Socotra Archipelago

• Management systems / management plan
• Legal frameworks
• Governance
• Buildings and development
• Ground transport infrastructure: road network
• Biological resource use/modification
• Invasive/alien species or hyper-abundant species: absence of adequate biosecurity measures to avoid the introduction of invasive alien species
• Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
• Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
• Solid waste: primarily in and around main settlements
• Civil unrest: unrest inhibiting management and access of international experts and capacity building support
• Climate change and severe weather events: cyclones

N/A

On 28 January 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ and reports the following progress:

• On-going political unrest in Yemen has weakened the efficiency of authorities, however the Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) and Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) have started rebuilding capacity in Aden and provide support to the Socotra Governorate;
• With no government budget for environmental protection, the authorities aim to support and facilitate the work of international projects including the on-going Global Environment Facility - United Nations Environmental Programme (GEF-UNEP) project focused on supporting the government in biodiversity and conservation, monitoring of invasive alien species (IAS) and awareness raising activities in cooperation with local NGOs;
• Restoration activities include collaboration on replantation projects with the Franklinia Boswellia Project in collaboration with NGO Friends of Soqotra, and the restoration of unique biodiversity (mangroves, frankincense, Dragon Blood trees);
• The on-going UNEP-GEF programme activities to control IAS include a new joint agreement to initiate a quarantine at the port, planned capacity building activities to train local partners in quarantine measures, and preparation of a participatory IAS control strategy that will include early detection, training of staff and quarantine measures;
• Development continues, driven by population expansion with the majority of development located in the urban development zone in and around the city of Hadibu. There is a coordinated effort to conserve the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, yet some impact occurred in the national parks or protected areas. Developments in the buffer zone are regulated by national laws that include environmental standards. Halting activities by developers during a time of economic crisis and limited capacity to implement the Conservation Zoning Plan (CZP) remains challenging. A map of developments in the property and buffer zone is appended;
• In 2021, a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system (under environmental law 26/1995) was approved requiring EIAs for all development projects on Socotra. The EPA informed all major stakeholders of the requirement, the need to follow environmental standards during implementation and the importance of evaluating the potential impacts on the OUV. EPA will follow up with stakeholders and submit EIAs to the World Heritage Centre;
• The update of the CZP under the UNEP-GEF project remains underway and will incorporate environmental standards that regulate development activities in the buffer zone. Specific protected areas management plans will be initiated or updated to address all sensitive biodiversity areas and sustain local natural resource use;
• Opportunities for sustainable funding are being explored under the UNEP-GEF project including to link with further donors, promote a new project, and enhance self-sustainable projects and initiatives such as environmental fees and taxes, ecotourism, and traditional handicrafts;
• Waste management remains a problem, particularly in the buffer zone, with plastic waste accumulating along the coast.

Due to logistical constraints, the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission remains in planning and will be undertaken as soon as possible.

In late January 2023, a spill from an oil tanker stranded at the Delisha Nature Sanctuary since November 2019, was reported, raising concerns over the potential impact on the marine environment. The State Party submitted a request for Emergency Assistance through the World Heritage Fund in order to support efforts in addressing this threat, which has been approved.

It remains concerning that the on-going insecurity and economic crisis in Yemen continues to impact management capacity, including the lack of government budget for environmental conservation in Socotra. The on-going commitment of the authorities to prioritise conservation and facilitate research and conservation activities in collaboration with international partners, in spite of these considerable difficulties, should be commended.

Recalling the unique biodiversity and high level of endemism in the property, the on-going activities under the GEF-UNEP project to monitor and control IAS, specifically the planned establishment of quarantine measures at air and seaports and development of a participatory IAS control strategy, are positive. It is recommended that the IAS control strategy be finalized and appropriate control measures implemented in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Recognising that capacity to enforce biosecurity measures remains limited, the effective implementation of the strategy remains the critical challenge to be addressed going forward.

Noting the concerns raised in recent years regarding unregulated development pressures, the establishment of an EIA requirement for all development projects on Socotra is a significant positive step towards ensuring that developments do not negatively impact on its OUV. Whilst also noting with concern the reported difficulties in halting development activities during a time of security and economic crisis, and with limited capacity to implement the CZP, it will be vital that the new EIA regulation is effectively implemented. Impact assessments must be in line with the new Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, to guide best-practice planning and decision-making, to ensure that the potential impacts of planned projects are assessed prior to taking any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, and to ensure that no projects are approved that may negatively impact the OUV. It is recommended that further guidance and support be requested from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on the implementation of impact assessments. It is noted that developments are reported to be mostly limited to the urban development zones, that development in the buffer zones is regulated by environmental standards, and that these are being incorporated in the update of the CZP. However, whilst the maps of developments are appreciated, the exact nature of these developments and their potential impact on the OUV remains unclear. The anticipated finalization of the CZP, as well as the effective implementation of environmental regulations and impact assessments, will be important steps to improve the management of the property, requiring further capacity building and stakeholder engagement.

It is regrettable that no further details have been provided on the reported impacts that have occurred in some national parks or protected areas. While noting that protected area management plans will be initiated or updated to address all sensitive biodiversity areas and sustain local natural resource use, it is unclear however how these relate to the update of the CZP and overall management of the property. Clarity on these issues should be requested.

Noting the potential impacts of an oil spill on the OUV of the property, particularly its marine ecosystem, it is recommended to request the State Party to provide further information regarding the impacts of the spill on the OUV, including to conduct an assessment of impacts on the marine values, to conduct a risk assessment on the vessel to prevent further spills, and to report on any response measures undertaken. It is expected that the recently approved Emergency Assistance through the World Heritage Fund will facilitate the completion of these activities.

Whilst the State Party’s on-going actions to address threats to the property under very difficult conditions are commended, the impacts of the many threats on the OUV such as IAS, developments in the buffer zone, plastic pollution, financial and staffing capacity limitations, remain to be fully addressed. It is recommended that the joint Reactive Monitoring mission be conducted as soon as possible to assess the state of conservation of the property and provide technical guidance to the State Party.