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State of Conservation (SOC)

Iguaçu National Park (2004)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Poaching/Hunting 

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The Committee at its 25th session (Helsinki, 2001) removed Iguaçu National Park from the List of World Heritage in Danger after the State Party had taken the necessary measures to close down an illegal road that crossed the Park.  The Committee requested a UNESCO / IUCN joint mission to take place in 2002 / 2003 to prepare a status report for submission to its 27th session in 2003.  Although the State Party extended an invitation in 2003, there was not enough time to organize a mission whose report could be presented to the Committee in June 2003.

 

In early October 2003, a group of over 300 people invaded the Park, destroyed park buildings and several hectares of forest plantations and reopened the Estrada do Colono road.  The State Party was able to remove these people from the road and close it once again within a few days, but the situation in the region has since remained politically sensitive as the debate over the road and whether it should remain closed or be opened continues.   For these reasons, the State Party requested that the mission that had been planned for late February 2004 be postponed.  Negotiations are now taking place to set a definite date for a mission in 2004.  The report of this mission will be presented in time for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005. 

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15B.32
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee, 1. Noting with concern that the forced opening of the Colono Road continues to be a potential threat to Iguaçu National Park, 2. Urges the State Party to work with local communities to resolve the on-going concerns over the re-opening of the Colono Road for local use; 3. Requests the State Party to provide all the necessary assistance to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to carry out a mission as soon as possible so that a detailed report can be presented in time for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.32

 The World Heritage Committee,

 1.     Noting with concern that the forced opening of the Colono Road continues to be a potential threat to Iguaçu National Park;

 2.     Urges the State Party to work with local communities to resolve the on-going concerns over the re-opening of the Colono Road for local use; 

3.     Requests the State Party to provide all the necessary assistance to the Centre and IUCN to carry out a mission as soon as possible so that a detailed report can be presented in time for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005.

Iguaçu National Park
State Party:
Brazil
Date of Inscription: 1986
Nomination records (Year): 1984
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(x)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2010
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1992
1991
Threats*
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Illegal activities
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15B
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1424
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 1999 -2001
Threats to the Site:

The Committee noted that an IUCN/UNESCO mission was carried out to this site in March 1999 and dealt with four issues relevant to the integrity of this World
Heritage site:

  • The Colon road,
  • Helicopter flights,
  • Dams on the Iguaçu River,
  • Management planning.

The Committee recognized the efforts made by the State Party to implement the recommendations of the mission. However, in the absence of satisfactory progress with regard to the permanent closure of the road and the implementation of the recovery plan, the Committee decided to include Iguacu National Park in the List of World Heritage in Danger.


* : 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.