World Heritage Centre

13 BUR IV.A.1 Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau was glad to learn that, thanks in part to support provided under the World Heritage Fund, the situation of this site had greatly improved. The Bureau re-considered this matter under the agenda item concerning nominations/exclusion from the List of World Heritage in Danger (see paragraph XI.28.C.).

13 BUR IV.A.2 State of conservation

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

2) Garamba National Park (Zaire)

The joint project to rehabilitate this Park run by the Frankfurt Zoological Society/WWF/World Heritage Fund met with considerable success since no more rhinoceros have been poached in the last 5 years, the rhinoceros population has increased by 50% and a better management regime has been established. The Park recently celebrated the 50th anniversary since its foundation. The Bureau noted this situation with satisfaction and recommended that the property be re-examined in 1990: if the situation continued to show improvement, steps should be taken to initiate the removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

13 BUR IV.B.3 Tai National Park (Cote d'Ivoire)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau recalled that IUCN had reported on the deteriorating situation of this site on several occasions and that the Committee had requested the Ivoirian authorities to propose its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger. It noted that the Secretariat had contacted the Ivoirian authorities, but that only recently a response had been obtained in the form of a request for preparatory assistance in order to prepare a technical cooperation request for an integrated project addressing the need for increased protection of the natural values of this Park and also the socio-economic problems. The contribution of the World Heritage Fund would be used in a catalytic manner adding on to other funding sources such as UNDP. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to follow this matter and consult with IUCN in the preparation of the integrated project for technical cooperation.

13 BUR IV.B.4 Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau was informed of the project to construct a major highway across the Park, which would be financed by a number of Development Banks. Several impact studies - some contradictory in their conclusions - had been made: the Bureau expressed its preference for the alternative route outside of the Park to the North, which in addition to preserving the natural values of Niokolo-Koba, would serve to link up isolated villages. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to prepare a letter to the highest authority in Senegal recalling this State Party's obligation to protect the natural values for which NiokoloKoba was inscribed on the World Heritage List and expressing the Bureau's strong preference for the alternative route outside the Park.

13 BUR IV.B.5 Mana Pools, Sani and Chewore Reserves (Zimbabwe)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau wished firstly to commend the Zimbabwean authorities for their efforts to protect the remaining rhinoceros and elephant populations. The Bureau expressed great concern however over the proposed oil exploration programme, particularly in the light of a very negative report submitted to the Secretariat by the Zimbabwe National Commission for Unesco. The Bureau therefore requested the Secretariat to convey its concern to the highest government authorities of Zimbabwe, as well as to the Director of Mobil Oil Company.

13 BUR IV.B.6 Sangay National Park (Ecuador)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau learnt of several threats to this site, including a proposal to excise a large section of land for settlement. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to contact the Ecuadorian authorities to express its concern over the proposed excision and to encourage them to draw up a request for technical cooperation to support the elaboration of a revised management plan addressing many of the conflicting issues in the Park. The Bureau hoped that the request for technical cooperation could be submitted in time for examination by the Committee in December 1989.

13 BUR IV.B.7 Iguazu National Park (Argentina) / Iguazu National Park (Brazil)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau noted with satisfaction that the two States Parties had recently undertaken measures to coordinate the management and protection of these contiguous parks containing the famous waterfalls. In response to the suggestion of the IUCN representative to encourage the States Parties' acceptance to list these waterfalls under one name on the World Heritage List, the representative of Brazil stated that his government had not changed its position on this matter and that the two sites should continue to be indicated separately on the World Heritage List.

13 BUR IV.B.8 Mount Nimba (Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau noted that the preparatory assistance mission to this site in November 1988 had resulted in the elaboration of a two-year Unesco/UNDP project on evaluating the impact of iron-ore extraction on the natural values of the site and elaborating an integrated management plan which would improve protective measures and encourage socio-economic development of the transition zone. The Bureau nevertheless wished to express its concern about further damage to this site and suggested that this concern be communicated to the World Bank.

13 BUR IV.B.9 Yellowstone National Park (USA)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

Following a request of the Committee on 21 April 1989, the American authorities submitted a report on the fire management policy review and the recovery plan following the 1988 wildfires. The Bureau wished to thank the American authorities for this report and for their offer to make it available for other States Parties.

13 BUR IV.B.10 Manas Game Sanctuary (India)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau noted that this site had recently been invaded by several hundreds of local people which had caused great damage to the park and the loss of several lives. The Indian authorities had sent in the police to halt further destruction, but the problem of illegal encroachment was still not resolved. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to contact the Indian authorities to express its concern over this situation and encourage taking appropriate measures to restore the site.

13 BUR IV.B.11 Wet Tropics of Queensland (Australia)

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The Bureau was informed by the representative of the Government of Australia of proceedings instituted against it before the Federal Court by the Government of Queensland with respect to the protection of the site of the Wet Tropics of Queensland inscribed on the World Heritage List in December 1988. The judge of the Federal Court is called upon to examine the question whether the ban decided by the Federal Government on commercial forestry operations in the site can reasonably be regarded as appropriate and adapted to the objectives of protecting, conserving, enhancing and rehabilitating the Wet Tropics of Queensland (World Heritage site).

The Federal Government of Australia wishes that Mr. James Thorsell ofIUCN, who led the evaluation of the site upon which the Committee based its decision to inscribe this site on the World Heritage List, give scientific and technical advice on the question brought before the Court. The Bureau considered that IUCN has a consultative role with respect to natural World Heritage sites. It would be concerned if scientific advice from this body could be interpreted as implicating the Committee in a national legal proceeding.

In the event that IUCN decides to give such advice, the Bureau wished to affirm that this advice should not be interpreted as a mandate from the Committee to justify the inscription of the site on the World Heritage List.

Furthermore, the Bureau expressed its concern about maintaining the integrity of the site.

13 BUR IV.B.12 State of conservation of other natural properties

wh-support@unesco.org — Tue, 27 Jun 1989 00:00:00 EST

The IUCN representative also gave reports on the conservation status of Rio Platano (Honduras), Manu National Park (Peru), Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia), Sagarmatha (Nepal), Wood Buffalo National Park (Canada).