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3 - Policies Regarding CONSERVATION of World Heritage Properties
3.5 - Factors affecting properties
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to promote traditional land management practices [and] reiterates its appeal to all Member States of UNESCO to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trade in wildlife and its products, including through the implementation of the CITES, and with the full engagement of transit and destination countries (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 3.5.9 - Other human activities
See for examples Decisions:  32 COM 7B.41 35 COM 7B.9 38 COM 7B.14 40 COM 7B.86
Threats:  Civil unrest Deliberate destruction of heritage Illegal activities Military training Terrorism War
3 - Policies Regarding CONSERVATION of World Heritage Properties
3.5 - Factors affecting properties
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

At site-level, the World Heritage Committee recommends to monitor the impacts of global climate change and to develop adaptive management strategies and mitigation and adaptation measures to ensure the long-term protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the properties in response to climate and other environmental change (based on Case law further to decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 3.5.10 - Climate change and severe weather events
See for examples Decisions:  33 COM 7B.23 33 COM 7B.11 33 COM 7B.7 34 COM 7B.14 35 COM 7B.22 36 COM 7B.4 37 COM 7B.14 38 COM 7A.29
Threats:  Changes to oceanic waters Desertification Drought Flooding Other climate change impacts Storms Temperature change
3 - Policies Regarding CONSERVATION of World Heritage Properties
3.5 - Factors affecting properties
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee encourages the assessment of the impacts and the damage caused after a sudden ecological or geological event, and the planning and implementation of the necessary remedial measures, including with a view to strengthening the overall resilience of the properties, to identify mechanisms for adaptive conservation and to improve risk preparedness, together with prevention and monitoring strategies and disaster response plans (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 3.5.11 - Sudden ecological or geological events
See for examples Decisions:  31 COM 7B.45 31 COM 7B.8 32 COM 7B.44 34 COM 7A.16 34 COM 7B.42 34 COM 7B.11 35 COM 7B.32 36 COM 7C 37 COM 7B.37 37 COM 7B.20 37 COM 7B.3 40 COM 7B.11
Threats:  Avalanche/ landslide Earthquake Erosion and siltation/ deposition Fire (widlfires) Tsunami/tidal wave Volcanic eruption
3 - Policies Regarding CONSERVATION of World Heritage Properties
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee recommends States Parties to develop a comprehensive tourism management plan or a sustainable tourism strategy, including a set of measures to address the tourism pressure on the site (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 3.6 - Tourism and visitor management
See for examples Decisions:  35 COM 7B.17 36 COM 7B.78 36 COM 7B.17 37 COM 7B.19 38 COM 7B.92 38 COM 7B.27 39 COM 7B.61 40 COM 7B.81 40 COM 7B.74 40 COM 7B.50
3 - Policies Regarding CONSERVATION of World Heritage Properties
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

At sites with a high tourism pressure, the World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to put in place all necessary strategic, planning and management frameworks as well as legal regulations for cruise ship tourism, including identification of the sustainable carrying capacity of the site and an analysis of the impact on the World Heritage property by cruise ships (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 3.6 - Tourism and visitor management
See for examples Decisions:  31 COM 7B.24 38 COM 7B.27 40 COM 7B.52 40 COM 7B.50
4 - Policies Regarding CAPACITY-BUILDING
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to undertake capacity-building activities for all local stakeholders concerned to raise awareness of World Heritage management requirements (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 4.1 - General capacity-building policies
See for examples Decisions:  33 COM 7B.29 36 COM 7B.61 36 COM 7B.45 36 COM 7B.17 38 COM 7A.37
4 - Policies Regarding CAPACITY-BUILDING
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to implement initiatives for capacity building and transmission of traditional know-how for the sustainable development and use of the property (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 4.1 - General capacity-building policies
See for examples Decisions:  40 COM 7A.5 41 COM 7A.27 44 COM 8B.33
5 - Policies Regarding COMMUNICATION
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

At site-level, the World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to organize awareness-raising activities for local population and surrounding communities, to mobilize their active participation in heritage conservation and management (based on Case law further to decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 5.1 - Education and awareness-raising
See for examples Decisions:  36 COM 7B.64 36 COM 7B.61 36 COM 7B.17
5 - Policies Regarding COMMUNICATION
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee recommends to develop a comprehensive site presentation and interpretation programme for visitors (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 5.2 - Interpretation
See for examples Decisions:  31 COM 7B.84 33 COM 7B.131 35 COM 7B.77 40 COM 7B.30
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests State Parties to ensure that any relocation is carried out with the consent of the population concerned, and also requests to engage with communities in case of relocation, by ensuring an evaluation of the impact of the relocation and effective consultation  processes, as well as appropriate compensation of the affected local communities (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders
See for examples Decisions:  39 COM 7A.10 41 COM 7B.97 43 COM 7B.39 43 COM 7B.76 43 COM 7B.6 43 COM 7B.4
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties to promote the customary governance and use of the sites, including the promotion of engagement of customary owners in decision-making processes (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.1 - Participation of local communities and other stakeholders
See for examples Decisions:  35 COM 7B.15 42 COM 7B.66 43 COM 7A.2
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests the States Parties to take urgent action to strengthen its efforts to ensure that human rights concerns are addressed and provide a full response to human right abuses in accordance with relevant international standards (based on case law on decisions on State of Conservation and Nomination).
Theme: 6.2 - Human rights and rights-based approach
6.6 - Fostering of peace and security
See for examples Decisions:  44 COM 7A.44 44 COM 7B.174 44 COM 7B.188
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests States Parties to assess the impacts of grazing, hunting and other human traditional activities on the biodiversity in the traditional use zone and develop a policy for the sustainable use of the natural resources in the traditional use zones in the property in close cooperation with the indigenous communities using these areas (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.4 - Indigenous peoples
See for examples Decisions:  32 COM 7B.41 36 COM 7B.25 40 COM 7B.79
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests to take into account the property uses by the indigenous populations, and encourages consultation and involvement in decision-making with resource-dependent communities in and around the property, to find mutually acceptable ways to resolve any potential use conflicts, while respecting any rights of use, and on the basis of an accurate assessment of impacts from resource use on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.4 - Indigenous peoples
See for examples Decisions:  34 COM 7B.1 39 COM 7A.19 40 COM 7B.88
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests to protect the indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation and in initial contact from external pressures (based on Case law of decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.4 - Indigenous peoples
See for examples Decisions:  35 COM 7B.34
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee requests that any development project to count with all elements of due process to achieve Free, Prior and Informed Consent by indigenous communities having territorial rights in the affected lands (based on Case law on decisions on the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.4 - Indigenous peoples
See for examples Decisions:  37 COM 7B.30 39 COM 7B.28 44 COM 7A.44
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee encourages States Parties and local communities to maintain their efforts with regard to the mobilisation and full involvement of the youth in the conservation of the property (based on case law on decisions on State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.5 - Youth
See for examples Decisions:  38 COM 7B.52 43 COM 7A.55 43 COM 7A.53 43 COM 7A.52 43 COM 8B.14 44 COM 7B.10
6 - Policies Regarding COMMUNITIES
Synthesis based on relevant Committee decisions

The World Heritage Committee urges States Parties in conflict situations to safeguard damaged properties through minimal first aid interventions to prevent theft, further collapse and natural degradation, and to refrain from undertaking conservation and restoration work until the situation allows, for the development of comprehensive conservation strategies and actions that respond to international standards in full consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies (based on Case law further to Decisions concerning the State of Conservation).
Theme: 6.6 - Fostering of peace and security
See for examples Decisions:  39 COM 7A.36 40 COM 7A.22 41 COM 7A.50 41 COM 7A.46

The World Heritage Policy Compendium was elaborated thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Australia.

The World Heritage Policy Compendium On-line tool was developed thanks to the generous contribution of the Government of Korea.


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