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Lake Baikal

Russian Federation
Factors affecting the property in 1997*
  • Legal framework
  • Surface water pollution
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1997
Requests approved: 1 (from 1990-1990)
Total amount approved : 15,000 USD
Missions to the property until 1997**

July 1997: World Heritage Centre mission

Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1997
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, when it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List at its last session (Merida, 1996), noted that the special Lake Baikal Law was in its second reading in the Duma, and expressed its concern over a number of integrity issues, including pollution of the Lake. The Centre has been informed that the special Lake Baikal Law passed the second reading in the Duma; however, the President of the Russian Federation did not sign the Law due to formal considerations. During the Centre's mission to Lake Baikal in July 1997, questions pertaining to the legal status of some parts along the border of the site, in particular that of the Sarminskal Forest at the border of the Pribaikalsi National Park, were raised with the authorities of the State Committee for the Environment and the local Government.

The Bureau expressed its concern regarding the adequacy of the legal basis available for the protection of the entire World Heritage site and requested the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the status of the special Lake Baikal Law, and the legal status of forests located adjacent to the boundaries of the World Heritage site."
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1997

The Bureau may wish to recall that the Committee, when it inscribed this property on the World Heritage List at its last session (Merida, 1996), noted that the special Lake Baikal Law was in its second reading in the Duma, and expressed its concern over a number of integrity issues, including pollution of the Lake.

The Centre has been informed that the special Lake Baikal Law passed the second reading in the Duma; however, the President of the Russian Federation did not sign the law due to formal considerations. Furthermore, the Centre has received a copy of the Federal Target Programme entitled "Reprofiling of the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill and Solution of Related Social Issues in the City of Baikalsk (1997-2006)" which has been transmitted to IUCN for review.

During the Centre's mission to Lake Baikal in July 1997, questions pertaining to the legal status of some parts along the border of the site, in particular that of the Sarminskal Forest at the border of the Pribaikalsi National Park, were raised with the authorities of the State Committee for the Environment and the local Government.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1997
21 COM VII.C.41
Reports on the State of Conservation of Natural Properties Noted by the Committee

VII.41 The Committee noted the decisions of the twenty-first extraordinary session of the Bureau as reflected in the Report of the Bureau session (Working Document WHC-97/CONF.208/4B Section III.A.c), on the following natural properties:

  • Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
  • Belovezhskaya Pushcha/Bialowieza Forest (Belarus/Poland)
  • Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves/La Amistad National Park (Costa Rica/Panama)
  • Shirakami Sanchi and Yakushima Island (Japan)
  • Whale Sanctuary of El Viscaino (Mexico)
  • Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)
  • Lake Baikal (Russian Federation)
  • Virgin Komi Forests (Russian Federation)
  • Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
  • Durmitor National Park (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)).

The Bureau may wish to adopt the following text and transmit it to the Committee for noting:

"The Bureau expresses its concern regarding the adequacy of the legal basis available for the protection of the entire World Heritage site and requests the Russian authorities to provide, before 1 May 1998, detailed information on the status of the special Lake Baikal Law, and the legal status of forests located adjacent to the boundaries of the World Heritage site."

Report year: 1997
Russian Federation
Date of Inscription: 1996
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
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.


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