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State of Conservation (SOC)

Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park (2007)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1982-1997)
Total Amount Ap proved: 276,350USD

1997   Technical assistance for Talamanca-La Amistad (NOT IMPLEMENTED)   19,900  USD
1993   Technical assistance for La Amistad World Heritage site   0  USD
1992   Repair of damage to housing of staff at Talamanca -La Amistad, ...   10,000  USD
1990   La Amistad: construction of 3 guard posts, purchase of field ...   50,000  USD
1990   Various conservation and training activities for La Amistad   50,000  USD
1988   Equipment and financial contribution for strengthening the ...   30,000  USD
1985   Improvement of infrastructure, implementation of the management ...   40,000  USD
1985   Strengthening the protection and management of Talamanca-La ...   32,150  USD
1983   Training programme, improvement of infrastructures and equipment ...   30,000  USD
1982   In situ training of wardens of La Amistad Reserve   14,300  USD
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

On 23 April 2007, the International Environmental Law Project of Lewis & Clark Law School (Portland, Orgegon) published an on-line petition directed to the World Heritage Committee requesting that the property be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (see http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/press/la-amistad-04-23-2007.html). The petition documents threats to the outstanding universal value and to the integrity of the property. The main threats described in the petition are, inter alia:

a) Destruction of migration corridors critical for the life cycles of several aquatic species due to the imminent construction of several hydroelectric dams on Changuinola / Teribe watershed downstream from the property. The loss of migration corridors would lead to the loss of 75% of aquatic biodiversity in 704 kilometres of rivers that flow within the property;

b) Increased access to the property due to the road building associated with the dam construction;

c) Establishment of new settlements adjacent to property boundaries to supply dam construction labour (estimated 4,150 people, according to the environmental impact assessment) may lead to poaching and other intrusions into the property;

d) Human encroachment into park lands. An estimated 400 to 500 people have landholdings for farming and cattle ranching, within the property.

e) There is no clear and visible boundary to the park, leading to confusion and encroachment.

The petition makes reference to the Binational Report on the Management Evaluation of the Environmental Authorities of Costa Rica and Panama in the Integrated Management of the Amistad National Park, carried out by auditors for both Costa Rica and Panama. This report, published in 2004, also provides detailed information on the state of conservation of La Amistad National Park, the main component of the property. The report notes a deteriorating situation in regards to invasion of the park in four sectors within Costa Rica, with more than 7,700 hectares of forest being altered by human encroachment between 1992 and 2001, warning that without prompt action, the situation could have irreversible repercussions on ecosystem health. In Panama, the report notes a loss of approximately 4,000 hectares of forest between 1986 and 2000, with a worrying increase in deforestation fronts. The auditors’ report also notes a declining trend in key indicator species in Costa Rica, which include the tapir, the southern river otter, the red brocket deer, attributed to poaching for bushmeat or for wildlife trade.

Based on the evidence provided in these two well researched and credible reports, IUCN and the World Heritage Centre believe that the integrity and outstanding universal value of this transboundary property are being threatened.  

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

31COM7B.36
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1.       Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add,

2.       Recalling Decision 28 COM 15B.33, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3.       Regrets that plans for hydroelectric dams adjacent to the property's boundaries have not been communicated to the World Heritage Centre, as per Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines; 

4.       Notes with concern that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property may be at risk from these dams, from poaching, and from encroachment by local farmers on both sides of the international boundary;

5.       Requests the States Party of Panama and Costa Rica to jointly invite a World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission in 2008 to asses the state of conservation of the property with a particular focus on evaluating the status and impacts of hydroelectric dam construction, of assessing the extent of incompatible land uses and measures in place to deal with them, and assessing other conservation threats to the property.

6.       Also requests the States Party of Panama and Costa Rica to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 a report on the state of conservation of the property, including the implications of the proposed hydroelectric dams on the aquatic biodiversity of the Changuinola /Teribe watershed, the presence of incompatible land uses within the property's boundaries, updated information on poaching activities, and on the measures taken to deal effectively with these issues, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Draft Decision: 31 COM 7B.36

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15B.33, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Regrets that plans for hydroelectric dams adjacent to the property’s boundaries have not been communicated to the World Heritage Centre, as per Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;

4. Notes with concern that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property may be at risk from these dams, from poaching, and from encroachment by local farmers on both sides of the international boundary;

5. Requests the States Party of Panama and Costa Rica to jointly invite a World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission in 2008 to asses the state of conservation of the property with a particular focus on evaluating the status and impacts of hydroelectric dam construction, of assessing the extent of incompatible land uses and measures in place to deal with them, and assessing other conservation threats to the property.

6. Also requests the States Party of Panama and Costa Rica to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 a report on the state of conservation of the property, including the implications of the proposed hydroelectric dams on the aquatic biodiversity of the Changuinola /Teribe watershed, the presence of incompatible land uses within the property’s boundaries, updated information on poaching activities, and on the measures taken to deal effectively with these issues, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park
State Party:
Costa Rica
Panama
Date of Inscription: 1983
Nomination records (Year): 1982
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2004
1993
1992
1991
1990
Threats*
  • Housing
  • Water infrastructure
  • Land conversion
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1071

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.