Galápagos Islands
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Financial resources
- Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Invasive / alien marine species
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Fire (issue resolved);
- Limited protected area;
- Over fishing;
- Tourist pressure;
- Lack of financial resources;
- Need of a special law (issue resolved)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 517,850 USD
Missions to the property until 1998**
June 1996: fact-finding mission
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1998
The Committee, at its last session (Naples, 1997) commended the recent efforts and commitment of the Government of Ecuador to address the complex threats to the integrity of this site and the surrounding marine ecosystem and noted that the draft "Special Galapagos Law", that had been approved in a first debate by the Ecuadorean Congress, is the centrepiece of an effective conservation strategy for the site. The Committee, however, invited the Government of Ecuador to notify, in a timely fashion, the Chairman of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Law. The Committee, although it did not include the site in the List of World Heritage in Danger decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairman of the World Heritage Committee of the enactment and entry into force of the “Special Galapagos Law”, then the Galapagos Islands be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Permanent Delegate of Ecuador to UNESCO, via his letter of 22 April 1998, transmitted a copy of the “Special Law on the Galapagos”, which has been published by the Official Registry of Ecuador as Law No. 278 on 18 March 1998, to the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee. At a meeting between the Ambassador of Ecuador, the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and the Director of the Centre, the Chairperson took note of the official notification and commended the Government of Ecuador for its efforts. The Chairperson however, stressed the importance of the implementation of the Special Law to protect this World Heritage site.
IUCN, in its report to the Centre on the state of conservation of Galapagos, has pointed out that the Law if implemented will greatly strengthen conservation in both the islands as well as in the surrounding marine reserve, which was extended from 24 to 64 km offshore. The Law addresses most of the major issues (particularly alien species and management of the marine reserve) relating to conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos and has been drafted on the basis of the outcome of an intense national debate. The main highlights of the Law and the evaluation of its effectiveness as provided by the Charles Darwin Foundation may be summarised as follows:
- Regulations: The law deals with control of introduced species, regulation of transport of introduced organisms, their eradication in agricultural lands, establishment of a quarantine inspection system, environmental impact assessment (EIA) and audit. However, the law says little about regulation of tourism, an activity which is part of the introduced species problem, but could contribute towards its solution as well.
- Local appreciation, participation and incentives: Environmental education is strongly promoted. Institutions and individuals have a duty to participate in all aspects of the control of introduced species. Incentives have been provided by promoting local economic benefit in terms of improved social service, exclusive rights to future tourism and fishing opportunities and promotion of locally based tourism. Local responsibility for the conservation and development of the Islands is greatly enhanced, through participation in the INGALA (the Instituto National de Galapagos) Council and the Marine Reserve authority.
- Local skills: The law provides tax incentives for organisations to preferentially hire local permanent residents rather than outside contractors and temporary residents.
- Conservation institutions: The GNPS will be strengthened by the retention of 40% of visitor entry fees, 5% each will be used to support the quarantine system, Marine Reserve and Navy, and a further 40% will go to the Town Councils and other local authorities which they must use for projects and services related to environment and tourism. The Town Councils have also been charged with additional environmental protection duties.
- Co-ordination: INGALA (the Instituto National de Galapagos) has been re-created with responsibilities for co-ordinating policies and planning throughout Galapagos. Its 13-member Council and three Committees will be the key for resolving conservation and development problems. It will be important that their decisions are based on technical information and the principles established in the Law and, within protected areas, policy differences between INGALA and the protected areas authority should be resolved in favour of conservation. The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), which has been included in INGALA as a non-voting member of the Council, could play an important role in this regard.
- Population size: The law introduces residence controls, which are a vitally important requirement for conservation of Galapagos. The extent to which the measures would effectively reduce inward migration would depend on INGALA’s firmness and transparency in implementing the relevant provisions. However, the residence provisions of the Law have a series of weaknesses whose minor reforms need to be given some consideration during the implementation of the Law.
- Marine Resources: The CDRS and GNPS initiated in mid-1997 a participatory planning process which generated a consensus within Galapagos on the principles for marine conservation. These principles were adopted in the Law, which provides for: (a) the Establishment of the Marine Reserve as a protected area and (b) the expansion of the Reserve boundaries to 64 km around the whole archipelago within which area only tourism and artisanal fishing are permitted. Although the definition of “artisanal” still requires clarification the provisions of the Law concerning marine areas has provided a historic opportunity for conserving 130,000 sq. km of a very important marine ecosystem.
Action Required
22nd extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1998:
The Committee at its twenty-first session (Naples,1997) invited the Government of Ecuador to notify the Chairperson of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Galapagos Special Law. The Committee decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second ordinary session of the Bureau, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairperson of the enactment and entry into force of the “Special Galapagos Law”, the Galapagos Islands be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
At its twenty-second ordinary session in June 1998, the Bureau was informed that the «Special Law on the Galapagos» was published, on 18 March 1998, by the Official Registry of Ecuador as Law No. 278, and that the Chairperson of the Committee had been officially notified of the enactment and the entry into force of the Law. Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Committee not consider Galapagos Islands for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau noted that the Law, if implemented, would greatly strengthen conservation in both the Galapagos Islands as well as in marine waters surrounding them. The Law provides for the extension of the outer boundary of the marine reserve from 24 to 64 km offshore and for the establishment of a significant 130,000 km2 Reserve for the conservation of marine biodiversity where only tourism and artisanal fisheries will be permitted. The Bureau was satisfied to note that the Law addresses most of the major issues relating to conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos, including:
- regulations for the control and eradication of introduced species and the establishment of a quarantine inspection system;
- appreciation of Galapagos by local people and their participation in its conservation through environmental education;
- building local skills and conservation institutions, including the strengthening of the GNPS and improving inter-agency co-ordination through the work of a revived INGALA (Instituto National de Galapagos);
- immigration and residence control measures to stabilise the rate of growth of human population size; and
- a participatory planning process for marine resources conservation.
The Bureau commended the Government of Ecuador and all agencies, groups, local residents and experts for reaching a consensus on this new Law. The Bureau urged the Ecuadorian authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the Law and invited them to re-nominate the Marine Reserve, deferred by the Committee in 1994, to be a part of the World Heritage site as soon as the management plan for the Marine Reserve is finalised in 1999.
The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) have jointly implemented a project, partly financed by a US$ 20,000 grant from the World Heritage Fund, to gather basic information needed for the establishment of an ecological monitoring system for Galapagos. The final report of the project has been submitted and includes an exhaustive list of introduced species belonging to a number of animal and plant taxa. CDRS and GNPS have also submitted an international assistance request for US$ 100,000 for a 15 month-project for developing and building the necessary capacity for establishing a quarantine system for the control of the introduction and spread of alien species. Furthermore, the Centre and IUCN have been informed that an Inter-American Development Bank Project is being developed for Galapagos and, if approved, could facilitate the effective implementation of the Special Galapagos Law, particularly with regard to the conservation of marine resources and for ensuring sustainable tourism development.
Decision required: The Bureau may wish to transmit the above report to the Committee for examination and recommend the following for adoption:
“The Committee commends the Ecuadorean Government for ensuring the passage of, and entry into force of the Special Galapagos Law and decides not to consider including the Galapagos in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee urges the State Party to re-nominate, in 1999, the Marine Reserve as an extension of the World Heritage site. The Committee draws the attention of the State Party to the Bureau’s recommendation, made at its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, that the State Party submit annual reports on the state of conservation of Galapagos until the end of the year 2002. The Committee invites the State Party to submit the first of the requested series of annual reports to the twenty-third session of the Committee in 1999
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
The Committee at its twenty-first session invited the Government of Ecuador to notify the Chairperson of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Galapagos Special Law. The Committee decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second ordinary session of the Bureau, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairperson of the enactment and entry into force of the “Special Galapagos Law”, the Galapagos Islands be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
At its twenty-second ordinary session in June 1998, the Bureau was informed that the Law on the Galapagos)) was published, on 18 March 1998, by the Official Registry of Ecuador as Law No. 278, and that the Chairperson of the Committee had been officially notified of the enactment and the entry into force of the Law. Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Committee not consider Galapagos Islands for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau noted that the Law, if implemented, would greatly strengthen conservation in both the Galapagos Islands as well as in the marine waters surrounding them. The Law provides for the extension of the outer boundary of the marine reserve from 24 to 64 km offshore and for the establishment of a significant 130,000 Reserve for the conservation of marine biodiversity where only tourism and artisanal fisheries will be perrnitted. The Bureau was satisfied to note that the Law addresses most of the major issues relating to conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos, including:
~ regulations for the control and eradication of introduced species and the establishment of a quarantine inspection system;
- appreciation of Galapagos by local people and their participation in its conservation through environmental education;
- building local skills and conservation institutions, including the strengthening of the GNPS and improving inter-agency co-ordination through the work of a revived INGALA (Instituto National de Galapagos);
- immigration and residence control measures to stabilise the rate of growth of human population size; and
- a participatory planning process for marine resources conservation.
The Bureau commended the Government of Ecuador and all agencies, groups, local residents and experts for reaching a consensus on this new Law. The Bureau urged the Ecuadorian authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the Law and invited them to re-nominate the Marine Reserve, deferred by the Committee in 1994, to be a part of the World Heritage site as soon as the management plan for the Marine Reserve is finalized in 1999.
The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) have jointly implemented a project, partly financed by the World Heritage Fund, to gather basic information needed for the establishment of an ecological monitoring system for Galapagos. The final report of the project has been submitted and includes an exhaustive list of introduced species belonging to a number of animal and plant taxa. The Bureau was informed that an Inter-American Development Bank Project is being developed for Galapagos and, if approved, could facilitate the effective implementation of the Special Galapagos Law, particularly with regard to the conservation of marine resources and for ensuring sustainable tourism development. The Bureau learned that the UNESCO Office in Quito has entered into agreement with the Ecuadorian Ministry for the Environment for providing legal assistance on the implementation of the Galapagos Law and that the volcanic eruption of the Cerro Azul on Isabela Island did not have any major impacts on the wildlife of Galapagos.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 EXT.BUR V.2
Requests for International Assistance - Natural heritage
TRAINING
Cameroon ( Three training fellowships at the School for the Training of Wildlife Specialists, Garoua, Cameroon for the Academic Biennium 1999-2001) - US$ 45,000
The outgoing Bureau recommended approval of US$ 45,000 by the Committee.
Oman (Regional capacity building training workshop for the promotion of awareness in natural heritage conservation) - US$ 40,000
The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval of US$ 40,000 by theCommittee, subject to the State Party submitting to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a revised proposal with well-focused and clearly defined objectives, better definition of target groups, exact dates for the workshop and links to IUCN/WCPA’s activities for the Arab region. The workshop should include a field exercise component where workshop participants would review the status of the on-going management planning and boundary demarcation project for the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, and prepare a report for submission to the 23rd session of the Committee in 1999. The Committee may wish to recommend linking the outcome of this training activity to the Bureau’s concerns regarding the state of conservation of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary of Oman.
Russian Federation (Lake Baikal training workshop for Russian and Trans-boundary World Natural Heritage Site Managers and perspective Site Managers) - US$ 48,258
The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval of US$ 48,258 by theCommittee.
The Bureau recommended that the Committee may wish to request IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to co-operate with the State Party in refining the structure and objectives of the training workshop. Furthermore, the Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party submit a report on the results of the training activity to the 23rd session of the Committee in 1999.
WCMC ( Integrating biodiversity information management into curricula of regional wildlife/protected area management training institutions – project development workshop) - US$ 40,220
The outgoing Bureau recommended that US$ 30,000 be approved by theCommittee as a contribution to the organization of the project development workshop (Phase 1).
The outgoing Bureau recommended that the Committee may wish to endorse WCMC’s efforts to seek additional funding from the Darwin Initiative (UK) for the implementation of Phases 2 and 3 of the training materials and curriculum development project.
TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION
Ecuador (Ecological monitoring in the Galapagos Archipelago – establishing a quarantine system for monitoring the introduction and spread of alien species) - US$ 100,000
The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval by the Committee of US$ 92,500 as per the revised budget submitted by the State Party, of which US$ 61,000 under the technical co-operation and the balance of US$ 31,500 under training. The Committee may with to commend the efforts of Ecuador for launching this project to mitigate the problem of the introduction and spread of alien species in the Galapagos.
The Bureau recommended that the Committee may wish to endorse the World Heritage Centre’s efforts to link this project to global efforts, undertaken as part of the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and that of organizations such as SCOPE (Scientific Committee for the Protection of the Environment), to address problems of introduced species worldwide.
IUCN - Environmental Law Centre (Legal interpretation and application of the World Heritage Convention) - US$ 212,440
The outgoing Bureau recommended that the Committee may wish to express its support, in principle, to the project concept and request IUCN-ELC to circulate the proposal widely to receive comments for further refinements, particularly with regard to the expected outcome of the project.
The Bureau recommended that the Committee may wish to urge IUCN-ELC and the World Heritage Centre to co-operate in identifying donors who would be willing to provide the sum of US$ 90,000 needed to finance the cost of two legal consultants (US$ 60,000) and one research associate (US$ 30,000), respectively. If IUCN-ELC and the World Heritage Centre are successful in raising this initial amount of expert costs needed to initiate the project, IUCN-ELC may submit individual proposals for the organization of the expert panel review and regional workshops for support from the World Heritage Fund at the appropriate time.
Niger (Strengthening management at “W” National Park) - US$ 73,000
The outgoing Bureau recommended the approval by the Committee of US$ 45,000 for the purchase of two 4-wheel drive vehicles, on the condition that the State Party:
(a) pays its contributions to the World Heritage Fund for 1997;
(b) acknowledges receipt of, and provides an inventory of equipment already received in 1998, to the World Heritage Centre and;
(c) finalizes all administrative matters regarding the equipment purchase project funded by the US$ 50,000 approved by the Committee in 1997.
22 BUR V.B.26
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its twenty-first session invited the Government of Ecuador to notify in a timely fashion, the Chairperson of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Galapagos Special Law. The Committee, although it did not include the site in the List of World Heritage in Danger, decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second session of the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee of the enactment and entry into force of the “Special Galapagos Law”, then the Galapagos Islands be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Permanent Delegate of Ecuador to UNESCO, via his letter of 22 April 1998, transmitted a copy of the “Special Law on the Galapagos”, published by the Official Registry of Ecuador as Law No. 278 on 18 March 1998, to the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee. At a meeting between the Ambassador of Ecuador, the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee and the Director of the Centre, the Chairperson took note of the official notification and commended the Government of Ecuador for its efforts. The Chairperson however, stressed the importance of ensuring effective implementation of the Special Law to protect this World Heritage site.
IUCN, in its report to the Centre on the state of conservation of Galapagos, has pointed out that the Law, if implemented, will greatly strengthen conservation in both the islands as well as in the surrounding marine reserve, which was extended from 24 to 64 km offshore. The Law addresses most of the major issues (particularly alien species and management of the marine reserve) relating to conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos and has been drafted on the basis of the outcome of an intense national debate. The main highlights of the Law and the evaluation of its effectiveness have been provided by the Charles Darwin Foundation, and include: (i) Regulations with regard to the control of introduced species, their eradication in agricultural lands, establishment of a quarantine inspection system, etc; (ii) incentives for local appreciation and participation through environmental education; (iii) building local skills and conservation institutions, in particular strengthening of the GNPS; (iv) improving inter-agency co-ordination through the work of INGALA (Instituto National de Galapagos) which has been re-established; (v) immigration and residence control measures to stabilise the rate of growth of human population size; and (vi) initiating a participatory planning process for marine resources conservation.
The Law also provides for: (a) the Establishment of the Marine Reserve as a protected area and (b) the expansion of the Reserve boundaries to 64 km around the whole archipelago within which area only tourism and artisanal fishing are permitted. The provisions of the Law concerning marine areas have provided a historic opportunity for conserving 130,000 sq. km of a very important marine ecosystem.
The Bureau commended the Government of Ecuador and all the agencies, groups, local residents and experts for reaching a consensus on this new Law. The Bureau thanked the former Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, Mr. Winkelmann and the Director of the Centre for having initiated the process through their mission to the site in June 1996.
The Bureau urged the Ecuadorian authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the Law. The Bureau invited the Ecuadorian authorities to re-nominate the Marine Reserve, deferred by the Committee in 1994, to be a part of the World Heritage site as soon as the management plan for the Marine Reserve is finalised in 1999. The Bureau recommended that the Committee not consider Galapagos Islands for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Delegate of Ecuador thanked the World Heritage Committee, its Bureau, IUCN and the Centre for their understanding and commitment to preserve the Galapagos Islands World Heritage site. The full text of his statement is included in Annex V.
The Bureau also expressed its sincere regrets and sympathies to the families of the two senior Ecuadorian conservationists (Jorge Anhalzer and Fabricio Valverde) who perished in a plane crash after returning from a conservation meeting of the Islands.
22 COM VII.23
SOC: Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
VII.23 Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
The Committee at its twenty-first session invited the Government of Ecuador to notify the Chairperson of the Committee of the final enactment and entering into force of the Galapagos Special Law. The Committee decided that if, by the opening date of the twenty-second ordinary session of the Bureau, the Government of Ecuador had not notified the Chairperson of the enactment and entry into force of the "Special Galapagos Law", the Galapagos Islands be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
At its twenty-second ordinary session in June 1998, the Bureau was informed that the "Special Law on the Galapagos" was published, on 18 March 1998, by the Official Registry of Ecuador as Law No. 278, and that the Chairperson of the Committee had been officially notified of the enactment and the entry into force of the Law. Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Committee not consider Galapagos Islands for inclusion in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau noted that the Law, if implemented, would greatly strengthen conservation in both the Galapagos Islands as well as in the marine waters surrounding them. The Law provides for the extension of the outer boundary of the marine reserve from 24 to 64 km offshore and for the establishment of a significant 130,000 km2 Reserve for the conservation of marine biodiversity where only tourism and artisanal fisheries will be permitted. The Bureau was satisfied to note that the Law addresses most of the major issues relating to conservation and sustainable development of Galapagos, including:
- regulations for the control and eradication of introduced species and the establishment of a quarantine inspection system;
- appreciation of Galapagos by local people and their participation in its conservation through environmental education;
- building local skills and conservation institutions, including the strengthening of the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) and improving inter-agency co-ordination through the work of a revived INGALA (Instituto National de Galapagos);
- immigration and residence control measures to stabilise the rate of growth of human population size; and
- a participatory planning process for marine resources conservation.
The Bureau commended the Government of Ecuador and all agencies, groups, local residents and experts for reaching a consensus on this new Law. The Bureau urged the Ecuadorian authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the Law and invited them to re-nominate the Marine Reserve, deferred by the Committee in 1994, to be a part of the World Heritage site as soon as the management plan for the Marine Reserve is finalized in 1999.
The Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and the GNPS have jointly implemented a project, partly financed by the World Heritage Fund, to gather basic information needed for the establishment of an ecological monitoring system for Galapagos. The final report of the project has been submitted and includes an exhaustive list of introduced species belonging to a number of animal and plant taxa. The Bureau was informed that an Inter- American Development Bank Project is being developed for Galapagos and, if approved, could facilitate the effective implementation of the Special Galapagos Law, particularly with regard to the conservation of marine resources and for ensuring sustainable tourism development. The Bureau learned that the UNESCO Office in Quito has entered into agreement with the Ecuadorian Ministry for the Environment for providing legal assistance on the implementation of the Galapagos Law and that the volcanic eruption of the Cerro Azul on Isabela Island did not have any major impacts on the wildlife of Galapagos.
The Committee commended the Ecuadorean Government for ensuring the passage of, and entry into force of the Special Galapagos Law and decided not to consider including the Galapagos Islands in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee urged the State Party to re-nominate, in 1999, the Marine Reserve as an extension of the World Heritage site. The Committee drew the attention of the State Party to the Bureau's recommendation, made at its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, that the State Party submit annual reports on the state of conservation of Galapagos until the end of the year 2002. The Committee invited the State Party to submit the first of the requested series of annual reports to the twenty-third session of the Committee in 1999.
22 COM XII
Requests for International Assistance: Natural Heritage
Natural Heritage: Requests examined by the Committee
|
Paragraph No. as presented in WHC-98/CONF.203/14Rev. |
Requesting State Party |
Type of Assistance |
Description |
Amount Approved(US$) |
Comments/ Observations/ Conditions |
|
A.2.1.1 |
Cameroon |
Training |
Three training fellowships at the School for the Training of Wildlife Specialists, Garoua, Cameroon for the Academic Biennium 1999-2001 |
45,000 |
|
|
A.2.1.2 |
Oman |
Training |
Regional capacity building training workshop for the promotion of awareness in natural heritage conservation |
40,000 |
The Committee requested the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, a revised proposal with well-focused and clearly defined objectives, better definition of target groups, exact dates for the workshop and links to IUCN/WCPA's activities for the Arab region. The workshop programme should include a field exercise component where workshop participants would review the status of the management planning and boundary demarcation project for the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary, and prepare a report for submission to the 23rd session of the Committee in 1999. The Committee welcomed the opportunity to link the outcome of this training activity to its concerns regarding the state of conservation of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary of Oman and called for similar linkages in training activities that may be organized in the future. |
A.2.1.3 |
Russian Federation |
Training |
Lake Baikal training workshop for Russian and Trans-boundary World Natural Heritage Site-Managers and perspective Site-Managers |
48,528 |
The Committee recommended that IUCN and the World Heritage Centre co-operate with the State Party in refining the structure and objectives of the training workshop. Furthermore, the Committee requested that the State Party submit a report on the results of the training activity to the 23rd session of the Committee in 1999. |
|
A.2.1.4 |
World Conservation Monitoring Centre |
Training |
Integrating biodiversity information management into curricula of regional wildlife/protected area management training institutions - project development workshop |
30,000 |
TheCommittee endorsed WCMC's efforts to seek additional funding from the Darwin Initiative for the implementation of Phases 2 and 3 of the training materials and curriculum development project. |
|
Natural heritage |
Subtotal |
Training |
163,528 |
|
Paragraph No. as presented in WHC-98/CONF.203/14Rev. |
Requesting State Party |
Type of Assistance |
Description |
Amount Approved(US$) |
Comments/ Observations/ Conditions |
|
A.2.2.1 |
Ecuador |
Technical Co-operation |
Ecological monitoring in the Galapagos Archipelago - establishing a quarantine system for monitoring the introduction and spread of alien species |
61,000 under Technical Co-operation
31,500 under Training |
The Committee commended Ecuador for its efforts to mitigate the problem of the introduction and spread of alien species. The Committee urged the Centre and the State Party to co-operate with global initiatives, launched as a part of activities undertaken by the Convention on Biological Diversity and by international organizations such as SCOPE (Scientific Committee for the Protection of the Environment), for mitigating the introduction and spread of alien species. |
|
A.2.2.2 |
IUCN-Environ-mental Law Centre |
Technical Co-operation |
Legal interpretation and application of the World Heritage Convention |
|
The Committee invited IUCN-ELC to circulate the proposal widely in order to obtain comments and suggestions from legal and other specialists, particularly with regard to the expected outcome of the project. The Committee requested IUCN-ELC and the Centre to co-operate to identify donors who can provide the US$ 90,000 needed for the services of the two legal consultants (US$ 60,000) and one research associate (US$ 30,000), respectively. If IUCN-ELC and the Centre succeed in obtaining the US$ 90,000 as expert costs essential for starting the project, then they may submit proposals for the organization of the meeting of the panel of experts and regional experts workshop at the appropriate time. The Delegate of Canada pointed out that IUCN should be requested to obtain funds needed to implement this project from sources other than the World Heritage Fund. The Delegate of Italy noted that the project should not deal with expected outcomes (iii) and (iv), since they involved policy prerogatives which are the responsibility of the work of the Committee. |
|
A.2.2.3 |
Niger |
Technical Co-operation |
Strengthening management at "W" National Park |
45,000 |
The Committee noted that the State Party has informed the Centre that it has paid its dues to the Fund. Furthermore, the Committee requested the State Party to acknowledge receipt of equipment received and provide an inventory, to the Centre, of equipment delivered to the "W" National Park and finalize all administrative matters regarding the equipment purchase project funded by the US$ 50,000 approved by the Committee in 1997. |
|
Natural heritage |
Subtotal |
Technical Co-operation |
106,000 under Technical Co-operation 31,500 under Training |
Natural Heritage: Requests examined by the Bureau
|
Paragraph No. as presented in WHC-98/CONF. 203/14Rev. |
Requesting State Party |
Type of Assistance |
Description |
Amount Approved (US$) |
Comments/Observations/ Conditions |
|
A.1.1.1 |
Tanzania |
Training |
Support for three fellowships for African Specialists in Protected Area/Wildlife Management for the Academic Year 1999-2000 at Mweka College of African Wildlife Management, Tanzania |
30,000 |
|
|
Natural heritage |
Subtotal |
Training |
30,000 |
|
A.1.3.1 |
China |
Emergency |
Rehabilitation of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and Flood Damage Control |
60,000 |
The Bureau commended the Chinese authorities for investing more than US$2 million in the emergency rehabilitation of Wulingyuan. The Bureau requested the Chinese authorities to take note of the Centre/IUCN mission undertaken in September 1998 on the rehabilitation of Wulingyuan; (i) strengthening embankment and other structures essential for controlling the debris-flow is an urgent priority; (ii) the Chinese authorities may wish to review thoroughly, taking into consideration the hydrological regime of rivers, and the risks associated with frequency and severity of possible future floods and other factors, the locations and designs for the planned reconstruction of the bridges and roads with a view to making necessary changes to improve visitor management and scenic values; and (iii) the State Party may wish to undertake a thorough review of the site's tourism development policy before starting the repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges so that future locations and designs of such structures could be planned in a manner so as to improve visitor management flows. The Bureau approved the contribution of US$60,000 requested as emergency assistance under the conditions that priority use of the funds should be for studies and analyses that may needed to complete (ii) and (iii) above. The Bureau requested the Chinese authorities to propose an itemized budget for the expenditure of US$ 60,000 to the Centre in order to enable the Centre to establish a contract and complete other necessary administrative procedures. |
|
Natural Heritage |
Subtotal |
Emergency |
60,000 |
The Bureau recommended the Committee to adopt the following
“The Committee commends the Ecuadorean Government for ensuring the passage of, and entry into force of the Special Galapagos Law and decides not to consider including the Galapagos Islands in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Committee urges the State Party to re-nominate, in 1999, the Marine Reserve as an extension of the World Heritage site. The Committee draws the attention of the State Party to the Bureau’s recommendation, made at its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, that the State Party submit annual reports on the state of conservation of Galapagos until the end of the year 2002. The Committee invites the State Party to submit the first of the requested series of annual reports to the twenty-third session of the Committee in 1999.”
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.
