Sian Ka'an
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Urban pression
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (SKBR) is located just 50 km South of the world-renowned tourist destination of Cancun. Development pressures on this coastline are tremendous. Recently, a 4 lane divided highway was completed from Cancun to Tulum, at the edge of the SKBR. Over 2 million tourists visit the area just North of the SKBR annually; hotels and secondary residences are being constructed all along the coast to accommodate them. In this context, development pressure on the limited (1,500 ha total) private land holdings within the SKBR is high. To provide a planning framework under which private landowners could develop their land, the governments of Mexico and of the State of Quintana Roo adopted a Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Coastal Zone Environmental Land Use Programme in 2002. Implementation of this programme has been under scrutiny by conservation NGO’s. A concise report was received from the State Party on 16 April 2004, indicating that all new development applications were being rigorously assessed as per the criteria set out in the Land Use Programme. Of the 17 applications for construction permits made to date under the new regulations, nine have been approved, six have been turned down and two are still under revision. Densities are very low and all approved projects include alternative sewage systems to reduce environmental impacts.
The World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the United Nations Foundation (UNF), The Nature Conservancy and Gillette Company, is participating in a US $780,000 private-public initiative to conserve Sian Ka’an wetlands. Entitled “Conservation Action in the Yucatan Coastal Environment: Sian Ka'an World Heritage property”, the project will acquire a critical tract of private land for conservation and support the implementation of the Environmental Land Use Programme for this World Heritage property. Sian Ka’an continues to participate in the UNF/UNEP/UNESCO/RARE Centre for Tropical Conservation project to link sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
28 COM 15B.34
Sian Ka'an (Mexico)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Commending the State Party for its application of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Coastal Zone Environmental Land Use Programme,
2. Welcomes the new project entitled “Conservation Action in the Yucatan Coastal Environment: Sian Ka'an World Heritage property”, managed by the World Heritage Centre and funded by the Gillette Company, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the United Nations Foundation.
Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.34
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Commending the State Party for its application of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Coastal Zone Environmental Land Use Programme,
2. Welcomes the new project entitled “Conservation Action in the Yucatan Coastal Environment: Sian Ka'an World Heritage property”, managed by the Centre and funded by the Gillette Company, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the United Nations Foundation.
Mexico
* :
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.
