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State of Conservation Río Plátano Biosphere ... 2005

Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve

Honduras
Factors affecting the property in 2005*
  • Crop production
  • Forestry /wood production
  • Human resources
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Not indicated

Corrective Measures for the property

a) complete the compensation and relocation of the seven families and 32 land owners remaining in the core zone,

b) cancel all Honduras Forestry Development Commission (COHDEFOR) resolutions related to dead wood harvesting in the Olancho, Colón and Atlándida departments,

c) prevent unauthorized activities in the buffer zone, including: agricultural expansion, illegal logging and poaching, specifically by putting into operation permanent and temporary checkpoints located at critical access points,

d) develop inter-institutional work plans that provide clear definitions of the roles and responsibilities of the various public and private entities involved in the Reserve’s management,

e) disseminate the environmental management plans related to the Ministry of Agriculture’s development strategy within the Valle de Sico’Paulaya zone

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005
Requests approved: 7 (from 1982-1996)
Total amount approved : 198,000 USD
1996 Conservation strategy and preparation of a management ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
1988 Equipment for Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Approved)   20,000 USD
1987 Consultant services, training and equipment for ... (Approved)   30,000 USD
1985 Strengthen protection and management of Rio Platano ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
1983 Implementation of protective measures, of training ... (Approved)   26,000 USD
1982 Financial contribution towards ecodevelopment ... (Approved)   67,025 USD
1982 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Approved)   4,975 USD
Missions to the property until 2005**

IUCN missions in 1995 and 2000, IUCN/UNESCO missions in 2003.

2000 Conservation Status of The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve: A World Heritage Site in Danger. Mission Report for ...
1995 Report on the IUCN Mission to Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, 14-19 November 1995
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005

Based on the recommendations of the 2003 mission, the Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004) established a series of benchmarks to be met in order for the property being removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and called for on-going monitoring of progress on reaching these benchmarks. It requested that an evaluation mission be carried out in early 2005 to assess whether the property could be removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 29th session in 2005.

Monitoring by IUCN during 2004 and early 2005 revealed that some progress in reaching the benchmarks had been made, specifically the relocation of the last families living inside the core zone and the elimination of a decree on the extraction of dead wood. Other issues still need to be redressed, in particular the declining integration of the work between NGO’s and Government, and illegal wood harvesting by local communities. IUCN further notes that a reduction of the protected area staff by 50% seriously compromises the property’s capacity to deliver results. A new forestry law is being reviewed by the Honduran Congress, which includes structural changes likely to affect the property.

The State Party requested that the mission contemplated for early 2005 be postponed to the end of the year. Given the limited progress on the 2003 benchmarks UNESCO and IUCN decided to postpone it until evidence that progress had been made was provided.

The property is participating in the UNESCO – UNF project “Enhancing our Heritage: Monitoring and managing for success in natural World Heritage properties”, which is contributing to reaching the said benchmarks.  

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2005
29 COM 7A.12
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29COM 7A and the Draft Decision 29 COM 7A.12.Rev,,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15A.13 adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Regrets that little progress has been made towards reaching the benchmarks for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger set by the Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004);

4. Expresses its concern about the developments which affect the outstanding universal value of the property;

5. Recommends that the State Party of Honduras work closely with the “Enhancing Our Heritage” project to improve communication and cooperation;

6. Requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2006, a report on the implementation of the remaining recommendations made by the joint 2003 UNESCO/IUCN mission, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

7. Decides to retain the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
29 COM 8C.2
New World Heritage List in Danger

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined the of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-05/29.COM/7A and WHC-05/29.COM/7A.Add),

2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan)(Decision 29 COM 7A.20)
  • Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan)(Decision 29 COM 7A.21)
  • Tipasa (Algeria) (Decision 29 COM 7A.16)
  • Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan) (Decision 29 COM 7A.28)
  • Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) (Decision 29 COM 7A.13)
  • Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Central African Republic)(Decision 29 COM 7A.1)
  • Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) (Decision 29 COM 7A.2)
  • Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea) (Decision 29 COM 7A.3)
  • Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
  • Virunga National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
  • Garamba National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
  • Salonga National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
  • Abu Mena (Egypt) (Decision 29 COM 7A.17)
  • Simien National Park (Ethiopia) (Decision 29 COM 7A.4)
  • Cologne Cathedral (Germany) (Decision 28 COM 7A.29)
  • Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) (Decision 29 COM 7A.12)
  • Group of Monuments at Hampi (India) (Decision 29 COM 7A.22)
  • Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India) (Decision 29 COM 7A.9)
  • Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Islamic Republic of Iran) (Decision 29 COM 7A.23)
  • Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (Decision 29 COM 7A.18)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Jerusalem) (Decision 29 COM 7A.31)
  • Kathmandu Valley (Nepal ) (Decision 29 COM 7A.24)
  • Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (Decision 29 COM 7A.6)
  • Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) (Decision 29 COM 7A.25)
  • Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) (Decision 29 COM 7A.30)
  • Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) (Decision 29 COM 7A.26)
  • Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Senegal) (Decision 29 COM 7A.7)
  • Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) (Decision 29 COM 7A.8)
  • Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) (Decision 28 COM 7A.15)
  • Everglades National Park (United States of America) (Decision 29 COM 7A.10)
  • Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) (Decision 29 COM 7A.19)
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Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.12

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29COM 7A,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15A.13adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Regrets that little progress has been made towards reaching the benchmarks for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, set by the Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004);

4. Requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2006, a report on the progress made towards attaining the benchmarks for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger and the state of implementation of the remaining recommendations made by the 2003 IUCN/UNESCO mission, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006;

5. Decides to retain the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

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Report year: 2005
Honduras
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Danger List (dates): 1996-2007, 2011-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC-05/29.COM/7A
arrow_circle_right 29COM (2005)
Exports
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* : 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.


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