Report on the Joint Reactive Monitoring Mission to the Western Caucasus (Russian Federation), 23-27 September 2012

A joint UNESCO-IUCN monitoring mission was conducted from 23 to 27 September 2012 as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th h session (St. Petersburg, 2012). The Mission team reviewed the status of the planned tourism and ski development on Lagonaki plateau, evaluated the impacts of the planned development on the OUV of the property and assessed the state of conservation of the property and progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the 2010 mission.

The Mission was able to hold discussions with various stakeholders, including representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), the UNESCO National Commission, the management authority of the Western Caucasus Strict Nature Reserve (WCSNR), representatives of fhe administration of the Adygeya Republic in charge of the administration of the 3 Nature Monuments and Nature Park included in the property, the "OJSC" company which is involved in the development of the "Lagonaki ski resort" project, as well as officials ·from the regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya, NGO representatives from Greenpeace, Ecological Watch North Caucasus (EWNC) and Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). The Mission also held discussions with various local stakeholders during a round table discussion.