to strengthen management, planning and protection for the site. In August 1998, it created the Office for the World Heritage site of Butrint, for the coordination and implementation of actions at Butrint. In June 1999, it declared the surroundings of Butrint as a "National Park" in order to prevent illegal and inadequate developments; it is foreseen that the extended area will be incorporated in an even bigger Butrint Park. ...
Sites: Butrint
X.15 Angkor (Cambodia)
The Secretariat reported on the results of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Area of Angkor (ICC) which convened its plenary session in June 1999. The Committee's attention was drawn to the decision taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia to grant to a private company the collection of entry fees to Angkor Park for a five-year period, and the allocation in 1999 of US$ 800,000 by this company to the Authority for the Protection of the Site and Development of the Region of Angkor (ASPARA) for conservation ...
Sites: Angkor
X.16 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Secretariat reported that monitoring missions were proceeding regularly and covered the preparation of the management plan of the site and of the surrounding oasis. Restoration works were entirely financed by the Omani Government that, since 1993, invested an amount of more than six million US dollars.
The Mining Museum in Bochum, Germany, provided photogrammetric records of the Fort that are indispensable for the restoration work.
The Committee thanked the State Party for its decision to finance the monitoring missions and the full cost of the restoration ...
Sites: Bahla Fort
X.17 Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that it had received, some ten days before the Committee session, a copy of the very extensive and recently completed Master Plan for the site. This plan was prepared by an interdisciplinary group of experts with assistance from the World Heritage Fund. The Secretariat also reported that at the time of the meeting, the Second Pan-America Course on the Conservation and Management of Earthen Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (Government of Peru, ICCROM, CRATerre EAG, Getty Conservation Institute) was ...
X.20 Iguaçu National Park (Brazil)
The Committee noted that an IUCN/UNESCO mission was carried out to this site in March 1999 and that the results were presented to the July 1999 Bureau session. The mission report dealt with four issues relevant to the integrity of this World Heritage site: The Colon road, helicopter flights, dams on the Iguaçu River, and management planning. The Committee noted that the Bureau, at its twenty-third extraordinary session, examined the issues and progress made and recommended inscription of this property on the List of World Heritage in ...
Sites: Iguaçu National Park
X.21 Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC))
The Committee noted that the heightened levels of threats due to poaching and illegal encroachments as well as the conditions which led the Bureau at its July session to recommend that the Committee inscribe this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger still prevail.
The Committee requested the Centre and IUCN to extend to Salonga the co-operation with the conservation NGOs, ICCN and other partners, targeted to raise international awareness and support for four other World Heritage sites in Danger in the DRC ...
Sites: Salonga National Park
X.22 Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda)
The Committee noted the reports on lack of resources, suspension of projects and serious security issues at the Park and that a greater part of the Park is not monitored by Park staff. The Committee also noted that the Bureau at its twenty-third session, examined the issues and recommended inscription of this property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee expressed its serious concerns regarding the security situation at this site. The Committee requested the Centre and IUCN to work closely with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. ...
X.33 Groups of Monuments at Hampi (India)
The Committee recalled the reports from the twenty-third ordinary and the twenty-third extraordinary session of the Bureau on the state of conservation of this property and adopted the following decision:
"The Committee examined the findings of the UNESCO reactive monitoring mission, and expressing deep concern over the partial construction of two cable-suspended bridges within the protected archaeological areas of Hampi, decided to inscribe the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
In view of the ascertained and potential dangers ...
Sites: Group of Monuments at Hampi
24 COM VIII.1
Reports of the State of Conservation of Properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
VIII.1 The Committee reviewed document WHC-2000/CONF.204/9 describing state of conservation reports of eighteen natural and five cultural properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
VIII.3 Iguacu National Park (Brazil)
The Committee noted that an oil spill that occurred 600 km from the site did not have any major impact on the site. The Committee recognised that the illegal opening and the use of the Colon Road is the most immediate threat to the site and learned that IBAMA has allocated the equivalent of US $560,000 to support action related to the closure of the road and to restore areas affected by road construction. The Committee was informed that the Brazilian participant at the workshop held in Amman, Jordan had informed the Centre and IUCN of other potential ...
Sites: Iguaçu National Park
VIII.4 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Committee was informed that the Minister of Environment and Water, by a letter dated 11 September 2000, has transmitted a state of conservation report to the Centre. The report reached the Centre only on 17 November 2000 and hence allowed only a preliminary desk-review by IUCN. The report describes changes in physical (e.g. water quality) and biodiversity indicators that show improvements in the state of conservation of the site. It outlines measures taken by the State Party to strengthen social, cultural and political support for the ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
VIII.5 Manovo-Gounda-St.Floris National Park (Central African Republic (CAR))
The Committee was informed that a representative of the State Party had presented a paper on the state of conservation of the site at the Amman Workshop held on 6 and 7 October 2000. He had confirmed that poaching, including by armed groups from neighbouring States, was widespread in the area and that an UNESCO/IUCN mission to the site to plan mitigation and rehabilitation measures would be welcome. The UNESCO National Commission of CAR had contacted the Centre and plans to field a mission were underway. The ...
VIII.6 World Heritage sites of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The Committee noted detailed information on the state of conservation of the five sites in the DRC, i.e. Virunga, Garamba and Kahuzi Biega and Salonga National Parks and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, reported from pages 2 to 5 of the document WHC-2000/CONF.204/9. Furthermore, the Committee noted the following additional information reported by the Centre:
(1) In addition to the UNOMC, contacts have been established with members of a UN Panel conducting a Probe on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in DRC and ...
VIII.7 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Committee was informed that the Minister for Environment of Ecuador participated in the Amman Workshop and had noted that the inclusion of the Sangay National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger had helped the Ministry of Environment in negotiations with the Ministry Public Works and other Government bodies to obtain resources to evaluate environmental impacts of the Guamote Macas Road and plan mitigation measures. The Minister was of the view that despite recent improvements in the state of conservation of the site, Sangay should ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
VIII.8 Simien National Park (Ethiopia)
The Committee was informed that the Director of the Department of Agriculture from the Amhara Region, which is directly responsible for the management of this site, participated in the Amman Workshop. In his presentation, the Director had pointed out several improvements in the state of conservation of the site and expressed his disagreement with the 1996 consultant mission findings that led to the Committee to include Simien in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Permanent Delegate of Ethiopia, by letter of 16 October 2000 to the Director of ...
Sites: Simien National Park
VIII.9 Mount Nimba Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee noted that at a World Heritage and Mining Technical Workshop, held at IUCN Headquarters from 20- 23 September, 2000, the case of Mt. Nimba was discussed and participants noted that key issues at this site include: (a) the need for clear boundary demarcation, taking into consideration the boundaries proposed at the time of inscription and changes proposed subsequently; (b) the need for effective transboundary co-operation between the two States Parties (Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire) as well as Liberia, which ...
VIII.10 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee was informed that the Centre/IUCN mission to this site was fielded from 24 to 30 October 2000. A preliminary report of the mission indicated that of the ten major recommendations of the previous (1995) Centre/IUCN mission which led to the inclusion of this site in the List of World Heritage in Danger 1996, five have been implemented. Some notable achievements made since 1995 include: completion of a participatory management plan; increasing on-the-ground management presence; establishment of inter-agency control posts in ...
VIII.11 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Deputy Inspector General for Wildlife of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) in New Delhi, in a letter of 26 September 2000 addressed to the Charge d'Affairs of the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO suggested that the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Centre mission to Manas be undertaken in May 2001. The Deputy Inspector General for Wildlife also presented a paper at the IUCN/Centre Workshop in Amman in which he emphasised the fact that the inclusion of Manas in the List of World Heritage in Danger has influenced State and ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
VIII.12 Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger)
The Committee was informed that the State Party had notified the Centre that it wished to complete implementation of all activities of the rehabilitation programme before requesting the Committee to consider removing this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger. A representative of the State Party who participated and presented a paper at the Amman Workshop confirmed this position of the State Party.
The Committee invited the State Party to submit a comprehensive progress report, before 15 April 2001, to the Centre on the ...
VIII.13 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee was informed that following two winters of adequate rainfall that allowed recovery of the freshwater vegetation, reversal in rainfall patterns has led to a renewed increase in the salinity of Lake waters, resembling levels that prevailed in the area in 1997 and as such, the benefits of the restoration of the Lake achieved during the last two years are in danger of being lost. Such unpredictable, climate-induced reversals are likely to happen in the future. Nevertheless, the Committee stressed the need to fully implement the ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VIII.14 Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda)
The Committee noted that the Executive Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UAW), in his letter of 13 September 2000, has stressed that the Rwenzori Mountains National Park (RMNP) should be retained in the List of World Heritage in Danger, owing to the fact that: (a) RMNP is still closed to visitors and effects of insurgency by armed groups continue to affect management, habitats and wildlife; (b) Communities resident around the Park are equally affected and regard the Park as a major source of resources posing clear threats to habitats and ...
24 COM VIII.15
World Heritage sites of the United States of America: Everglades National Park & Yellowstone National Park
VIII.15 World Heritage sites of the United States of America: Everglades National Park & Yellowstone National Park
The Committee recalled that the twenty-fourth ordinary session of the Bureau requested the Centre and IUCN to meet with the State Party and discuss the preparation of a schedule of actions for complete rehabilitation of the site and its eventual removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Centre, IUCN and relevant authorities from the State Party, including the Directors of the two sites, participated in a conference call on 27 October 2000. The Observer of ...
VIII.16 Butrint (Albania)
The Committee recalled that in October 1997, a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint Foundation mission was undertaken to assess the damages caused to the site by civil unrest earlier that year. US$ 100,000 was made available as emergency assistance in 1997 to implement activities identified in the Programme of Corrective Actions, but to date, no report has been received on its implementation.
The Committee reiterated its request to the State Party to submit a progress report by 15 April 2001 on the implementation of recommendations of the 1997 UNESCO-ICOMOS-Butrint ...
Sites: Butrint