VII.33 Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras)
The Committee recalled that at its nineteenth session it took note of a monitoring report prepared by IUCN. This report noted the threats to the site, including agricultural intrusion and the implementation of land reform programmes. A number of follow-up actions, including the inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger, were recommended. Following the Committee session, the Centre requested the Honduran authorities to inform the Committee about the actions taken to protect the site. The Centre received a state of ...
VII.34 Whale Sanctuary of El Viscaino (Mexico)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled discussions held at its nineteenth session, concerning a report on a project for industrial salt production at the site and its potential threats to the whale population. At its twentieth extraordinary session, the Bureau was informed by the Delegate of Mexico that the National Institute of Ecology (INE) created a Committee comprising national and foreign experts, which held a first meeting in March 1996, participated in a public conference attended by nearly 300 persons and ...
VII.35 Skocjan Caves (Slovenia)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that the World Heritage Committee, at its nineteenth session, had requested the Centre to contact the Slovenian authorities to provide a map of the revised boundaries of the site and to encourage the State Party to finalize new legislation and to prepare a management plan. In its letter of 8 August 1996, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning informed the Centre about preparations of the adoption of the "Law on the Protection of Skocj an Caves Regional Park", which was in the last phase ...
Sites: Škocjan Caves
VII. 36 Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee recalled that the site was included on the World Heritage List in 1980 and took note of the report presented by IUCN on threats to the site which was prepared in cooperation with the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. The report confirmed that the construction of dams had a devastating impact on the wetland values of Ichkeul National Park. The significant adverse environmental impact of the construction of two dams limiting the freshwater flow to the area was also described in a recent report by the Tunisian Ministry of the Environment. ...
Sites: Ichkeul National Park
VII.37 Garamba National Park (Zaire)
The Committee recalled that due to the success of the safeguarding action of the northern white rhino population by the World Heritage Committee, IUCN, WWF, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zaire authorities, the site was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. In April 1996, the Centre and IUCN received information on the poaching of two white rhinos.
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session took note of additional information provided by IUCN on the loss of three rangers killed at the site and information based ...
Sites: Garamba National Park
VII.38 Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session took note of a progress report which was prepared by IUCN's Commission on National Parks during a visit to the site in August 1996. The Bureau recalled that the Committee in 1992 had made recommendations on human impacts at the site and its possible extension. It noted substantial progress in dealing with the growing human impact in the area, and the possibility of twinning the site with another World Heritage site in Europe. On the other hand, the Committee I s ...
VII.39 Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)
The Bureau recalled that at its nineteenth session it took note of a progress report, dated March 1996, on the ongoing planning activities for the site and a schedule of activities. IUCN had noted several recent developments in the Sanctuary that are of concern: (1) poaching of thirteen Oryx, and (2) the construction of a reverse osmosis plant which has resulted in significant damage to the desert habitat. The Bureau had requested the Centre to contact the Omani authorities encouraging them to provide the definition of the final boundaries of the site ...
VII.40 Huascaran National Park (Peru)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that the Committee, at its nineteenth session recommended to the Peruvian authorities that a cultural resources inventory of the site be carried out and asked for clarification on the road developments which may threaten the integrity of the site. The Bureau noted that no reply had been received to a letter addressed to the State Party.
The Bureau reiterated the request by the World Heritage Committee that: (a) a cultural resources inventory of the site be carried out; (b) ICOMOS be kept ...
Sites: Huascarán National Park
VII.41 Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that the Committee, at its nineteenth session, noted the potential threats to the integrity of this site, due to the proposed development of a new port, and the proposal to issue a license for the establishment of a large floating hotel at the site. Furthermore, the Committee at its nineteenth session learnt that Japanese aid agencies were considering supporting the project up to an amount of US$ 100 million and noted that Japan was still studying the pro] ect. The Committee recalled Article 6.3 of ...
20 COM VII.D.42
SOC noted by Committee: Durmitor National Park (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro))
VII.42 Durmitor National Park (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro))
The Bureau at its extraordinary twentieth session took note of the World Heritage Centre's mission to the site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980. The mission reviewed the state of conservation of the site and damage at the Park Headquarters building in Zablj ak caused by a fire in 1995, which destroyed library and reference collections. The building had since been reconstructed, almost wholly refurbished and is operational.
The mission noted the rapid unplanned and uncontrolled ...
Sites: Durmitor National Park
VII.43 Australia
IUCN provided additional information on the situation of World Heritage sites in Australia. The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that Australia is a leading State Party in the protection and enhancement of World Heritage. It took note of information provided by IUCN on potential threats at a number of World Heritage sites in Australia, including salt mining at Shark Bay, logging in adjacent areas of the Tasmanian Wilderness, uranium mining at Kakadu National Park, and the opening of nature reserves at the Great Barrier Reef to fishing and ...
VII.44 Japan
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that at the time of the inscription of Shirakami-Sanchi and Yakushima the Committee requested a follow-up mission to review progress in 1996. IUCN informed the Bureau that it was invited by the Japanese authorities, but was not able to conduct a review in 1996 due to budgetary constraints. The Bureau noted that this mission had been re-scheduled for 1997.
VII.45 Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru)
The Secretariat recalled the suggestion of the Bureau at its twentieth session that alternative means of access to Machu Picchu should be studied in the context of integral planning for the whole of the area of the Sanctuary and that an assessment of the impact of a possible cable car system be undertaken, and the Bureau's request that the authorities of Peru inform the Committee on the progress made in the development of an integral management mechanism as well as on the plans for the access to the ruins of Machu Picchu. No response was ...
VII.46 Mount Huangshan (People's Republic of China)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that an international seminar was held at the site in 1991 by the National Environmental Protection Agency of China and UNEP, which indicated growing negative impacts of unregulated tourism development. It also noted that a training workshop for Chinese protected area managers was organized at Huangshan in October-November 1993. Recommendations of the workshop included the construction of a visitor centre, improving the disposal of the large amount of waste generated by ...
Sites: Mount Huangshan
VII.57 Khami (Zimbabwe)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe had reported that a Strategic Action Plan for the conservation and management of Khami is being formulated. However, resources for maintenance work and surveillance are inadequate.
The Committee noted the information provided by the National Museums and Monuments concerning the threats of the development project in the vicinity which are leading to increased negative pressure on the si te. It encouraged the Zimbabwe authorities to pursue their efforts for better ...
VII.58 Butrinti (Albania)
At the twentieth extraordinary session of the Bureau, the Secretariat reported that major studies were being undertaken for tourism development of the World Heritage site of Butrinti and that Albania had made a request for technical cooperation for monitoring these activities, which, in the meantime, was approved by the Chairperson of the Committee. The assistance, however, could not be implemented due to the non-payment of the contributions to the World Heritage Fund.
The Bureau commended the Albanian authorities for their efforts at Butrinti, and recommended ...
Sites: Butrint
VII. 59 Kasbah of Algiers (Algeria)
In July 1996, the Permanent Delegation of Algeria transmitted a progress report for the project entitled "Safeguarding Plan for the Kasbah of Algiers", and informed the Centre that the training in Paris, financed by the World Heritage Fund, of three architects in charge of drawing up the plan had been satisfactory.
The Bureau, at its twentieth extraordinary session, took note of the information provided and warmly thanked the Algerian authorities for having informed it of their strong interest in the preservation of the Kasbah of Algiers and the ...
Sites: Kasbah of Algiers
VII.62 Aksum (Ethiopia)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session took note of the report provided by the Secretariat that the site management should be strengthened by providing and collecting scientific documentation at the site level as the basis for management and conservation planning, particularly in view of the master plan that is being prepared.
The Bureau warmly thanked the Ethiopian authorities for all their efforts and the measures already taken to ensure the preservation and enhancement of this site. It asked the Centre for Research and Conservation of the Cultural ...
Sites: Aksum
VII.68 Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the rehabilitation programme of Vilnius Old Town is progressing well. In September 1996, the Danish/Scottish/Lithuanian consultant team submitted their final report on the Revitalization Strategy and steps are being taken to implement the consultants' recommendations, notably the establishment of a management structure for the rehabilitation programme. Furthermore a computer-assisted information system for the rehabilitation of the historic centre is in preparation. The President of the Republic of Lithuania and ...
Sites: Vilnius Historic Centre
VII.69 Archaeological sites of Bat, AI-Khutun and AI-Ayn (Oman)
On the occasion of a mission sent to Oman from 14 to 21 September 1996, UNESCO experts noted that several structures of the site of Bat are now protected by wire fence enclosures, but that several repairs and preventive measures should be taken.
Having noted the Secretariat report on the state of conservation of the archaeological site of Bat, the Bureau thanked the Omani authorities for preserving the structures of the site and encouraged them to implement as quickly as possible the additional measures already foreseen:
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