Golden Mountains of Altai
Factors affecting the property in 2000*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Major linear utilities
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2000
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2000**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2000
Previous deliberations:
Twenty-second session of the Committee – paragraph - VIII.3
New information: IUCN has informed the Centre that it has received various reports concerning the proposal to construct a road and gas pipeline from Russia to China through the Ukok Plateau. The Ukok Quiet Zone on the Ukok Plateau (252,904 ha) is one of three areas that together make up the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage site and that such a proposal, if implemented within the World Heritage site, would have major impacts on the natural values of the area.
Action Required
The Bureau invites the State Party to inform the Centre on the proposed road construction project, including any environmental impact studies that may be underway, before 15 September 2000.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2000
Concerning the proposal to construct a road and gas pipeline from Russia to China through the Ukok Plateau, UNESCO staff at the Moscow Office met with representatives of the Russian Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) and were informed that technically an easier version could be planned through Kazahstan, but was not taken into consideration for political reasons. Via his letter of 15 September 2000, the Permanent Delegate of Russia to UNESCO informed the Centre that the State Committee for Environmental Protection of Russia is aware of the decision to build a transportation route Urumchi (China) – Barnaul through the Ukok Plateau, but that Russia is bound to meet requirements concerning the site. The preparation of the project has not yet started and all possibilities to consider the biological safety will be taken into account. The State authorities of the Rebublic of Altai have expressed their negative opinion to these plans. IUCN has received the State Party response and stated that the State Party has confirmed that the road construction has not commenced. The project in fact exists only in the form of a possible economic prospect for the region’s development. The State Party assures that it will insist that parties interested in this project will consider all possibilities to ensure the biological safety of the area. If the project is to be developed it will have to go through a State ecological assessment. The Fund for the 21st Century Altai has informed IUCN that they are planning to organise a conference with other NGOs on the issue of the proposed road across the Ukok Plateau. They hope to hold this before the Committee meeting in November, so that an update can be given to the Committee.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2000
24 BUR IV.B.36
Golden Mountains of Altai (Russian Federation)
The Bureau invited the State Party to inform the Centre on the proposed road construction project, including any environmental impact studies that may be underway, before 15 September 2000.
24 COM VIII.26
Golden Mountains of Altai (Russian Federation)
VIII.26 Golden Mountains of Altai (Russian Federation)
The Observer of Russia informed the Committee that the proposed road and gas pipeline through the Ukok Plateau is supported at the highest political level. The project will be reviewed at a meeting on 15 and 16 December 2000 in the Altai Republic.
The Bureau may wish to adopt the following decision and transmit it to the Committee for noting:
“The Bureau invites the State Party to inform the Centre on details concerning the proposed road construction project, including any environmental impact studies that may be underway and any future developments in time for the twenty-fifth session of the Bureau.”
Russian FederationExports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
