1.         Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) (C 722)

Year of inscription on the World Heritage List  1995

Criteria  (iii)(iv)(v)

Year(s) of inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger   2001-2012

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Not yet drafted; In progress; Drafted; proposed for adoption in the draft Decision below ; Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/xxxx/

Corrective measures identified

a) Establish a functioning management mechanism at the provincial and municipal levels;

b) Put in place zoning and land-use plans responding to community-based activities and traditional value systems;

c) Provide regulations over tourism and infrastructure developments to encourage community based tourism which benefits the rice terraces and the local communities;

d) Develop a resource strategy at the national, provincial, municipal and village (barangay) levels and put in place a five year plan, according to the management objectives determined in the Conservation and Management Plan, with top priority given to the regular maintenance and stabilisation of the rice terraces and lifeline irrigation systems so as to reverse their deterioration;

e) Establish appropriate development control procedures for development projects in the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, including by designating the World Heritage cluster sites of the rice terraces and their supportive eco-system (i.e. watershed system) as “environmental critical areas”, where an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for any proposed development projects. Cultural heritage conservation expertise should be also included in the EIA review committee;

f) Strengthen the reforestation programme to include a wider range of endemic trees species to protect the watershed system for the rice terraces and prevent the introduction of exotic species in the private or communal parts of the rice terraces.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Not yet identified; In progress; Identified; proposed for adoption in the draft Decision below ; Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/xxxx

Previous Committee Decisions  see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/documents/

International Assistance

Requests approved: 0 (from 1994-2001)
Total amount approved: USD 153,200
For details, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/assistance/

UNESCO Extra-budgetary Funds

Total amount provided to the property: USD 20,000 under Italy Funds-in-Trust for study tour, USD 50,000 as Emergency Assistance Fund for typhoon Emong in May 2009

Previous monitoring missions

September 2001: ICOMOS/IUCN reactive monitoring mission; June 2005: UNESCO expert mission; April 2006: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/IUCN reactive monitoring mission.

Factors affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Lack of an effective site management authority and adequate legislation;

b) Absence of a finalized strategic site management plan;

c) Development of inappropriate river control structures and irregular construction in the rice terraces;

d) Diminishing interest of the Ifugao people in their culture and in maintaining the rice terraces;

e) Lack of human and financial resources.

Illustrative material  see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/

Current conservation issues

350 words

Analysis and Conclusions of the World Heritage Centre, ICOMOS and ICCROM

500 words

Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.

The World Heritage Committee,

1.         Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,

2.         Recalling Decision

2.         Heading 7

a)         Heading 8

(i)         Heading 9

2.         Finally Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session;

2.         Decides to retain Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.