The Bureau took note of the preparatory assistance request by Zaire being reduced from US$15,000 to US$10,000.

Further, following the advice of a WWF project at the site, the Bureau decided to further reduce this sum to US$ 3,000. It was noted that the current level of legal protection was inadequate and the site should be upgraded to National Parks legislation prior to an eventual nomination.

A.1.2.1  Technical assistance request for Lake Malawi National Park (Malawi)

The Bureau approved a technical assistance request for a total of US$ 16,000 subject to the Government of Malawi making full payment of its dues to the World Heritage Fund. The project involves the purchase of equipment (boats, tents, diving equipment, life jackets and binoculars) for Lake Malawi National Park.

A.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

A.1.2 Technical co-operation

A.1.2.2 Manu National Park (Peru)

The Bureau approved a sum of US$ 20,000 for a technical cooperation request for Manu National Park to be implemented by the park director and financially administrated by the Peruvian Foundation for the Conservation of Nature, which is also supporting the project.

The Bureau furthermore recalled that IUCN gave a state of conservation report on the site some years ago and that other projects (WWF and GEF funding) are carried out at the site.

The Bureau approved a sum of US$ 20,000 for a project at Huascaran National Park involving staff training in ecology, public awareness, a seminar involving local peoples and an environmental education workshop, as well as the publication of interpretative material for the Park.

A.1.2.4 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)

The Bureau recalled that Sangay National Park was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the sixteenth session of the World Heritage Committee in Santa Fe.

The Bureau deferred a decision on this US$28,500 project until the monitoring report has been examined at the seventeenth session of the Committee.

A.1  Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

A.1.2 Technical co-operation

A.1.2.5 Mount Nimba (Guinea)

The Bureau examined a request for US$45,000 for the World Heritage Site in Danger. It recommended a reduction of the project to US$30,000 and deferred a decision until the monitoring report is presented at the seventeenth session of the Committee.

A.1  Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

A.1.2 Technical co-operation

A.1.2.6 Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

The Bureau examined a technical cooperation request for US$25,000 received by IUCN just prior to the meeting. IUCN informed the Bureau, that the management plan for the site has been completed. This project involves some limited road construction, a parking area and a new hiking trail to better serve visitors to the Park. The Bureau approved the sum requested.

A.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

A.1.3 Training

A.1.3.1 Sixteenth International Protected Areas Course (CATIE), Costa Rica

The Bureau approved a sum of US$25,000 for this Protected Areas training course at CATIE, Costa Rica, with the recommendation that World Heritage managers receive priority for scholarships.

A.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

A.1.4 Emergency Assistance

A.1.4.1 Garamba National Park (Zaire)

The Bureau recalled that this site was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger at the sixteenth session of the Committee. The Bureau discussed the request for US$20,000 and approved the sum of US$10,000.

The Bureau noted that the emergency circumstances under which this request was originally submitted have changed substantially and therefore requested the World Heritage Centre to write to IZCN and request further clarification on this project. Following the review of the project, a further US$10,000 could be released. IUCN informed the Bureau that the project will be implemented by the WWF at the request of IZCN.

The Bureau had an extensive discussion on the general state of unrest in Zaire and voiced concern with respect to the future conservation of the four listed sites in Zaire.  

A.2 Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.1 Technical co-operation

A.2.1.1 Dja Faunal Reserve (Cameroon)

The Bureau noted the request for a sum of US$40,000 submitted by the Government of Cameroon. However, since Cameroon has not paid its dues to the Fund since 1986/87, the Bureau did not examine the request.

A.2 Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.1 Technical co-operation

A.2.1.2 Vallee de Mai (Seychelles)

The Bureau examined the request from the Seychelles for the construction of a Visitor Information Centre in this World Heritage site. The Bureau was concerned about: the size of the site, the location of the Visitor Centre in the site, and noted the fact that construction had commenced despite previous concerns raised by the Bureau regarding size of the structure and its view that the development may be excessive.

Furthermore the Bureau recalled that the Committee recommended an extension of the site when it was inscribed in 1983. The Bureau deferred a decision and requested the Centre to advise the Government about these concerns.

The Bureau requested IUCN to carry mission to examine the potential for site impact of the construction.

A.2 Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.1 Technical co-operation

A.2.1.3 Technical assistance request for La Amistad World Heritage site (Costa Rica/Panama)

The Bureau noted the request of the Costa Rican authorities for US$50,000 for the site. However, as agreement on the proposed new boundaries for the site have not been received by the Centre and Costa Rica has not paid its dues to the Fund, the request was deferred.

The Bureau requested IUCN to organize with its regional office in Costa Rica, a meeting to review the project in the light of the revised boundaries and information received on other sources of support.

A.2 Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.1 Technical co-operation

A.2.1.4 Komodo National Park (Indonesia)

The Bureau reviewed a request for US$49,500 for Komodo National Park and recommended that the Committee approve US$37,000, deleting a proposal for staff training. It was noted that the Park authorities are planning to set up a training programme which would be a duplication of this activity. The project, prepared in cooperation with UNESCO's ROSTSEA Office, has three objectives: to provide equipment, to carry out a study on population in local villages and to improve the capability with respect to protection and monitoring of marine resources.

A.2  Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.2 Training

A.2.2.1  School for the Training of Wildlife Specialists (Cameroon)

The Bureau discussed a training request of US$ 43,667 and recommended the approval of US$35,000 pending more detailed information on the programme of the course and justification of the estimated costs.

A.2  Requests for which the Bureau formulated a recommendation to the Committee

A.2.2 Training

A.2.2.2 Training Course to be held in Côte d'Ivoire

The Bureau discussed a request for US$40,000 for the organization of a training course provided by the ''Ecole nationale du genie rural, des eaux et des forets" (ENGREF).

There was considerable discussion about this course. The Bureau raised concerns about the cost effectiveness of the programme and the results received in relation to the future management of World Heritage sites. While ENGREF had responded to all of the requests made by the sixteenth session of the Committee, it was felt that the details submitted were not sufficient to make a decision at this time. The Bureau requested the Centre to contact the course director for further information. If this information is received in time, the request will be brought forward to the Committee.

The Bureau noted IUCN's comments that they had prepared a concept paper on training in 1983. It was suggested that this paper be reviewed and could form the basis for the development of a training strategy. It was decided that if further information was received from the course Director, the proposal could be reviewed by the full Committee.

B.1.1.1 Preparation of nomination for the Ancient City of Xi'an (China)

The Delegate from China informed the Bureau that China is preparing a revised tentative list for cultural heritage and that the City of Xi'an is included in this revised tentative list.

The Bureau approved the amount of US$ 15,000 for preparatory assistance for the organization of an international symposium to discuss issues such as management and conservation of Xi'an and to examine and finalize the dossier for the nomination of this site for inscription on the World Heritage List. Assistance will cover the participation of a team of 5-7 international experts in this seminar.

B.1.2.1 The Mogao Caves (China)

The Bureau approved the amount of US$ 20,000 for the purchase of a polarization microscope for the systematic research of the degradation of the mural paintings in the caves.

B.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

B.1.2 Technical Cooperation

B.1.2.2 Cartagena (Colombia)

In discussing the request for technical assistance for Cartagena, the Bureau commended the systematic approach of the conservation efforts in Cartagena and was very pleased to note that earlier World Heritage assistance has led to very concrete results.

The Bureau approved the amount of US$ 19,000 for the services of national and international experts for the preparation of a Master Plan for the Historical Centre of Cartagena.

B.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

B.1.3 Training

B.1.3.1 National training activity at the Mogao Caves (China)

The Bureau approved the amount of US$ 20,000 for the organization of a training course on the Preservation Techniques in Environmental Monitoring and Mural Colour Analysis and the utilization of a polarization microscope.

The Bureau suggested that the Chinese authorities invite to this training course specialists and participants from other countries in the region such as Sri Lanka and India, so that the course could also benefit the countries in the region.

B.1 Requests on which the Bureau took a decision

B.1.3 Training

B.1.3.2 Riksantikvaren, Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Norway: International Training Course on Wood Conservation Technology, 1994

The Bureau approved the amount of US$ 25,000 for fellowships for participants from States Parties in development and transition in the International Course on Wood Conservation Technology in Norway.

The Bureau requested the course organizers to report on the results of the course and its impact on World Heritage sites.