Sangay National Park
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Illegal activities
- Land conversion
- Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- heavy poaching of wildlife,
- illegal livestock grazing,
- encroachment along the Park's perimeter,
- unplanned road construction.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 58,500 USD
| 1993 | Equipement for Sangay National Park (Approved) | 28,500 USD |
| 1985 | Public awareness programmes for local communities and ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1996**
March 1989: IUCN
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
At its last session, the World Heritage Committee called for an Environmental Impact Assessment of the road construction in the Park and requested information from INEFAN, the National Park administration, on road modifications, a land tenure study and steps for an updated management plan. INEFAN informed the Centre that with respect to the road construction a meeting was organized with the concerned political authorities and local communities. It was also noted that the road was declared of military interest. The Centre received a copy of the land tenure study which was concluded in March of this year and the terms of reference for the elaboration of a new management plan were prepared during a workshop in December last year.
Action Required
The Bureau commended INEFAN on its actions but at the same time reiterated the Committee's concerns about the road construction and its request for an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
At its last session, the World Heritage Committee called for an Environmental Impact Assessment of road construction activities in the Park and requested information from INEFAN, the National Park administration, on road modifications, a land tenure study and steps for an updated management plan. INEFAN informed the Centre that with respect to the road construction a meeting was organized with the concerned political authorities and local communities. It was also noted that the road was declared of military interest. The Centre received a copy of the land tenure study which was concluded in March of this year and the terms of reference for the elaboration of a new management plan were prepared during a workshop in December last year.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Bureau recalled that the site was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 due to threats from poachers, boundary encroachment and the adverse impacts of unplanned road construction. It furthermore recalled that at its last session, the World Heritage Committee called for an Environmental Impact Assessment of the road construction in the Park and requested information from INEFAN, the National Park administration, on road modifications, a land tenure study and steps for an updated management plan. Meanwhile, a copy of the land tenure study which was concluded in March of this year and the terms of reference for the elaboration of a new management plan were received. IUCN provided additional information from its Quito Office that the construction company is no longer in charge of the road construction, which was taken over by the military. The Director of the Centre informed the Bureau that discussions have taken place with the Vice President of Ecuador during a recent mission to the country.
The Bureau commended INEFAN on its actions but at the same time reiterated the Committee's concerns about the road construction and its request for an Environmental Impact Assessment.
20 COM VII.C.16
SOC: Sanqay National Park (Ecuador)
VII.16 Sanqay National Park (Ecuador)
At its nineteenth session, the World Heritage Committee called for an Environmental Impact Assessment of road construction activities in the Park and requested information from INEFAN, the National Park administration, on road modifications, a land tenure study and steps for an updated management plan. INEFAN informed the Centre that with respect to the road construction a meeting had been organized with the concerned political authorities and local communities. It was also noted that the road was declared of military interest. The Centre received a copy of the land tenure study which was concluded in March 1996 and the terms of reference for the elaboration of a new management plan were prepared during a workshop in December 1995.
Furthermore, the Secretariat informed the Committee that a report from INEFAN (Instituto Ecuadoriano Forestal y de Areas Naturales y Vida Silvestre) was received on 15 November 1996 on the situation in the Park, which indicated problems with the construction of the Guamote Macas Road, although an agreement was made with the construction firm. An update of the Management Plan is under preparation. The report concluded that the impacts of the road construction should be limited and that a monitoring mission by INEFAN, NGOs and UNESCO may be needed.
IUCN recalled the serious problems of the site, which led to its inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger, including road construction, poaching and colonization.
The Committee commended INEFAN on its actions and its report but at the same time reiterated the Committee's serious concerns about the road construction activities and its request for an Environmental Impact Assessment. The Committee requested the State Party to provide a report by 15 April 1997 for consideration by the Bureau at its twenty-first session.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
"The Committee commends INEFAN on its actions but at the same time reiterates the Committee's concerns about the road construction activities and its request for an Environmental Impact Assessment."
Ecuador
Exports
* :
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.
