Periodic Reporting Questionnaire, Section I and II

What if a National Focal Point or Site Manager changes during the 2nd Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise?

Institutional memory and continuity are critical in connection with the Periodic Reporting exercise. Staff changes usually cause some level of disruption. Should they, nevertheless, be unavoidable, knowledge sharing and transfer are crucial to limit the loss of expertise.

Who has access to the questionnaires?

Access to the questionnaires is limited to National Focal Points, Site Managers, the World Heritage Committee, the Advisory Bodies and the Secretariat. National Focal Points have access to Sections I and II of their State Party and sites located on its territory. Site mangers only have access to Section II of the site they are in charge of.

What language is used to fill in the questionnaire?

The questionnaire has English and French versions, and must be answered in one of these two languages. If, for working purposes, the use another language is more practicable, translation needs to be provided by the State Party. Any information submitted to the World Heritage Centre needs to be in English or French.

How to deal with serial properties?

For serial properties, only one questionnaire (Section II) per property shall be submitted, which should be answered in consultation with all relevant Site Managers and stakeholders.

How to deal with transboundary and transnational properties?

For transboundary and transnational properties, only one questionnaire (Section II) shall be submitted. It should be prepared jointly by, or in close collaboration between the States Parties concerned. The States Parties decide on one Focal Point per transboundary and transnational property to validate Section II of the questionnaire.

How long will it take to complete the questionnaire?

Filling in the questionnaire requires the gathering of substantial amounts of information. Hence, the time necessary to fill in the questionnaire depends on the availability of this information and its accessibility. It is recommended to start the work with the questionnaire as soon as possible in order to get an overview of the information needed and to effectively organize the work.

Outstanding Universal Value

As requested by the World Heritage Committee in 2007 (Decision 31COM 11D.1), prior to the start of the second cycle, all States Parties must submit, by 1 February 2012, retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for those properties inscribed before 2007.

The elaboration of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value is not only crucial for the adequate management and conservation of the properties but is also the basis for completing Section II of the revised questionnaire. Indeed, one of the main differences between the first and the second cycle of Periodic Reporting relates to the new version of the questionnaire in Section II. Most questions need to be answered referring to the Statement of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.