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Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

China
Factors affecting the property in 2007*
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Mining
  • Water infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Proposed development of network of dams and large copper mine adjacent to property;

b) proposed relocation of resident populations;

c) future tourism development.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2007
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2007**

UNESCO/IUCN monitoring mission in April 2006

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2007

As requested by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), the State Party submitted a report on 30 January 2007 with information on the plans for hydro-power and dam construction in the Nujiang, Lancang and Jinsha River Valleys, the boundaries of the serial property and proposed changes to these boundaries, and detailed information on impacts of ongoing and proposed mining operations within and near the World Heritage site. The report includes the following information:

a) Dam Construction

The State Party report outlines the procedures involved in the examination of hydroelectric power generation projects, including the requirement for detailed planning, comprehensive assessment for river basins and specific plans for their use. Specific plans for river basins include plans for hydroelectric power generation. China has established legal procedures for major construction projects, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

In relation to dams within and near the property, the State Party notes:

(i) that there are no dam construction plans within the World Heritage property;

(ii) that the preparation of a comprehensive plan for river basins and specific plans for hydroelectric power generation in the middle reaches of Nu River and Lancang River (including some areas adjacent to the property) are currently underway and no dams so far have been approved by the central government; and

(iii) that the relevant State agency did not approve any dam project near the World Heritage property at the middle reaches of the Jinsha River, for which the comprehensive plan for the river basin has been approved.

The report concludes that at the end of 2006 no dam construction is planned adjacent to the property. The report also notes that the State Party will avoid any direct impact to the property from dam construction and that the issue of indirect effects, and how to prevent or reduce such effects, is currently under investigation.

IUCN and the World Heritage Centre note that plans for hydroelectric construction are currently underway including in some areas adjacent to the property and urge such plans to take into account the values and integrity of the World Heritage property and the need to avoid any direct and indirect impacts. IUCN further notes that indirect impact of dam construction can be significant and can include migration of people, road construction and a range of associated impacts, and urges that all indirect impacts be clearly identified, and measures taken to ensure that any impact on the property is avoided.

IUCN and the World Heritage Centre take note of the information provided by the State Party that the final decision on any hydroelectric plan development will not be made until the EIA of the comprehensive plan for river basin and specific plan for hydroelectric power generation is finished, and request that these documents be submitted to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN when they are available. It is further urged that any EIA relevant to the World Heritage property should be made public and subject to an open and transparent review process, including full public consultation with all stakeholders, in particular the local community.

b) Boundary modifications

The State Party report provides details on laws governing the protection and management of the property, particularly in relation to Scenic Areas, Nature Reserves and the Regulations on Conservation of Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas. In addition, the legal procedures for boundary modifications of the World Heritage property are outlined in the report.

At the time of inscription, the need to modify the boundary of the property to include other important areas outside of the current reserve boundaries was noted. A number of specific proposals for boundary modifications were discussed with the UNESCO/IUCN Mission of April 2006. The report clarifies that the agencies in charge of scenic areas and nature reserves of Yunnan Province have only recently studied the boundaries of the property and have not yet submitted to the central government an official application report and plan on boundary modifications for review and approval. Options for boundary review and adjustment are currently under consideration but not yet approved by the central and local governments. The State Party notes that any boundary modifications will be communicated in advance to the World Heritage Centre.

IUCN reiterates its view that there is a need to consider additional areas that could be added to the property, particularly those of high conservation value, and that linkages between the different parts of the property should be established via biological corridors or other options for ecological connectivity. Any changes of boundaries should be presented for consideration by the Committee in line with paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines.

 

c) Mining activities within the property

The State Party report clarifies that mining is prohibited within scenic areas and nature reserves. Mineral resource developments in areas outside the reserves must go through EIA and be approved by law. The report notes that Chinese scientists have found some large to medium- sized mineral resources within and near the World Heritage property, and that since the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, the Central and local governments have not approved any mining operations within the property. However, it is noted that the property covers a vast area where local ethnic groups hold some land property rights and that there exist some small-scale illegal mining activities. The report affirms that these are currently being closed down.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN reiterate that mining within natural World Heritage properties is not compatible with their status, and urges that State Party to close-down all mining activities within the property, as soon as possible. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2007
31 COM 7B.15
State of conservation of World Heritage Properties - Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

The World Heritage Committee,

1.Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B,

2.Recalling Decision 30 COM 7B.11, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3.Urges the State Party to ensure that on-going planning of hydroelectrical dams, in particular in the middle reaches of Nu and Lancang Rivers takes into account the need to avoid any direct or indirect impact on the values and integrity of the property, and ensures that all Environmental Impact Assessments relevant to the property should be made public and subject to an open and transparent review, including full public consultation with all stakeholders;

4.Reiterates its request to the State Party to amend the boundaries of the property to exclude major cleared encroachments and to add critical habitats for conservation, ensuring the establishment of linkage between different parts of the property via biological corridors or other options for ecological connectivity, and to submit all proposals for boundary changes for consideration by the Committee in line with paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines;

5.Also urges the State Party to take measures to halt all illegal mining activities within the property;

6.Requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2008, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, as well as any Environmental Impact Assessment documents of hydroelectric dam projects relevant to the integrity of the property, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Draft Decision 31 COM 7B.15

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B,

2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7B.11, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3. Urges the State Party to ensure that on-going planning of hydroelectrical dams, in particular in the middle reaches of Nu and Lancang Rivers takes into account the need to avoid any direct or indirect impact on the values and integrity of the property, and ensures that all Environmental Impact Assessments relevant to the property should be made public and subject to an open and transparent review, including full public consultation with all stakeholders;

4. Reiterates its request to the State Party to amend the boundaries of the property to exclude major cleared encroachments and to add critical habitats for conservation, ensuring theestablishment of linkage between different parts of the property via biological corridors or other options for ecological connectivity, and to submit all proposals for boundary changes for consideration by the Committee in line with paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines;

5. Also urges the State Party to take measures to halt all illegal mining activities within the property;

6. Requeststhe State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2008, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, as well as any Environmental Impact Assessment documents of hydroelectric dam projects relevant to the integrity of the property, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008.

Report year: 2007
China
Date of Inscription: 2003
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 31COM (2007)
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.


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