Golden Mountains of Altai

• Major linear utilities (gas pipeline construction plans)
• Ground transport infrastructure (impacts of a road project across the property)

On 31 January 2017, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/768/documents/ and addresses the longstanding Committee concerns about the possible construction of a gas pipeline through the property, expressed most recently in its Decision 40 COM 7B.96. The report can be summarized as follows:

• Decision-making on the implementation and selection of the exact route to China of the Altai gas pipeline project (“Power of Siberia 2”) has not advanced and no construction impacting on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property is reported to have occurred;
• The government of the Altai Republic does not plan linear (e.g. pipelines) or any other major construction projects within the property, which is legally protected at federal and subnational levels;
• The recommendations of the 2012 joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission are being implemented;
• Research and monitoring of snow leopard, argali and the reindeer summer habitat is ongoing, as well as a project dedicated to long-term monitoring of climate and ecosystem change;
• Pressures from tourism are reported to have grown. It is managed by a combination of monitoring, control, regulation and education measures, such as the introduction of visitor quota to address pressures on some areas and ecosystems;
• An agreement on joint conservation efforts was signed between the Katunskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve and Belukha Nature Park;
• Multiple research, management and law enforcement activities are reported in Altaiskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve. There are efforts to move from a strict protection approach to a more integrated biosphere reserve approach based on dialogue between government, academia, private sector and local communities;
• An update is also provided on patrolling and law enforcement in Katunskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve, with most legal violations reported to be associated with unauthorized transit of tourist groups through the reserve’s territory;
• In terms of international cooperation, the report mentions the joint nomination of the transboundary biosphere reserve “Great Altai” with the State Party of Kazakhstan in the frame of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, encompassing Katunskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve (Russian Federation) and Katon-Karagaiskiy National Park (Kazakhstan).

It is noted that no decision about the gas pipeline project has been made and that no construction activities are undertaken at this stage. However, despite the repeated requests of the Committee to the States Parties of the Russian Federation and China, involved in the project, to explicitly exclude the property from the route selection process (Decisions 33 COM 7B.27, 35 COM 7B.26, 36 COM 7B.25, 37 COM 7B.25, 39 COM 7B.21 and 40 COM 7B.96), the possibility of the construction of a pipeline through the property remains and is considered the most critical threat to its OUV, as it may directly impact on Ukok Quiet Zone Nature Park, besides likely indirect impacts as well. In addition, the State Party report contains no reference to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements.

The reported intention of the government of the Altai Republic not to construct linear infrastructures (e.g. pipelines) within the property is welcomed. Nonetheless, the legal possibility of such constructions remains, as Decree 212 N 202, dated 2 August 2012 of the Republic of Altai, is still in place.

The continuation of important research projects dedicated to flagship species and ecosystem responses to climate change, as well as the consolidation of coordination efforts both at the level of the Altai Republic and across the border with Kazakhstan are welcomed. In particular, the joint nomination by the States Parties of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan of a transboundary Biosphere Reserve should be commended, and a best possible harmonization of conservation efforts under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and the World Heritage Convention should be strongly encouraged. Further strengthening of transboundary coordination and communication regarding the management and conservation of the common cultural and natural heritage is strongly encouraged among all States Parties of the Altai region, with advice from the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, as required.

While the reference to ongoing follow-up on the recommendations of the 2012 mission is welcomed, it should be recalled that the first recommendation is an unequivocal decision against the construction of the Altai gas pipeline through the property. It is further recalled that another recommendation is to develop an overall strategy for sustainable tourism for the property. At a time of increasing tourism pressures reported by the State Party, including unauthorized presence of tourist groups, it seems ever more important to implement particularly this recommendation. Noting the efforts to increase stakeholder involvement and broaden the management approach, the mission recommendations to strengthen the cooperation with civil society, and in particular with indigenous communities, and to assess the cultural values of the property with a view to its possible re-nomination under cultural criteria are further recalled.

In line with previous reporting, including the Reactive Monitoring missions conducted in 2007 and 2012, it can be concluded that the property continues to be in a good overall state of conservation. However, there continues to be uncertainty on the exact location of possible large-scale projects, in particular a gas pipeline to China, along with multiple other management challenges. The 2012 Reactive Monitoring mission recommendations continue to provide valid guidance to systematically address those challenges.