At its twenty-second session (June 1998), the Bureau noted that the Tasmanian Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA) signed by the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Governments on 8 November 1997, has enabled: (i) the establishment of a significantly increased reserve system for Tasmania’s Forest Estate; (ii) participation by the signatories in further World Heritage assessment of relevant Australia-wide themes; and (iii) initiation of discussions between the signatories on possibilities for further World Heritage nominations or additions to the present World Heritage site. The ...
Sites: Tasmanian Wilderness
At its twenty-second ordinary (June 1998) and extraordinary (November 1998) sessions, the Bureau was informed of the events resulting from the eruptions of Mount Ruapehu in 1995 and 1996. The volcano’s Crater Lake has been drained and a large build-up of ash has blocked the Lake’s outlet. When Crater Lake refills, probably within the next few years, a rapid collapse of the ash dam could occur followed by a major lahar. The management authorities are faced with the dilemma of either letting nature take its course, putting both human life and some natural values at ...
Sites: Tongariro National Park
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the Permanent Delegation of Peru to UNESCO had invited an expert mission to Peru to observe in situ the application of the Master Plan for Machu Picchu. It also informed that the National Institute for Natural Resources (INRENA) and the National Institute for Culture (INC) had provided information on the creation of a Management Unit for the Sanctuary that was foreseen in the Master Plan for Machu Picchu and in the National Plan for Protected Areas and that its first meeting was scheduled for 26 June 1999. This Management Unit will prepare short ...
23 BUR IV.B.51
Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (Argentina and Brazil): The Jesuit Mission of Santa Ana (Argentina)
The Bureau took note of information provided by the National Commission for Museums, Monuments and Historical Sites: (1) an industrial plant was planned at 700 meters from the central square of the Mission and that both would be separated by a protective zone of 170 hectares and dense vegetation and that it would not affect the values of the Mission, and (2) plan for the industrial plant has led to developing a plan for a new and more appropriate access to the Mission.
The Bureau requested the authorities to submit by 15 September 1999, for further study and possible examination by the ...
Following receipt of a technical co-operation request and an alarming state of conservation report submitted by the Chinese authorities, the World Heritage Centre recommended that an ICOMOS/ICCROM reactive monitoring mission be undertaken to identify the emergency conservation and site management needs. The Bureau was informed that, with the agreement of the State Party, ICCROM, ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre were organizing this mission, which was expected to take place in September 1999.
The Delegate of the Republic of Korea brought the attention of the Bureau to the serious need ...
In approving the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List at its eighteenth session in 1994, the Committee recommended the Chinese authorities to extend the boundary to include Jokhang Temple and its surrounding historic quarters.
The Bureau was informed by the World Heritage Centre that the nomination for the extension of the Potala Palace to include the Jokhang Temple and its surrounding Barkhor historic area had been submitted to the World Heritage Centre, by letter of 30 June 1999.
The Bureau expressed its appreciation to the Government of China for following up on ...
The Bureau took note of the report submitted by the authorities of the Dominican Republic on the damage caused by Hurricane Georges. It requested them to keep the Committee informed of further actions taken in response to the 1998 monitoring mission and towards the integrated rehabilitation of the Historical Centre of the City.
1) Rehabilitation of Islamic Cairo
The Secretariat informed the Bureau of progress made in favour of the revitalization of this site, notably the posting of a technical co-ordinator to the Governor of Cairo as well as direct support from France, Italy, The Netherlands, UNDP and others, for the site. After having taken note of this information, the Bureau thanked the Egyptian authorities for their efforts for the restoration of Islamic Cairo and encouraged them to energetically pursue their work. The Bureau also thanked the States Parties and the institutions that had ...
Sites: Historic Cairo
23 BUR IV.B.56
Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur (Arab Republic of Egypt)
After having examined the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau considered that a General Management Plan should be established with a complete mapping of the site. The Bureau recommended to the State party to study the recommendations of the mission report of March 1999 and to take actions for the establishment of an integrated interdisciplinary General Management Plan. The Bureau requested the State party to submit a progress report on the actions taken by 15 September 1999 for examination by the Committee at its twenty-third session.
The Secretariat informed the Bureau that the structure erected opposite the Abu Simbel Temple for a sound and light project had been removed. Consequently, after examination of the state of conservation of the site, the Bureau congratulated the Egyptian authorities on this rapid action and recommended the preparation of an integrated management plan for this important ensemble of monuments.
23 BUR IV.B.58
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims (France)
The Bureau took note of the information provided by the French authorities that agreement had been reached to establish a precisely defined protection zone around the Cathedral (Zone de protection du patrimoine architectural, urbain et paysager ZPPAUP), the exact limits of which remained to be defined, and that a project for the surroundings of the Cathedral (le Parvis) will be the subject of a competition. The ICOMOS-designated expert will be involved in this process. The Bureau requested the French authorities to keep the Committee informed on further developments regarding the ...
A report prepared by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, Family and Women’s Affairs of Rheinland-Pfalz stated that the building permit for the new constructions north of the amphitheatre was issued on 23 December 1998 with the following characteristics:
- removal of one building in order to ensure sufficient distance from the theatre; - use of the western half of the site for green areas and access to the theatre;
- height limitation to the building closest to the theatre.
The report also states that the recently discovered archaeological remains are incorporated into the ...
After receiving information concerning the construction of a highway and bridge over Tungabhadra River cutting across the World Heritage protected area of the site of Hampi, the World Heritage Centre expressed deep concern over the negative impact these public works may have on the integrity of this site. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) confirmed that the bridge and the road leading from the bridge would affect the nationally protected monuments within Hampi, especially the Talauargattaa Temple and Gate through which the road already passes. ASI has contacted the Chief Secretary ...
Sites: Group of Monuments at Hampi
The Bureau was informed that the World Heritage Centre undertook a mission to Goa in January 1999 to develop a project proposal based on co-operation between the local authorities of Old Goa (India), Guimaraes (Portugal) and Brighton & Hove (UK) for submission to the European Union Asia Urbs Programme. During this mission, it was noted that while there is an important effort being made to conserve the individual monuments, the overall site is not cohesive, both visually and spatially. Widening of the roads, neglect of archaeological ruins and new spatial organization and ...
Sites: Churches and Convents of Goa
The Committee, at its twenty-first session in 1997, requested the Government of India to report on the findings of the structural studies being undertaken with World Heritage Fund Emergency Assistance. The Government of India was also requested to keep the Secretariat informed in the meantime, to enable UNESCO to mobilize additional international co-operation to undertake corrective measures, as required. The report on the structural studies has not been submitted and the World Heritage Centre has not received sufficient justification for the continuation of financial support for this ...
Sites: Sun Temple, Konârak
The Bureau recalled that it had discussed at its twenty-second extraordinary session, a project of high tension towers in the landscape surrounding Florence. The Delegate of Italy informed that a detailed report would be submitted to the Secretariat shortly on the matter of the high tension towers in the landscape outside of Florence. He informed the Bureau that these towers are indeed located outside of the World Heritage site. He confirmed the concerns of his Government for the protection of the environment in this type of case, and announced that the Ministry for Cultural ...
Sites: Historic Centre of Florence
The Secretariat received a report indicating that an out-dated incinerator banned in many countries is being installed in a location 6.6 km from the Pulgulksa Temple. According to this report, the average emission rate of 0.92 ng per cubic metre of dioxin produced by this type of incinerator would have a negative impact on the community surrounding the Temple.
The Delegate of the Republic of Korea informed the Bureau that although the City of Kyongju was implementing the construction of the incinerator, due to strong opposition from the local communities, the project had been ...
After having examined the report of the Secretariat on the protection of the stones of the Temple of Bacchus and the results of the mission carried out to evaluate the restoration of the Great Mosque, the Bureau requested that the Secretariat continues co-operation for the conservation of the Temple of Bacchus. The Bureau also recommended to the Lebanese authorities that work should not recommence at the Great Mosque and no transformation should be envisaged. It also recommended the Lebanese authorities to provide a management plan of the site before the end of September for ...
Sites: Baalbek
Having been informed that the only remaining building of the 19th century still standing in the inscribed archaeological zone has been allocated to a cultural institution and aware of the risks that this use might have on the site, the Bureau requested the Lebanese authorities to take no further action which might have a negative impact on this important archaeological site and recommended that another building situated outside of the site be provided.
Sites: Byblos
The preparation of documents and the operational activities of this site, which is the object of an International Safeguarding Campaign, is the responsibility of the Division of Cultural Heritage. The Director of the World Heritage Centre reminded the members of the Bureau that, following the launching of the Campaign by the Director-General of UNESCO on 3 March 1998, the Bureau, at its twenty-second session in June 1998, had encouraged the Lebanese authorities to continue the Campaign in co-operation with UNESCO. It had strongly urged the Lebanese authorities to immediately halt ...
Sites: Tyre