32. The Bureau noted that a proposal to construct a dam across the Batoka Gorge could flood some parts of this transfrontier World Heritage site and that the World Heritage Centre has informed the group of consultancy engineers who are undertaking an environmental impact assessment of the dam construction project of potential threats to the integrity of this site. The Bureau requested the World Heritage Centre to contact the States Parties concerned and obtain more information on the proposed dam construction project for submission to the Committee in December 1992.
33. The Bureau took ...
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its last session, had noted that eight helicopters simultaneously overflew the waterfall area and that local conservation groups opposed the use of the area by helicopters since it contravened legal regulations for air traffic over protected areas. At its last session, the Committee was informed that the Brazilian authorities had established a group to study the matter and had requested the Secretariat to contact the Argentine authorities to obtain lir information on the steps taken by them. The Brazilian authorities have, by their letter of 5 ...
The Bureau noted that, as requested by the Committee at the time of the inscription of this property on the World Heritage List in 1988, IUCN had undertaken a mission to the site. The Bureau learnt with satisfaction that despite a slow start, the management of the Wet Tropics area had achieved much progress last year, particularly with respect to:
(a) establishing a headquarters and appointment of staff; (b)drafting of legislation; (c) preparing of management plans andsite plans; (d) carrying out a number of policy-relevant studies; (e) setting-up advisory committees and a management ...
Sites: Wet Tropics of Queensland
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its last session, recommended that the Bulgarian authorities nominate this site for inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger because this small (600 hectare) World Heritage site had lost much of its ecological viability. The Bureau was informed that IUCN had undertaken two missions to Bulgaria since the last session of the Committee and that although the site's importance as a Ramsar site and a Biosphere Reserve, in particular within a European context, could still be retained with the implementation of specific remedial actions, its ...
Sites: Srebarna Nature Reserve
The Bureau was in agreement with the proposal of the Canadian authorities to delete 423 hectares, where petroleum and natural gas exploration will take place, and add 2,133 hectares of significantly higher conservation value to this site. In effect, the proposed modification of the boundaries of the site has resulted in a net gain of about 1,700 hectares in the total area of this Park. The Bureau recommended that the Committee register the report and the map provided by the Canadian authorities describing the revised boundaries of this World Heritage site.
Sites: Dinosaur Provincial Park
The Bureau was informed of progress achieved by the Canadian authorities in addressing threats to the conservation of this, Ripe site. The Bureau congratulated the Canadian authorities for the programme of action they have set in motion for its conservation. However, the Bureau was in agreement with the fact that safeguarding the World Heritage values of this site require continuous action over the long-term and requested the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to monitor the state of conservation of this site to report to the Committee any problems that may arise.
Sites: Wood Buffalo National Park
The Bureau recalled that when this site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988, several members of the Committee had registered their reservations as to its state of conservation and several threats to its integrity. The Bureau was concerned that despite assurances given to the Committee at the time of its inscription and the US$27 million EEC project in the region, the deterioration of the property had continued and this site still does not have a management plan. The Bureau took note of the intention of the President of the Central African Republic to transfer the management ...
The Bureau commended the Panamanian authorities for preventing 59,000 hectares of La Amistad National Park being released for oil exploration.
The Bureau noted that the Costa Rican authorities have not responded to the Secretariat's letter of 6 February 1992, requesting them to consider revising the boundaries of the Talamanca-La Amistad Reserves by deleting four Indian Reserves in the north-eastern Atlantic sector and submit a map showing the new boundaries of the site. Furthermore, the Bureau was also informed by the representative of IUCN that earlier plans to construct a road through ...
The Bureau noted that the Croatian authorities have officially informed UNESCO that they will abide by the obligations of the World Heritage Convention and requested that a joint UNESCO/IUCN mission be undertaken to assess the impacts which unrest in the region has had on the state of conservation of Plitvice Lake National Park. The Bureau recommended that the Committee, as requested by the Croatian authorities, inscribe Plitvice Lake National Park on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The Bureau also decided to set aside an amount upto US$30,000 as emergency assistance to enable the ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Bureau was satisfied to note that the Sub-Secretario Forestal y Recursos Naturales y Renovables which is responsible for the management of this site has been successful in halting a proposed road construction project in order to bring together the relevant provincial and national agencies to discuss the environmental impact of the project and plan mitigating measures. In this regard, the Bureau commended the Ecuadorean authorities for having obtained official approval for including substantial areas south of the World Heritage site into the National Park. The Bureau, however, was ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
The Bureau was informed that the employees of this World Heritage site recently staged a four-week strike demanding higher salaries and other improvements of their working conditions. The Bureau also noted that a draft tourism and conservation plan for Galapagos is now being finalized and the Master Plan for the management of the Park would have to be revised in the light of the strategies and programme of actions foreseen in the tourism and conservation plan. The Bureau recommended that the World Heritage Centre contact the Ecuadorean authorities and request them to consider undertaking ...
Sites: Galápagos Islands
The Bureau noted with satisfaction that the Ethiopian authorities have submitted a rehabilitation project for this site. This project is now being implemented with US$50,000 approved by the World Heritage Committee.
Sites: Simien National Park
The Bureau recalled that the Committee at its last session concluded that the reduction in the size of this site proposed by the Government of Guinea in order to exclude areas that would be impacted by a proposed iron-ore mining project, posed a major threat to its integrity. Taking into account that the site also faced several other threats, the Committee, at its last session recommended that the Governments of C6te d'Ivoire and Guinea nominate this site for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau noted with satisfaction that experts of Cote d'Ivoire and Guinea, ...
The World Heritage Centre informed the Bureau that the damage caused by the invasion of this Sanctuary by militants from the Bodo tribe in Assam, India, was estimated to be about 50 million Indian rupees (about 1.6 million US dollars). Although considerable damage was done to the Park infrastructure, the habitat in the inaccessible parts of the Sanctuary still remained intact. The Bureau, while noting that the conditions for introducing normal management and administration regimes for the site may be improving, was nevertheless concerned that a full assessment of damage had not been made ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
The Bureau expressed concerns that the region in which this site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991, is situated has recently been affected by armed unrest. The Bureau was informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Niger had requested the Director-General of UNESCO to launch an appeal for the protection of this site. The Bureau recommended that the World Heritage Centre contact the authorities in Niger and obtain more information on the impact the armed unrest in the region has had on the state of the conservation of the site and request them to nominate ...
The Bureau was informed by the representative of IUCN that the vegetation cover in this mixed site has been destroyed and could have adverse impacts on the landscape in the area. The Bureau requested the World Heritage Centre to contact the Greek authorities and obtain verification of this information and to request them to invite a mission to examine the state of conservation of this site.
Sites: Mount Athos
The Bureau recalled that an environmental impact study had found that the construction of a road through this National Park was preferable to the alternative of routing the road along the periphery of the Park because the route inside the Park could be better patrolled by Park staff. The Bureau noted that although the construction of the road had begun, work on the road has been temporarily suspended due to the beginning of the rainy season. The Delegate of Senegal informed the Bureau that the National Park Service had established several points, including one at Niokolo-Koba, to monitor ...
Sites: Niokolo-Koba National Park
The Bureau was pleased to note that the English version of the "Preservation and Management Plan" for this mixed site, prepared with financial assistance from the World Heritage Fund, has been published. The observer from Turkey informed the Bureau that the implementation of the Plan has begun and a project to remove some of the hotels and associated infrastructure which were threatening the integrity and authenticity of the site will soon commence and that the Turkish authorities hope to request international assistance from the World Heritage Fund to meet part of the costs of ...
Sites: Hierapolis-Pamukkale
The Bureau noted that the authorities responsible for the management of this site had submitted to the Secretariat several reports on the potential impacts of the proposed hydroelectric dam construction on the Tara River and the pollution of that river by a large asphalt plant situated upstream along the river. The Bureau was informed by the representative of IUCN that the Yugoslav authorities maintained that the two problems mentioned above had minimal impacts on the conservation of Durmitor and that necessary measures to mitigate those impacts were being taken. However, the Bureau ...
Sites: Durmitor National Park
The Bureau was happy to note that the rhinoceros population in the Park has now increased to 32 individuals due to an increase in the budget and personnel and that the state of conservation of the site continues to be stable. Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Committee, in accordance with the request made by the State Party by letter of 26 February 1991, delete this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites: Garamba National Park
48. The Bureau took note of document CLT-92/CONF.003/02 and commended the efforts of the Director-General of UNESCO for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of Dubrovnik, particularly:
- his joint appeal together with the United Nations Secretary General for a return to peace and the protection of cultural heritage;
- his appeal to the various UNESCO missions to the different parties involved in the conflict with the aim of enforcing the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 1954) and the World Heritage ...
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
The Bureau was happy to learn that the restoration work on the monuments at Arles (France) was continuing, thanks to participation of the Ministry of Culture, and also with important contributions from the municipal authorities and the World Monuments Fund.
The Bureau also noted with satisfaction the continuing efforts of the persons responsible for the conservation of the archaelogical site of Kerkouane (Tunisia), to reinforce the cliff which is being eroded by waves.
The Bureau took note of the information provided by the World Heritage Centre on the site of the Pont du Gard (France). It appears that the development activities at the site do not endanger its authenticity but seem to help re-establish it, as an existing electricity line will be buried.
With regard to the state of conservation of the monuments of Goreme (Turkey), the Bureau noted the willingness of the national authorities to continue the restoration of the site and requested the World Heritage Centre to prepare, in consultation with the responsible Turkish authorities and specialists, a more detailed dossier concerning tourist developments which may be detrimental to the visibility of the monuments.
The Bureau noted with concern the dangers threatening the conservation of the site because of its fragility and the increasing flow of pilgrims, as well as a possible reconstruction of the church over the saint's tomb. The Bureau requested the World Heritage Centre to draw the attention of the competent national authorities to these matters and request their assurances to take all action necessary for conserving this site.
Sites: Abu Mena
The Bureau noted that the restoration work was continuing and that the archaeological activities were limited to excavation connected with the installation of an electric line. The Bureau was concerned that the means and human resources to ensure the protection of the site was not yet in place.
Sites: Delos
The Bureau was satisfied with the positive assessment of the state of conservation of the monuments and expressed its wish that the national authorities take measures to strengthen the protection of this site.
Despite the fact that it was aware of the efforts of specialists and the Tunisian authorities for conserving this site, the Bureau was, however, concerned about the modifications which affected the environment of the site and requested the competent authorities to take urgent measures necessary to reestablish the harmony of the site and its surroundings, halt all new constructions in the immediate environs and demolish the shopping arcade constructed on one side of the amphitheatre. If it is not possible to demolish the arcade, then it would be desirable to conceal it with a hedge. ...
Sites: Amphitheatre of El Jem
The Bureau took note with satisfaction that the urban development plan of the town had been modified and wished to obtain more information regarding the new plan from the competent Turkish authorities.
Sites: Historic Areas of Istanbul
The Bureau expressed its concern regarding the protection of Megalithic temples and requested the World Heritage Centre to draw the attention of the competent Maltese authorities to the necessity of establishing a larger buffer zone with better legal protection. A report on the information received will be submitted to the Committee at its next session, particularly in the light of a proposal for extension of this site presented by the Maltese authorities this year.
Sites: Megalithic Temples of Malta
The Bureau was concerned by the construction project inside the Vatican City of a concrete building of several floors in the place of the old Hospice de Santa Marta, the demolition of which was undertaken on 1 June 1992.
The breach in the Leonin Wall that appeared during this work constitutes a danger to the integrity of this fortified ensemble. Moreover, because of its co-visibility with the dome of Saint-Pierre, the height of the planned building would cause irreparable damage to the urban landscape of Rome, as well as to the Vatican City.
The Bureau recommended that the World ...
Sites: Vatican City
The Bureau took note with satisfaction of the safeguarding activities undertaken by UNESCO for Cambodian heritage. The Organization had already started this work before the signature of the peace treaty. Since then, Cambodia has adhered to the Convention and the Bureau considered it to be its duty to participate actively in the restoration and conservation of Angkor.
A member of the Bureau underlined the fact that the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List was a matter of genuine urgency. In fact, following the war which devastated this country, the protection of the site ...
Sites: Angkor
The representative of ICOMOS reported to the Bureau on the cultural sites he had monitored. A more detailed report accompanied by slide projections will be made during the Santa Fe session in December 1992 for all the cases mentioned. The properties in question are: Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation), Monastery of Rila (Bulgaria), Budapest (Hungary) and Stonehenge (United Kingdom). With regard to the site of Stonehenge, the ICOMOS Representative mentioned the problem of tourist pressure and the deviation of the road A-344. A more detailed report will be submitted at the next session of the ...
The Bureau was informed of the building proposals in the buffer zone along the Saint-Lawrence River and the impact they would have on the views to and from the River. ICOMOS was critical about the consultation process and the design and specifically of the failure of the many levels of government to work together. The Bureau also learnt that four other prominent persons in Quebec had expressed similar concerns. The Bureau noted with concern the incompatibility between such activities and the aspiration of Quebec City concerning the World Heritage Cities Secretariat. The creation of an ...
The Bureau was happy to learn of the innovative efforts made by the competent American authorities for the long-lasting conservation of Chaco Canyon.
Sites: Chaco Culture
16 BUR VI.49
Monitoring of the state of conservation of cultural World Heritage properties, and related technical problems - Monitoring of the state of conservation of properties in Mediterranean countries
49. The Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretariat and decided to set aside a sum of US$30,000 for urgent activities to be undertaken for the restoration of Dubrovnik.
Sites: Old City of Dubrovnik
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (Malta)
65. The Bureau requested that ICOMOS examine the justifications provided by the Maltese authorities for the need to install an air-conditioning system at this World Heritage site and assess the relative merits of different options available for solving problems caused by internal humidity.
The Bureau recommended that the Committee, at its next session, take a decision on this request on the basis of information submitted by the State Party and the report from ...
Sites: Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
City of Potosi (Bolivia)
66. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to contact the Bolivian authorities to obtain information on the links between the World Heritage site of Potosi and the proposed rehabilitation project for the lagoons.
The Bureau recommended that the Committee, at its next session, assess, on the basis of the requested information, the importance of the work to rehabilitate the lagoons to the conservation of the World Heritage city and decide whether or not this project qualifies for international assistance from the World Heritage ...
Sites: City of Potosí
Plitvice Lake National Park (Republic of Croatia)
67. The Bureau decided to set aside US$30,000 as emergency assistance to undertake an expert mission to this site to assess damage caused by armed conflict in Croatia and to prepare and initiate the implementation of an international assistance project for the rehabilitation of the site.
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Istanbul (Turkey)
68. The Bureau, while agreeing in principle to providing support for the continuation of the restoration of mosaics of Saint Sophia in Istanbul, noted that the project approved in 1991 under the World Heritage Fund is expected to be completed by the end of 1992.
The Bureau requested that the Committee at its forthcoming session in Santa Fe, review the report of the project which is currently underway and other information from studies that are being undertaken by the Turkish authorities and decide on an appropriate amount to assist in the continuation of the ...
Sites: Historic Areas of Istanbul