V.223 The Bureau, recalling the recommendations of the Joint ICOMOS-ICCROM Reactive Monitoring Mission undertaken in September 1999, adopted by the Bureau at its twenty-third extraordinary session, noted that the State Party had not transmitted information concerning the implementation of the short and long-term actions for the sustainable conservation and development of the site. The Centre has since received numerous independent reports expressing alarm over the state of conservation of the site, particularly in Locality 1 and other excavated caves. Recently, the ...
V.227 The findings of the ICOMOS Mission undertaken to the Potala Palace and Jokhang Monastery (26 February - 6 March 2001) were examined by the Bureau, following its request for the mission at its twenty-fourth extraordinary session. The ICOMOS Mission had been undertaken in conjunction with the evaluation mission for the nomination of the extension of the site to include the Norbulingka Palace.
V.228 The Bureau’s attention was drawn to the uncontrolled urban development and expansion of tourism related facilities which are ...
V.233 The Bureau examined further information transmitted by the State Party to the Centre concerning the destruction caused by the 24 March 2001 Geiyo Earthquake, which resulted in minor damage to the Honsha-Haraiden, Sessha-Marodo-Jinja, Higashi-Kairou, Massha-Hokoku-jinja-Honden and Sessha Omotojinja-Honden. The damaged parts of these buildings were restored in May 2001 by the responsible authorities, following international conservation norms. Minor damage to stone walls observed in certain areas have been recorded and preparation is underway to financially and ...
Sites: Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
V.236 The Bureau noted the information received from the State Party in February 2001 concerning proposed plans for the expansion of a military airport within 2 km of Sigiriya. The national authorities had stated that the airport, if and when constructed, would negatively impact upon the site through:
Sonic vibrations which would cause damage to ancient wall plasters with paintings and inscriptions, as well as to the rock surface which is already peeling.
Aircraft-generated pollution that would damage the above-mentioned wall plaster and rock ...
Sites: Ancient City of Sigiriya
V.241 The Bureau was informed that the Deputy Director of the Centre, who visited the site in April 2001, observed the urgently required conservation needs of the main historic building, the 17th century Dutch Reformed Church, notably the need to repair the roof and stain-glass windows to prevent rainwater infiltration. Moreover, the Bureau took note with concern, of the extent of deformation to the urban historic fabric which undermines the authenticity of this town, characterized by the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Chinese and Indian building traditions. ICOMOS ...
V.244 The World Heritage Centre informed the Bureau that the State Party had submitted a substantive report answering the concerns regarding perceived demographic pressures and their impact on the World Heritage values.
V.245 The Bureau congratulated the State Party on its clear vision of the problems facing the site, as well as on the far-reaching actions taken or being planned to mitigate them. The Bureau requested ICOMOS to study the report in the context of the ICOMOS/UNESCO monitoring mission, which the twenty-fourth session of the ...
Sites: Brasilia
V.246 The World Heritage Centre informed the Bureau that it had received a report on the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Central America on 13 January 2001. The tremors aggravated damage already experienced in 1976 and caused moderate damage but heightened the danger of collapse for some of the buildings. The Centre is currently discussing an emergency assistance request with the State Party.
V.247 ICOMOS reported on the results of an expert mission, which evaluated the impacts of the construction of a shopping centre on the ...
Sites: Antigua Guatemala
V.250 The Secretariat informed the Bureau that it had received through the Permanent Delegation of Peru a report from the Mayor of Arequipa on the damages that the earthquake of 23 June 2001 caused to the Historical Centre of Arequipa. It was reported that:
about 20% of the monuments in the city show considerable damage, particularly around the Plaza Mayor;
15% of the buildings in the Centre are uninhabitable;
60% have suffered moderate or light damage;
the Cathedral has lost two of its towers and one third of its central cupola;
numerous monuments, churches ...
V.254 The Secretariat informed the Bureau that during the course of last year, it had received information informing of concern over the planned cruise-ship landing at Pointe-à-Carcy and its possible impact on the universal values of the Historic District of Quebec. In response, the Government of Canada, through Parks Canada, provided information on the process of consultation and assessment of the project and submitted substantive documentation on the project, on the results of the public consultations and on the cultural resource assessment that had been prepared ...
V.259 An ICOMOS expert mission was undertaken to the site in order to assess the impact of a road construction project on the universal values of the site. ICOMOS presented the conclusions of the mission.
V.260 The Bureau notes the conclusion of the ICOMOS expert mission to Weimar, that the proposed bypass road (Variant 1): (i) will bring relief to the centre of the city of Weimar, (ii) will not have a negative impact on the fabric of the Tiefurt Schloss and its grounds and (iii) that mitigation measures will be able to conceal the road and ...
Sites: Classical Weimar
V.261 The Secretariat informed the Bureau that an ICOMOS mission visited the site on 11 and 12 May 2001 to evaluate the damage caused by acts of vandalism that occurred between 12 and 13 April 2001 at Mnajdra, a part of the World Heritage site.
V.262 During his intervention, the ICOMOS Representative indicated that this report comprises several recommendations and in particular:
the need for a more complete management plan for all the Megalithic Temples of Malta
the need to reinforce security measures for the whole site
the need to ...
Sites: Megalithic Temples of Malta
V.268 The Secretariat introduced this item by summarising the report that had been received from the Polish Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on the Government Strategic Programme Oswiecim, the International Group of Experts and the matter of the buffer zone around the World Heritage site. In this context the Secretariat referred to and projected on the screen the delimitation of the site and its buffer zone as proposed in the nomination that was submitted by Poland in 1978. Furthermore, the Secretariat informed the Bureau that it had received a ...
V.12 In Virunga a joint monitoring exercise carried out by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), WWF-International and the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGF-I) revealed that the population of the mountain gorillas has increased from 320 before the war (1989) to 355 in 2001. Control of illegal activities in the southern sector has been more effective due to co-operation between staff and military forces. However, many other indicators of the site's integrity are showing negative trends: ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
V.13 Among the five DRC sites, conditions for the conservation of wildlife are more stable in Garamba. The staff appear to have established good relations with other stakeholders in the area and minimised poaching threats; the number of the northern white rhino population is estimated to be similar to pre-war levels, i.e. 25 –35 individuals. The need to sustain this relative stability in the conservation status of Garamba is however a continuing concern for all stakeholders.
Sites: Garamba National Park
V.14 Reports received by IUCN point to extensive poaching on wildlife, including on the endangered lowland gorillas and elephants. 90% of the Park is still inaccessible to the staff, the status of the lowland gorillas and the elephants is of serious concern. The Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund estimates that the population of the endangered lowland gorilla, about 8000 before the war, may have dropped to around 1000; elephants have become a rare sight in Kahuzi-Biega and most of the decline in the populations of these two flagship species is attributed to ...
Sites: Kahuzi-Biega National Park
V.28 The Bureau noted that following the recommendation of the Committee made at its last session (Cairns, Australia, November - December 2000), Sangay National Park has been included as one of the ten pilot sites in a UNESCO/IUCN/UNF-UNFIP Project entitled: "Enhancing our heritage: monitoring and managing for success in World Natural Heritage sites". The 4-year project financed at a total cost of US$ 2 million by UNF-UNFIP will elaborate and test a monitoring regime for Sangay National Park with indicators and benchmarks, including those that could ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
The Secretariat reported on the earthquake that occurred in the south of Peru on 23 June 2001 and caused the loss of life of seventy people, made more than 20,000 people homeless and seriously affected the infrastructure in the region. It also reported that the World Heritage site of Arequipa suffered damage, most particularly the cathedral. The Secretariat noted that the inscription of the site on the World Heritage List in 2000 was the culmination of a great effort of the national and municipal authorities in establishing adequate protection and management arrangements for the site. A ...
V.97 The Bureau recalled its earlier requests concerning the situation at the site. It requested that the Centre and IUCN continue efforts to verify with the Ugandan authorities, the needs for support for purchase of vehicles and staff training, and to continue assisting the Ugandan authorities to obtain financial support from suitable sources including the World Heritage Fund.
V.235 The Bureau examined the state of conservation of the site and noted with appreciation, the recent measures taken by the national authorities in close co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Kathmandu Office, to address the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, its Bureau, ICOMOS and the Centre. The Bureau commended the national authorities for taking the necessary actions to temporarily suspend the development of the fragile Maya Devi Temple remains until the elaboration of the guiding principles for its conservation, ...
V.248 The Bureau noted that the authorities had submitted, during its session, reports on the state of conservation and management of the site. It requested the Secretariat and ICOMOS to study the reports and to consider them in the context of a joint UNESCO-ICOMOS mission that should be undertaken in order to assess the state of conservation and management of the site. The mission report should be submitted to the twenty-fifth extraordinary session of the Bureau for examination.