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State of Conservation (SOC)

East Rennell (2004)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Lack of monitoring system, Lack of human or financial resources, Lack of institution coordination; Civil unrest.

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

On 5 April 2004 the World Heritage Centre received a letter from the National Commissioner for Culture, Solomon Islands National Commission for UNESCO providing information addressing concerns and issues raised by the Committee (27 COM 7B.12).  He regretted that the four years of civil unrest in the Solomon Islands has been an impediment to prepare a Resource Management Plan for East Rennell and a National World Heritage Protection Bill. Furthermore he indicated that it is not appropriate for the National Government to prepare national legislation to regulate a property governed by customary ownership where land is protected by traditional laws recognized by the National Constitution. The security situation in the Solomon Islands has now greatly improved and the Commissioner has requested financial assistance to conduct a mission in cooperation with the Paramount Chief of East Rennell to prepare for a future UNESCO-IUCN joint mission.

 

On 15 April 2004 funds were decentralized to the UNESCO Office Apia, Western Samoa, to conduct a mission to East Rennell by the Commissioner and the Paramount Chief of East Rennell. A mission report and an action plan were requested by 31 May 2004 for examination by the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee.

 

In addition, the Centre is in close contact with Australia and New Zealand as they have offered their kind support to assist where possible in facilitating the assessment of the state of conservation of East Rennell. During a recent World Heritage Centre mission to New Zealand, the Government of New Zealand offered assistance for a UNESCO-IUCN fact-finding mission to East Rennell and indicated that they will also discuss the matter with the Government of Australia. 

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15B.12
Link to the decision
The World Heritage Committee, 1. Thanks the Solomon Islands National Commission for UNESCO for providing up to date information and conducting a site visit to assess the state of conservation of East Rennell; 2. Requests IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to organize a joint UNESCO - IUCN mission to the property, utilizing expertise from the region to ensure that it is cost-effective; 3. Also requests IUCN and the World Heritage Centre during the mission to: a) assess and report on the state of conservation of East Rennell, b) determine the state of preparation and appropriateness of the Resource Management Plan for the property and the draft national World Heritage Protection Bill, c) document and assess the effectiveness of the customary protection of the property. 4. Further requests IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to present a report on the outcome of the mission for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.12

 The World Heritage Committee,

 1.   Thanks the Solomon Islands National Commission for UNESCO for providing up to date information and conducting a site visit to assess the state of conservation of  East Rennell;

 2.   Requests IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to organize a joint UNESCO - IUCN mission to the property, utilizing expertise from the region to ensure that it is cost-effective;

 3.   Requests IUCN and the Centre during the mission to;

         (a)    assess and report on the state of conservation of East Rennell;

(b)    determine the state of preparation and appropriateness of the Resource Management Plan for the property and the draft national World Heritage Protection Bill; and

(c)    document and assess the effectiveness of the customary protection of the property.

 4.   Requests IUCN and the Centre to present a report on the outcome of the mission for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

East Rennell
State Party:
Solomon Islands
Date of Inscription: 1998
Nomination records (Year): 1997
Category: Natural
Criteria: (ix)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2010
2009
2007
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Civil unrest
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Financial resources
  • Human resources
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1404

* : 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.