Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Factors affecting the property in 1997*
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1997
Total amount approved : 50,000 USD
| 1997 | Training of a core-group of personnel on Human ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1996 | Technical assistance for the protection and public ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1997**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1997
The Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee approved, in 1996, a sum of US$ 20,000, for the implementation of a project entitled "Protection and Information and Education Campaign for the Conservation of Tubbataha Reef Marine Park". The Project Management Team (PMT) comprising individuals from Marine Sciences Research Institute of the Philippines, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the UNESCO National Commission visited Palawan, where it had consultations, on 19 March 1997, with representatives of the Provincial Government of Palawan, the Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and the Naval Forces. The UNESCO National Commission has submitted a report to the Centre where the following have been highlighted:
(i) The protection of Tubbataha Reefs directly affects the people of the Cagayancillo Municipality who have had resentment in the past for being left out conservation initiatives. The PMT is facilitating training of the local people in order to enhance their participation in patrolling, data collection, monitoring impacts of recreational activities, and exploring possibilities for developing community based tourism ventures under alternatives livelihood programmes;
(ii) Given the remote location of this site in the Sulu Sea, Park staff frequently opt to be transferred out to other parts of the country; hence training them in protection and patrolling is of limited benefit. The creation of an inter-sectoral group comprising naval personnel and representatives of PENRO in combination with continuing education of local communities is being seen as the optimal approach to ensure protection. Funds for food, fuel and salary of members in the patrolling teams are expected to be met by the respective Government agencies. Training in role clarification is foreseen as part of the World Heritage Funded Project in order to resolve leadership conflicts between naval and civilian personnel who are expected to constitute the patrolling teams.
A Presidential Task Force for Tubbataha Reefs has brought together all actors interested in the conservation of the World Heritage site and a national symposium for the finalisation of a Master Plan for Tubbataha Reefs is scheduled for 31 March, 1997. A local NGO is supporting the information and education component of the World Heritage Funded Project and the Marine Parks Centre and the Environment Agency of Japan have contributed to the production of a brochure on Tubbataha in English; the brochure will be translated into three local languages as part of the activities supported by the World Heritage Fund.
Action Required
The Bureau takes note of the information provided and encourages the Project Management Team (PMT) to provided the Centre with a copy of the Master Plan for Tubbataha Reefs and submit periodical reports on the progress made by the Project and the status of conservation of Tubataha Reef Marine Park.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1997
21 BUR IV.B.31
Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (Philippines)
The Bureau noted that the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee approved, in 1996, a sum of US$ 20,000, for the implementation of a project entitled "Protection and Information and Education Campaign for the Conservation of Tubbataha Reef Marine Park". The Bureau was happy to note that the Project Management Team (PMT) has regular consultations with Government agencies, research institutions and local communities concerned with the project's implementation and that a Presidential Task Force has brought together all groups interested in the conservation of this World Heritage site. In addition the Bureau noted that a symposium had been convened on 31 March 1997 for raising public awareness of the Management Plan for Tubbataha Reef.
The Bureau encouraged the PMT to provide the Centre with a copy of the Management Plan for Tubbataha Reef and submit periodical reports on the progress made by the Project and the status of conservation of Tubbataha Reef Marine Park. The Bureau also commended the Marine Parks Centre and the Environment Agency of Japan for financing several projects in support of the conservation of this World Heritage site.
21 EXT.BUR V.3
Requests for International Assistance
NATURAL HERITAGE
TRAINING
Cameroon (Sub regional workshop on strengthening biodiversity conservation at the Dja Faunal Reserve) - US$ 29,900
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 29,900.
The Bureau requested the State Party to cooperate with IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to:
(i) revise the workshop programme to include themes and issues identified in the state of conservation report on Dja;
(ii) indicate the amount of national contribution provided by the State Party;
(iii) schedule the workshop at a time to allow for better planning; and
(iv) invite the participation of bilateral donors who are financing commercial and sustainable forestry projects in the forests surrounding the site.
Philippines (Training of a core-group of personnel on human scientific dimensions of managing Tubataha Reef as a natural World Heritage site) - US$ 30,000
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 30,000.
Russian Federation (Training workshop for natural heritage site managers from Central and Eastern Europe and Russian Central Asia) - US$ 30,000
The Bureau decided to defer the consideration of this request as the workshop had been delayed until the summer of 1999.
The Bureau requested the State Party to cooperate with the World Heritage Centre to submit a revised proposal for consideration at the Bureau's 22nd ordinary session.
Tanzania (Support for 3 fellowships for African specialists in Protected Area/Wildlife Management to the Mweka College of African Wildlife Management for the Academic Year of 1998/99) - US$ 30,000
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 30,000.
The Bureau urged IUCN and the World Heritage Centre to cooperate with Mweka and other regional training centres to review their curricula and propose measures for enhancing use of information for World Heritage site management.
India (Meeting of regional training centres and university training institutes for curricula and training materials development, Wildlife Institute of India) - US$ 41,000
The Bureau recommended that the Committee approve a sum of US$ 30,000.
The Bureau requested the State Party to consider bearing the costs of the participation of Indian natural World Heritage site managers and specialists.
TECHNICAL COOPERATION
Dominica (Revision of the Management Plan for Morne Trois Pitons National Park) - US$ 13,900
For approval by the Chairperson, subject to the inscription of this site on the World Heritage List by the Committee at its twenty-first session, and payment of dues by the State Party to the World Heritage Fund.
The Bureau encourages the State Party to use national expertise for revising the management plan.
Niger (Purchase of Equipment for W National Park) - US$ 75,000
The Bureau recommended that the Committee approve a sum of US$ 50,000 and request the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO's equipment unit and the State Party to purchase the needed equipment through competitive bidding and in the most cost-effective manner.
The Bureau suggested that the Committee decide that the funds should not be used for maintenance of vehicles and request the State Party to co-operate with the World Heritage Centre for submitting a progress report on project implementation, to enable the Bureau, at its 22nd ordinary session, to determine whether additional funds are needed.
India (Strengthening Protection of Kaziranga National Park) - US$ 50,000
The Bureau took note of its recommendation made at its 21st ordinary session to the Committee, that the Committee approve this request.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
India (Contribution towards the implementation of an Emergency rehabilitation plan for Manas Wildlife Sanctuary) - US$ 160,000
The Bureau recommended that the Committee approves a supplementary allocation of US$ 90,000 for emergency assistance to cover: purchase of an additional 2 wooden fiber boats (US$ 50,000) and 400 patrolling gears (US$ 15,000), and contribution towards the construction of buildings within the site (US$ 70,000).
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Purchase of vehicles for 4 World Heritage Sites) - US$ 88,400
The Bureau, while fully recognising the need for vehicles for each of the four sites, expressed concerns over the current security situation in the eastern parts of the country and its impact on safe delivery, propser unse and maintenance of the vehicles.
Hence, the Bureau recommended that the Committee, as a first step, approves a sum of US$ 45,000 for 2 vehicles (of the US$ 90,000 requested for 4 vehicles) for any two of the four sites under consideration and request the State Party to cooperate with the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report on project implementation to the Bureau's 22nd session.
In addition, the Bureau suggested that the Committee request the World Heritage Centre to cooperate with conservation NGOs to ensure the safe delivery and proper use and maintenance of the vehicles.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
TRAINING
Laos (Training programme for the Historic Town of Luang Prabang) - US$ 25,000
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 25,000.
Philippines (Training to enhance the management of the Baroque Churches) - US$ 22,000
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 22,000.
Russian Federation (Training workshop for staff and specialists in the fields of designation, protection, management and rehabilitation of Cultural World Heritage Sites in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia) - US$ 29,800
The Bureau did not approve this request. Detailed information on the use of the funds had not been provided by the State Party.
The Bureau decided that it will not consider any International Assistance requests submitted by States Parties without a detailed budget breakdown in the future.
Austria (Training Course for the examination and Conservation of Architectural Surfaces) - US$ 35,000
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
Brazil (Inter-regional postgraduate course on the conservation of Monuments and Rehabilitation of Historic Cities) - US$ 50,000
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
Ghana (Ashanti Traditional Buildings) - US$ 47,000
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
ICCROM (Development of a training strategy and procedural framework) - US$ 50,000
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
TECHNICAL COOPERATION
China (Research project for the protection of the Terracotta Warriors and Horse Pits of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor) - US$ 30,000
Chinese authorities will provide further information concerning this request. Therefore, the Bureau decided to consider this request at its twenty-second session.
Nepal (Studies on traditional architecture, construction and conservation technique, documenting Bhaktapur Monument zone building) - US$ 28,000
The Bureau approved this request on the condition that the State Party pays its contributions to the World Heritage Fund for 1997.
Furthermore, the Bureau requested the State Party to submit the results of this activity to the Bureau and stressed the importance of documentation for protecting World Heritage sites.
ICCROM (Technical Assistance Programme - TAP) - US$ 25,000
The Bureau approved an amount of US$ 25,000.
Vietnam (Revision of urban planning regulations of the Complex of Hué) - US$ 35,000
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
Zimbabwe (Preparation for a conservation plan for Khami Ruins National Monuments) - US$ 76,900
Transmitted directly to the Committee.
Mexico (Special course on the World Heritage Convention for Latin America and the Carribean) - US$ 30,000
The Bureau took note of its recommendation made at its 21st ordinary session to the Committee.
PhilippinesExports
* :
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.
