Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)
Factors affecting the property in 2002*
- Management systems/ management plan
- Quarrying
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Issue of the implementation of the Landscape Territorial Plan for the Aeolian Islands
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2002
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2002**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2002
The 25th session of the Committee requested the State Party to provide a report on the Landscape Territorial Plan (Piano Paesistico delle Isole Eolie) and the court case challenging its validity. No report was received from the authorities so far.
IUCN received a report on 21 March 2002 informing that 25% of the area of Lipari Island has been quarried for the extraction of pumice stone. The City Council of Lipari was due to vote to allow an extension of a concession for extraction of pumice from caves and quarries within 40% of the area of the Island. IUCN was later informed that the City Council had refused to grant the expansion, however it was expected that this decision would be challenged in court. IUCN was informed in March 2002 that the Court hearing on the Landscape Territorial Plan has ruled in favour of the legitimacy of the Plan, but has requested the Constitutional Court to pronounce on whether City Councils should be called upon to decide on territorial planning. A decision on this could take place by the end of the year. The NGO, Italia Nostra, believes that if the ruling is in favour of City Councils, the Landscape Territorial Plan will not be achievable, nor will other region-wide planning initiatives. IUCN reiterates its view that mining should not be permitted within World Heritage sites.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2002
26 COM 21B.13
Aeolian Islands (Italy)
The World Heritage Committee,1. Notes the positive outcome of the Court case on the legitimacy of the Landscape Territorial Plan;
2. Expresses concern that another Court decision is delaying the adoption and implementation of the key instrument for management of the site;
3. Requests further information from the State Party with respect to the mining of pumice within the World Heritage site;
4. Urges the State Party to prohibit expansion of pumice extraction, as it may impact on the values for which the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List;
5. Requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2003, a report on this situation for examination at its 27th session in June/July 2003.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following decision:
“The Committee notes the positive outcome of the Court case on the legitimacy of the Landscape Territorial Plan, but expresses concern that another court decision is delaying adoption and implementation of the key instrument for management of the site. The Committee requests further information from the State Party with respect to the mining of pumice within the World Heritage site, and urges the State Party to disallow expansion of pumice extraction, as it may impact on the values for which the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List. It requests the State Party to provide a report on this situation by 1 February 2003.”
ItalyExports
* :
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.
