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Socotra Archipelago

Yemen
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
  • Civil unrest
  • Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
  • Governance
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Invasive / alien marine species
  • Legal framework
  • Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Solid waste
  • Storms
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Management systems / management plan
  • Legal frameworks
  • Governance
  • Buildings and development
  • Ground transport infrastructure: road network
  • Biological resource use/modification
  • Invasive/alien species or hyper-abundant species: absence of adequate biosecurity measures to avoid the introduction of invasive alien species
  • Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
  • Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
  • Solid waste: primarily in and around main settlements
  • Civil unrest: unrest inhibiting management and access of international experts and capacity building support
  • Climate change and severe weather events: cyclones
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
Requests approved: 1 (from 2017-2017)
Total amount approved : 75,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2021**

December 2012: IUCN mission; June 2014: IUCN/Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021

On 1 February 2020 the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1263/documents/, providing the following information:

  • Political unrest in the country has created exceptionally difficult conditions and resulted in limited management capacity and funding;
  • Changes were made to the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019 but no details are provided;
  • Climate change, plastic pollution and exotic species threats remain a challenge. Plastic pollution is increasing in the coastal Development Zone; awareness raising and management actions are underway;
  • In cooperation with international partners, activities are planned to address key challenges of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) management, restoration activities for native species, biodiversity monitoring, awareness campaigns and assessment of protected area management. A 3-year endemic tree replanting project has been planned, commencing in 2020. Replanting activities are addressing landslides linked to climate change and overgrazing;
  • Prioritized actions taken to address Committee Decisions from 2008-2019 as well as priority future actions include:
    • Management planning and reform of EPA Socotra to address IAS, sustainable terrestrial and marine resource management, and unsustainable development;
    • Revision of the 2000 Conservation Zoning Plan (CZP) is underway through the United Nations Environment Programme - Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) project co-implemented by EPA;
    • 2016-2019 IAS activities include exotic species management, a compilation of all exotic species, development of a management plan and awareness raising. Capacity constraints limit enforcement;
    • Sustainable financing and capacity constraints continue to limit management including the establishment of a World Heritage management authority, biodiversity monitoring system and tourism strategy;
    • No uncontrolled developments have been recorded in sensitive areas and authorities are in dialogue with developers regarding uncontrolled developments in the buffer zone, however challenges are noted as a result of the economic crisis and limited enforcement capacity. The implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) is constrained by funding and capacity;
    • Pilot activities were implemented in collaboration with UNEP-GEF, Friends of Socotra and the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) to reduce impacts of overgrazing and wood collection.

Despite invitations from the State Party, the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, requested by the Committee since 2016, as well as the technical workshop that was envisaged to follow the mission, could not be undertaken due to security and logistical issues.

In September 2019, UNESCO and Friends of Socotra launched the Connect 2 Socotra Campaign to raise awareness of Socotra’s rich heritage. Activities included a series of animated awareness videos initiated by the UNESCO Office for the Gulf Countries and Yemen, including a COVID-19 video released in Socotri language in 2020, and plans for further videos.

In May 2020, UNESCO received a letter from the State Party raising urgent concerns over clashes launched by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) against local authorities, and other threats at the property, and requesting the mission be undertaken as soon as possible.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2021

The State Party’s commitment to strengthening management measures in collaboration with international partners, in spite of significant capacity constraints due to ongoing insecurity in Yemen, is recognized and welcome.

The report provides an overview of completed and planned management actions. However, also considering that the Reactive Monitoring mission requested by the Committee in particular since 2018 to review whether the property meets the conditions for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger has not taken place, the overall state of conservation of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) remain unclear. The effective management of the property continues to be affected by insecurity in mainland Yemen, with concerning clashes on Socotra in May 2020, and a lack of sustainable financing and capacity continue to constrain fundamental management measures. The reported negative impact of climate change, plastic pollution and IAS also remain an ongoing concern. Efforts to address IAS are welcome, however the effectiveness of implemented management measures in relation to OUV remains unclear. Recalling the high levels of endemism on Socotra, it is worrying that enforcement of IAS measures at the island’s borders remains constrained by limited management capacity and its continuation is dependent on the renewal of project funding. A strategic biodiversity monitoring system to monitor the natural values of, and threats to, the property, as well as a World Heritage management authority, remain to be established. Monitoring efforts should be facilitated by harnessing information-sharing and collaboration with the various scientific organisations undertaking research on Socotra.

Whilst noting the information that no violations of uncontrolled developments were recorded in sensitive areas and authorities are engaging with developers in the buffer zone, the status of developments both within and outside the property, including Delisha beach and Serin Lagoon, remains unclear. Furthermore, the confirmation that developments continue in the buffer zone without adequate impact assessment due to funding and capacity constraints of authorities to regulate these, and that further capacity is required to address coastal developments, is highly concerning. The review of the CZP could provide an opportunity to strengthen the protection of the buffer zone and the protection provisions of the property, to halt unsustainable use of natural resources, and promote sustainable land and sea management.

It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to halt all projects that potentially impact the OUV of the property, both within the property and buffer zone, to ensure that no new developments are allowed without an adequate assessment of impacts on the OUV, and to ensure that appropriate environmental controls are implemented. It is further recommended to request a map of all new developments that have been constructed in the property and its buffer zone since inscription.

In light of the continuing threats to the OUV of the property, it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request that the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission be undertaken as soon as possible, to assess the overall state of conservation of the property and to determine whether its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger is warranted.

Recalling the State Party’s intention to hold a technical workshop following the mission, it is recommended to request the World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies, to facilitate a technical workshop to bring together key technical stakeholders to systematically review the state of conservation, threats, and capacity to manage the property, as well as provide technical guidance for the protection and management of its OUV.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7B.88
Socotra Archipelago (Yemen) (N 1263)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7B.100 and 43 COM 7B.1, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) sessions respectively,
  3. Welcomes the State Party’s ongoing commitment to strengthen management measures in collaboration with international partners in spite of significant capacity constraints due to ongoing insecurity in Yemen;
  4. Noting with concern the clashes in Socotra in May 2020, expresses its utmost concern about the continued impact of insecurity in mainland Yemen on the overall management capacity of the property;
  5. Acknowledges the continued efforts to manage Invasive Alien Species (IAS) but notes that the effectiveness of implemented management measures in relation to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property remains unclear and, also recalling the high level of endemism in the property and the potentially devastating impacts of IAS on its OUV, requests the State Party to further strengthen the capacity to enforce biosecurity measures;
  6. Taking note of the information provided by the State Party that no violation of uncontrolled developments has been recorded in sensitive areas and that authorities are engaging with developers in the buffer zone, however also notes with concern that development continues in the buffer zone in the absence of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) due to enforcement capacity constraints, and urges the State Party to:
    1. Halt any ongoing development in the property or buffer zone that may have a potential impact on the OUV of the property and refrain from allowing further development until the potential impact on the OUV has been assessed, in line with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, and the assessments submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, prior to taking any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines,
    2. Provide a map of all new developments that have been constructed in the property and its buffer zone since inscription,
    3. Evaluate the impacts on OUV of existing infrastructure developments that have not undergone EIAs and submit the results to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, in order to consider an appropriate response to any such impacts,
    4. Ensure that appropriate environmental standards to regulate activities in the property and its buffer zone are incorporated into the updated Conservation Zoning Plan and that their enforcement is ensured;
  7. Reiterates its concern that insufficient information is provided to determine the current state of conservation of the property’s OUV;
  8. Reiterates its utmost concern about the multiple reported threats to the OUV of the property including uncontrolled development, unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, plastic pollution, lack of sustainable funding and the absence of adequate biosecurity measures to avoid the introduction of IAS, and considers that all these factors represent a potential danger to the OUV of the property;
  9. Regrets that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property could not yet be undertaken due to the ongoing security situation in Yemen and logistical constraints, and reiterates its requests that the mission take place as soon as possible, to assess the current state of conservation of the property, in particular in relation to the above-mentioned threats, and to determine whether the property meets the conditions for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  10. Further recalling the State Party’s intention to hold a technical meeting following the mission focused on how to ensure the protection of the property’s OUV while also promoting appropriate sustainable development for the people of Socotra, also requests the World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies, to facilitate a technical meeting with the Yemeni authorities, IUCN and relevant stakeholders to identify priorities for the protection and management of the OUV of the property.
  11. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session, with a view to considering, in case of the confirmation of potential or ascertained danger to its Outstanding Universal Value, the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7B.88

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
  2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7B.100 and 43 COM 7B.1, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018) and 43rd (Baku, 2019) sessions respectively,
  3. Welcomes the State Party’s ongoing commitment to strengthen management measures in collaboration with international partners in spite of significant capacity constraints due to ongoing insecurity in Yemen;
  4. Noting with concern the clashes in Socotra in May 2020, expresses its utmost concern about the continued impact of insecurity in mainland Yemen on the overall management capacity of the property;
  5. Acknowledges the continued efforts to manage Invasive Alien Species (IAS) but notes that the effectiveness of implemented management measures in relation to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property remains unclear and, also recalling the high level of endemism in the property and the potentially devastating impacts of IAS on its OUV, requests the State Party to further strengthen the capacity to enforce biosecurity measures;
  6. Taking note of the information provided by the State Party that no violation of uncontrolled developments has been recorded in sensitive areas and that authorities are engaging with developers in the buffer zone, however also notes with concern that development continues in the buffer zone in the absence of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) due to enforcement capacity constraints, and urges the State Party to:
    1. Halt any ongoing development in the property or buffer zone that may have a potential impact on the OUV of the property and refrain from allowing further development until the potential impact on the OUV has been assessed, in line with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, and the assessments submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, prior to taking any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines,
    2. Provide a map of all new developments that have been constructed in the property and its buffer zone since inscription,
    3. Evaluate the impacts on OUV of existing infrastructure developments that have not undergone EIAs and submit the results to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, in order to consider an appropriate response to any such impacts,
    4. Ensure that appropriate environmental standards to regulate activities in the property and its buffer zone are incorporated into the updated Conservation Zoning Plan and that their enforcement is ensured;
  7. Reiterates its concern that insufficient information is provided to determine the current state of conservation of the property’s OUV;
  8. Reiterates its utmost concern about the multiple reported threats to the OUV of the property including uncontrolled development, unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, plastic pollution, lack of sustainable funding and the absence of adequate biosecurity measures to avoid the introduction of IAS, and considers that all these factors represent a potential danger to the OUV of the property;
  9. Regrets that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property could not yet be undertaken due to the ongoing security situation in Yemen and logistical constraints, and reiterates its requests that the mission take place as soon as possible, to assess the current state of conservation of the property, in particular in relation to the above-mentioned threats, and to determine whether the property meets the conditions for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
  10. Further recalling the State Party’s intention to hold a technical meeting following the mission focused on how to ensure the protection of the property’s OUV while also promoting appropriate sustainable development for the people of Socotra, also requests the World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with the Advisory Bodies, to facilitate a technical meeting with the Yemeni authorities, IUCN and relevant stakeholders to identify priorities for the protection and management of the OUV of the property.
  11. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2022, with a view to considering, in case of the confirmation of potential or ascertained danger to its Outstanding Universal Value, the possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Report year: 2021
Yemen
Date of Inscription: 2008
Category: Natural
Criteria: (x)
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2020) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2020
arrow_circle_right 44COM (2021)
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.


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