Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
- Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
- Financial resources
- Human resources
- Illegal activities
- Legal framework
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Society's valuing of heritage
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Storms; Other climate change impacts (Vulnerability to natural disasters)
- Financial resources (Lack of sustainable funding for the functioning management agencies)
- Management activities (Implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan through operational arrangements)
- Management systems/ management plan (Need for an integrated tourism Management Plan and mechanisms to control tourism related infrastructure developments)
- Society's valuing of heritage; Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system (Implementation of Community-Based Land Use and Zoning Plan)
- Human resources
- Illegal activities
- Legal framework
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4102
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1077
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2018
Total amount provided to the property: USD 20,000 under Italy Funds-in-Trust for study tour; USD 47,000 under the UNESCO Participation Programme for emergency assistance following typhoon Emong in May 2009; USD 40,600, Netherlands Funds-In-Trust, emergency stabilization and restoration for the Rice Terraces after typhoon Juaning in July 2011
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
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 2018**
September 2001: joint ICOMOS/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission; June 2005: UNESCO expert mission; April 2006: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission; March 2011: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018
The State Party did not submit the state of conservation report, which was requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016), at the time this document was written. On the basis of the report submitted ahead of the 40th session in 2016, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/722/documents/, and on the basis of exchanges with the State Party that have occurred since, the following information on conservation issues highlighted by the Committee at its previous sessions could be gathered:
- Continued efforts have been made for the conservation and management of the rice terraces, in line with the Rice Terraces Master Plan 2015–2024;
- The Master Plan foresees the establishment of a database system for the rice terraces to provide adequate support for conservation activities, and also encourages the creation of a National Support Body and Office, to ensure that the government remains committed to the restoration and preservation of the rice terraces;
- A number of measures have been taken in order to preserve the rice terraces by developing and implementing community-based zoning and land use plans that take into account traditional value systems. The resulting maps are in the process of adoption by the relevant national authorities;
- The need to regularize the employees involved in conservation projects is recognized as an important step for the sustainable management of the site.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018
In the absence of a report on the state of conservation of the property, progress achieved by the State Party towards implementation of rice Terraces Master Plan (2015-2024) cannot be evaluated.
However, the State Party has sustained its efforts to address the conservation issues highlighted by the Committee at its previous sessions, which has resulted in the overall improvement of the property’s state of conservation and management.
The grassroots approach to the protection of the property will take longer to become fully functional, given that consultation and engagement with a diverse range of communities and stakeholders is a time-consuming process. This process is critical, however, in order to secure the long-term sustainability of the protection and management arrangements, as it ensures that people who live within the property and/or whose livelihoods depend on it can embrace the management system and contribute to its successful implementation.
It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue providing adequate human and financial resources to actively support the implementation of measures included in the Master Plan and which concern not only the tangible conservation of the property, but also the Ifugao practices and intangible cultural heritage associated with them.
The success of the property’s long-term management will depend on the positive role played by local communities. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that mechanisms are in place to guarantee their active involvement in the property’s management, and in turn guarantee that tourism development occurs in consultation with the local communities and in such a way that it benefits them.
Finally, it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continuously monitor the implementation of regulations to control infrastructure and physical developments within the property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
42 COM 7B.15
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) (C 722)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.45 adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property by the deadline of 1 December 2017, as requested by the Committee in Decision 40 COM 7B.45;
- Welcomes nonetheless the efforts and progress made by the State Party to improve the overall state of conservation and management of the property;
- Requests the State Party to continuously implement the Rice Terraces Master Plan 2015-2024, including not only the tangible conservation of the property, but also the Ifugao practices and intangible cultural heritage associated with it;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to ensure the necessary human and financial resources to support the implementation of the Master Plan of the property through operational arrangements;
- Encourages the State Party to continuously monitor the implementation of regulations to control infrastructural and physical developments within the property, and to ensure the full participation of local communities and residents in its operation;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the Committee at its 44th session in 2020.
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7B.15
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B.Add,
- Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.45 adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property by the deadline of 1 December 2017, as requested by the Committee in Decision 40 COM 7B.45;
- Welcomes nonetheless the efforts and progress made by the State Party to improve the overall state of conservation and management of the property;
- Requests the State Party to continuously implement the Rice Terraces Master Plan 2015-2024, including not only the tangible conservation of the property, but also the Ifugao practices and intangible cultural heritage associated with it;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to ensure the necessary human and financial resources to support the implementation of the Master Plan of the property through operational arrangements;
- Encourages the State Party to continuously monitor the implementation of regulations to control infrastructural and physical developments within the property, and to ensure the full participation of local communities and residents in its operation;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the Committee at its 44th session in 2020.
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.