ANNEX VII
Distribution limited WHC-93/INF.4
Paris, November 1993
English only
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,
SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE
WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
World Heritage Committee
Seventeenth session
Cartagena, Colombia
6-11 December 1993
Information Document on item 11 of Provisional Agenda:
Report of the International Expert Meeting on "Cultural Landscapes
of Outstanding Universal Value"
Templin, Germany, 12 to 17 October 1993
I. Introduction
1. The expert meeting was organized by the World Heritage Centre
and the German authorities in close cooperation with the advisory
bodies and at the request of the sixteenth session of the World
Heritage Committee.
2. The objective of the meeting was to provide further guidance
to the Committee on issues related to the inclusion of cultural
landscapes on the World Heritage List. The Committee specifically
requested that the group of experts discuss the preparation of
Tentative Lists and to provide illustrations and examples of
cultural landscapes.
3. The meeting was held in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Schorfheide/Chorin in Templin, Germany with the support of the
environmental foundation "Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt" from 12
to 17 October 1993.
*[2]
4. The meeting was attended by experts from 19 State Parties
(Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy,
Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain,
Sri Lanka, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America) and
one non State Party (Israel), representatives of the UNESCO World
Heritage Centre, the advisory bodies ICOMOS and IUCN and of
relevant nongovernmental organizations (IFLA, IALE, ILAA,
IUCN/CNPPA). The interdisciplinary professional expertise of those
who attended the expert meeting bridged natural sciences and
cultural disciplines. The full list of participants is annexed to
this report.
5. The programme of the expert meeting was carefully formulated
to ensure the appropriate consideration of the Committee's request
by the expert meeting. A global survey of outstanding cultural
landscapes was presented in the form of case studies to provide the
baseline illustrative information for the inclusion of cultural
landscapes on the World Heritage List. Workshops discussed the
classification and evaluation of cultural landscapes, issues
concerning the conservation and management of cultural landscapes
and the preparation of tentative lists to include cultural
landscapes. The meeting programme, summary reports of the global
survey of case studies and of the workshops are annexed to this
report. The proceedings of the expert meeting supplemented by
additional contributions will be published during 1994.
6. The expert group expressed its deep satisfaction that the
World Heritage Committee had adopted the revisions to the cultural
criteria to include cultural landscapes on the World Heritage List.
7. A number of general principles emerged during the expert
meeting. The meeting reaffirmed that cultural landscapes are an
expression of the interactions between people and the environment.
Furthermore, the meeting recognized the importance of peoples
involvement in the processes of identification, evaluation
nomination and management of cultural landscapes. It was moreover
emphasized that cultural landscapes are the subject of increasing
threats.
8. The expert meeting made the following specific recommendations
for an action plan for the future:
ACTION PLAN FOR THE FUTURE:
GUIDANCE TO STATE PARTIES ON THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT,
NOMINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPES FOR INCLUSION IN
THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
(a) that the difficulties encountered by State Parties in
developing Tentative Lists be identified and addressed;
*[3]
(b) that additional information, guidance and advice be provided to
State Parties on the subject of cultural landscapes and their
inclusion on Tentative Lists; this should include an explanatory
illustrated booklet on cultural landscapes;
(c) that the opportunity for applying for preparatory assistance
for the development of Tentative Lists should again be communicated
to State Parties;
(d) that State Parties that have not yet submitted revised
Tentative Lists, to include cultural landscapes, be urged and
encouraged to do so within the next two years;
(e) that in light of the recent revisions to the cultural criteria
that State Parties be made aware of the opportunity to review
properties that are already on the World Heritage List with the
object of reassessing the criteria and the boundaries for which the
property was included. It was noted that this was at the discretion
of State Parties;
(f) that specific guidelines for the management of cultural
landscapes, including both conservation and development, be
incorporated in the existing "Guidelines for the Management of
World Heritage Properties";
(g) that an exchange of information and case studies on the
protection of cultural landscapes between State Parties be
encouraged;
(h) that the expert groups and NGOs (ICOMOS, IFLA, ILAA, IALE,
IUCN/CNPPA) be encouraged to promote a broader understanding of
cultural landscapes and their potential for inclusion of the World
Heritage List;
(i) that the World Heritage Centre be asked to facilitate all of
the above.
THEMATIC STUDY ON CULTURAL LANDSCAPES
(a) that a working group(s) be convened,to initiate a cultural
landscape(s) thematic study. This group(s) should be established by
the World Heritage Centre in association with ICOMOS and in
consultation with IUCN;
(b) it was noted that a number of State Parties had developed
thematic methodologies for the preparation of Tentative lists. It
was suggested that the working group(s) investigate how these
thematic frameworks could be applied to the development Tentative
Lists to include cultural landscapes;
(c) that the completion of this thematic study should not delay the
inscription of landscapes of unquestionably outstanding universal
value on the World Heritage List;
*[4]
(d) that the proposed working group(s) be requested to give careful
consideration to the definitions and categories of cultural
landscapes included in the Operational Guidelines. That the "Model
for Presenting a Tentative List" (Annex 1 of the Operational
Guidelines), the nomination form, and the format of the World
Heritage List, be reviewed to insure the visibility of cultural
landscapes;
(e) that paragraph 14 of the Operational Guidelines be redrafted in
response to the changes to the cultural criteria to provide
appropriate information to the public during the nomination
process.
ANNEX VIII
ACTION PLAN FOR THE FUTURE (CULTURAL LANDSCAPES)
GUIDANCE TO STATE PARTIES ON THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT,
NOMINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPES FOR INCLUSION IN
THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST
(a) that the difficulties encountered by State Parties in
developing Tentative Lists be identified and addressed;
(b) that additional information, guidance and advice be provided to
State Parties on the subject of cultural landscapes and their
inclusion on Tentative Lists; this should include an explanatory
illustrated booklet on cultural landscapes;
(c) that the opportunity for applying for preparatory assistance
for the development of Tentative Lists should again be communicated
to State Parties;
(d) that State Parties that have not yet submitted revised
Tentative Lists, to include cultural landscapes, be urged and
encouraged to do so within the next two years;
(e) that in light of the recent revisions to the cultural criteria
that State Parties be made aware of the opportunity to review
properties that are already on the World Heritage List with the
object of reassessing the criteria and the boundaries for which the
property was included. It was noted that this was at the discretion
of State Parties;
(f) that specific guidelines for the management of cultural
landscapes, including both conservation and development, be
incorporated in the existing "Guidelines for the Management of
World Heritage Properties" taking into account successful
management experiences;
(g) that an exchange of information, case studies and management
experiences on the level of regional and local communities for the
protection of cultural landscapes between State Parties be
encouraged;
(h) that the expert groups and NGOs (ICOMOS, IUCN/CNPPA, IFLA,
ILAA, IALE) be encouraged to promote a broader understanding of
cultural landscapes and their potential for inclusion of the World
Heritage List;
(i) that the World Heritage Centre be asked to facilitate all of
the above.
*[2]
THEMATIC STUDY ON CULTURAL LANDSCAPES
(a) that a working group(s) be convened to initiate a cultural
landscape(s) thematic study. This group(s) should be established by
the World Heritage Centre in association with ICOMOS and in
consultation with IUCN;
(b) it was noted that a number of State Parties had developed
thematic methodologies for the preparation of Tentative lists. It
was suggested that the working group(s) investigate how these
thematic frameworks could be applied to the development of
Tentative Lists to include cultural landscapes;
(c) that the completion of this thematic study should not delay the
inscription of cultural landscapes of unquestionably outstanding
universal value on the World Heritage List;
(d) that the proposed working group(s) be requested to give careful
consideration to the definitions and categories of cultural
landscapes included in the Operational Guidelines. That the "Model
for Presenting a Tentative List" (Annex 1 of the Operational
Guidelines), the nomination form, and the format of the World
Heritage List, be reviewed to insure the visibility of cultural
landscapes;
(e) that paragraph 14 of the Operational Guidelines be redrafted in
response to the changes to the cultural criteria to provide
appropriate information to the public during the nomination
process.
*[EOF]