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State of Conservation (SOC)

Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (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
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

Since the inscription of the property, the Centre has continuously received letters of concern regarding the Festival de Gavarnie, which has been taking place every summer in the Cirque de Gavarnie, a part of the core zone on the French side of this transboundary World Heritage property. According to the information received, the festival constitutes an attraction point of tourism flows in the high season as well as a strong visual impact in an ecologically sensitive area. IUCN noted in its evaluation of the nomination dossier in 1996 that, following an agreement with the local authorities, the festival was about to be relocated. Yet, this relocation has never happened. No further information was obtained from the French authorities despite repeated requests.

 

Furthermore, the Centre was informed that a Management Council was being created to coordinate the management of the French part of the site and to link with the Spanish managing authorities.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15B.36
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Noting that the Festival de Gavarnie has not been relocated,

2. Requests that the authorities halts the contested activities of the Festival at Gavarnie as initially announced at the time of inscription of the property;

3. Welcomes furthermore the authorities’ initiative to set up a Management Council for the French side of the World Heritage property;

4. Invites the States Parties of France and Spain to keep the World Heritage Centre informed on the progress made for the management plan and transboundary coordination of the property;

5. Requests the State Party of France to provide a report on the implementation of the proposed relocation of the Festival by 1 February 2005 for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

Draft Decision:  28 COM 15B.36

 The World Heritage Committee,

 1.       Noting that the Festival de Gavarnie has not been relocated,

 2.       Requests that the local authorities halts the contested activities of the Festival at Gavarnie as initially announced at the time of inscription of the site;

 3.       Welcomes furthermore the local authorities’ initiative to set up a Management Council for the French side of the World Heritage property;

4.       Invites the State Party of France as well as the State Party of Spain to keep the Centre informed on the progress made for the management plan and transboundary coordination of the property;

 5.        Requests the State Party of France to provide a report on the implementation of the proposed relocation of the Festival by 1 February 2005 for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

Pyrénées - Mont Perdu
State Party:
France
Spain
Date of Inscription: 1997
Nomination records (Year): 1995, 1999
Category: Mixed
Criteria: (iii)(iv)(v)(vii)(viii)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1428

* : 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.