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State of Conservation Mount Athos 1992

Mount Athos

Greece
Factors affecting the property in 1992*
  • Fire (widlfires)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1992
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1992**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1992

The Bureau was informed that the vegetation in this mixed site could have adverse impacts on the landscape in the area. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to contact the Greek authorities and obtain verification of this information and to request them to invite a mission to examine the state of conservation of this site.

A letter outlining the Bureau's concerns and recommendations was sent to the Greek authorities by letter of 14 August 1992. In their reply, dated 9 October 1992, the Greek authorities have informed the World Heritage Centre that 25,732 acres of forest in the area were damaged due to a fire in 1990 and this calamity might have been responsible for reports concerning the removal of vegetation. The Greek authorities have however, pointed out that the natural regeneration of the forest is progressing satisfactorily.

The Greek authorities point out that Mt. Athos is an autonomous region within Greece and removal of timber from the forests by monks resident in Mt. Athos is permitted under a law gazetted in 24 February 1953. This law was amended in 9 April 1991 to ensure that the removal of timber is done on a sustainable basis. The amendment also allowed the establishment of a Forest Service which takes measures to prevent fires. During 1992 there were seven fires caused by lightning, and the Forest Service successfully controlled these fires to maintain damage to the vegetation in this site at minimum possible levels.

The Greek authorities consider the state of conservation of the natural environment to be satisfactory and do not feel that there is a need for a special expert mission.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1992
16 BUR V.27
Mt. Athos (Greece)

The Bureau was informed by the representative of IUCN that the vegetation cover in this mixed site has been destroyed and could have adverse impacts on the landscape in the area. The Bureau requested the World Heritage Centre to contact the Greek authorities and obtain verification of this information and to request them to invite a mission to examine the state of conservation of this site.

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16 COM VIII
SOC: Mt. Athos (Greece)

Mt. Athos (Greece)

The Committee noted that the deforestation in this mixed site could have adverse impacts on the landscape in the area. In response to a request for information from the Centre, the Greek authorities indicated that 25,732 acres of forest in the area were damaged due to a fire in 1990 and this calamity might have been responsible for reports concerning the removal of vegetation. The Greek authorities have, however, pointed out that the natural regeneration of the forest is progressing satisfactorily.

The Committee noted that Mt. Athos is an autonomous region within Greece and removal of timber from the forests by monks resident in Mt. Athos is permitted under a law gazetted on 24 February 1953. This law was amended on 9 April 1991 to ensure that the removal of timber is carried out on a sustainable basis. The amendment also allowed the establishment of a Forest Service which takes measures to control fires. During 1992 there were seven fires caused by lightning, and the Forest Service successfully controlled these fires to maintain damage to the vegetation in this site at minimum possible levels.

The Committee was in agreement with the view of the Greek authorities that the state of conservation of the natural environment in this site is satisfactory and that there was no need for a special expert mission.

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No draft Decision

Next 1994
Report year: 1992
Greece
Date of Inscription: 1988
Category: Mixed
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC-92/CONF.002/5
arrow_circle_right 16COM (1992)
Exports
Next 1994

* : 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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