Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Avalanche/ landslide
- Financial resources
- Housing
- Human resources
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Negative impact on the site and its inhabitants due to increasing tourism
- Need for a long-term integrated development plan
- Continuing uncontrolled construction of shelters on the terraces
- Lack of an effective site management authority
- Lack of human or financial resources
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Total amount approved : 153,200 USD
| 2001 | Emergency Technical Co-operation for the enhancement of ... (Approved) | 75,000 USD |
| 1998 | GIS for mapping the Rice Terraces of the Philippines ... (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
| 1997 | Preparation of a technical project for the mapping of ... (Approved) | 15,000 USD |
| 1994 | Preparation of a nomination file for Cordillera Rice ... (Approved) | 13,200 USD |
Missions to the property until 2003**
September 2001: joint IUCN / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission ; October 2002: World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in the Asia-Pacific Region mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
WHC:
When the Banaue Rice Terraces Task Force (BRTTF), management authority for the Rice Terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras World Heritage property was abolished in March 2002, IUCN expressed concern in its letter to the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM). IUCN requested clarification on the rationale for BRTTF’s abolition and the government’s intention to establish another management body as its replacement. UNACOM informed IUCN and the Centre that the Provincial Government of Ifugao had established the Ifugao Rice Terraces and Cultural Heritage Office (IRTCHO), supported by the Provincial Government and the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA). The Provincial Government had provided approximately US$40,000 to start the rehabilitation work on the irrigation systems in the Terraces, while NCCA allocated approximately US$ 1 million in support of conservation programmes.
In the state of conservation report dated 14 March 2003, the State Party informed the Centre that IRTCHO is now responsible for the updating and implementation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces Master Plan, and that several projects are under way to halt the erosion of the landscape value, such as the Indigenous Farming System Demonstration Project, Banaue – Batad Road Improvement Project.
At the national level, an Advisory Body, composed of UNACOM, NCCA, National Committee on Marine Sciences (NCMS), UNACOM Culture Committee, and the Office of the Governor, has been formed to oversee the management of the rice terraces.
The World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in the Asia-Pacific Region organized a mission to the site between 12 and 19 October 2002 which resulted in the elaboration of a work plan and timetable for the implementation of the Technical Emergency Assistance (US$75,000) allocated by the Committee at its 25th session. This work plan was approved in February 2003 by the national authorities concerned. The Centre was informed that an Activity-Financing Contract was established with IRTCHO to undertake activities as stipulated in the approved work plan. The First Review and Stakeholders’ Workshop will take place from 21 to 26 July 2003. The meeting will review the accomplishments made against goals set in the 1994 Management Plan and analyze all physical interventions (irrigation, terrace wall repair, replanting of watersheds, etc.) necessary to revive the rice production at the five terrace clusters of the property.
Additional Details:
Natural erosion (landslides) through lack of maintenance
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7A.25
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined the state of conservation of the property;
2. Recommends that the State Party considers ways and means to enable the Ifugao Rice Terraces and Cultural Heritage Office (IRTCHO) to raise and use funds other than the subsidies provided by the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), and increase stakeholder involvement in its work;
3. Requests UNESCO, the Advisory Bodies and other international partners to support and strengthen the international co-operation activities with the competent national and local authorities by mobilising appropriate international assistance to the maximum extent possible;
4. Requests that the State Party provide a report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 on progress made in the implementation of corrective measures recommended by the IUCN/ICOMOS mission of September 2001 for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 28th session in 2004;
5. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
27 COM 8B.2
Properties maintained on the List of World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Following examination of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-03/27.COM/7A),;
2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan (27 COM 7A.21)
- Butrint, Albania (27 COM 7A.26 )
- Tipasa, Algeria (27 COM 7A.17)
- Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin (27 COM 7A.15)
- Angkor, Cambodia (27 COM 7A.22)
- Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park, Central African Republic (27 COM 7A.12 )
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea (27 COM 7A.4)
- Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Sangay National Park, Ecuador (27 COM 7A.13)
- Abu Mena, Egypt (27 COM 7A.18)
- Simien National Park, Ethiopia (27 COM 7A.3)
- Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras (27 COM 7A.14)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India (27 COM 7A.9)
- Group of Monuments at Hampi, India (27 COM 7A.23)
- Old City of Jerusalem & its Walls (27COM7A.29)
- Timbuktu, Mali (27 COM 7A.16)
- Air & Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (27 COM 7A.5)
- Bahla Fort, Oman (27 COM 7A.19)
- Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan (27 COM 7A.242)
- Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, Peru (27 COM 7A.28)
- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines (27 COM 7A.25)
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal (27 COM 7A.6)
- Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia (27 COM 7A.8)
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda (27 COM 7A.7)
- Everglades National Park, United States of America (27 COM 7A.11)
- Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen (27 COM 7A.20)
Draft 27 COM 7 (a) 25
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined the state of conservation of the property,
2. Recommends that the State Party consider ways and means to enable IRTCHO to raise funds in addition to those allocated by NCCA, and increase stakeholder involvement in its work;
3. Requests that the State Party provide a report by 1 April 2004 on the progress made in the implementation of corrective measures, for the Committee’s examination at its 28th session;
4. Decides to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Philippines
Exports
* :
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.
