Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) have a rich cultural and natural heritage, yet this is not currently fully reflected in the World Heritage List.
Between 2011 and 2016, SIDS States Parties to the World Heritage Convention have strengthened their capacities to identify and safeguard their heritage through the project "Capacity Building to Support the Conservation of World Heritage Sites and Enhance Sustainable Development of Local Communities in Small Island Developing States", supported by Japan. As a result, the number of World Heritage properties in SIDS has increased significantly from 28 to 34, and 10 States Parties (out of 36) have updated the Tentative Lists.
However as at 2017, 3 properties are on the List of World Heritage in Danger and 13 properties have been subject to the State of Conservation reporting to World Heritage Committees. Therefore the objective of the proposed project is to strengthen the capacities for the management and monitoring of cultural, natural and mixed heritage in SIDS States Parties.
According to the “Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention” (OGs), every site inscribed on the World Heritage List must have a management plan explaining how the outstanding universal value of the site can be preserved. It also recommends that “States Parties include risk preparedness as an element in their World Heritage site management plans and training strategies” (OGs. Para.118). Yet many world heritage properties in SIDS do not have a management plan and/or a risk preparedness plan.
Management plans are the central planning instrument for the protection, use, conservation and successful development of World Heritage sites
SIDS are particularly vulnerable from climate changes, natural disasters, and their World Heritage properties have been suffered and damaged. Natural disaster tends to happen more often, and in irregular seasons and places in recent years. E.g., 15 named storms and 7 hurricanes formed in the Atlantic Basin in 2016, the most since the 2012 season. Thus it is important more than ever to prepare for the risk and to plan for recovery.
Special geographical situation and their immense natural and cultural richness make SIDS unique tourist destinations. The number of international tourists visiting SIDS destinations increased from 28 million in 2000 to 41 million in 2013. In the same period, exports from tourism grew from US$ 26 billion to US$ 53 billion. At the same time, confronts them with a number of challenges and vulnerabilities, such as coastal management and the safeguarding of oceans. Investing in sustainable tourism in the SIDS is an essential path to ensure that the sector continues to advance socio-economic welfare while protecting their fragile ecosystems.
In order to maintain the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage sites, an appropriate management system needs to be developed for each of them. Thus the project aims to assist SIDS in developing:
Staff working in the heritage sector will receive training in understanding the objectives of implementing the World Heritage Convention, and on issues such as heritage management, risk preparedness, post needs assessments, recovery planning, as well as visitors management.
As an exercise after the course, the participants will be requested to further develop the management plans including risk management plan and sustainable tourism strategy for their SIDS properties, in consultation with stakeholders at the national level.
The Action Plans for World Heritage in the Caribbean (2015-2019) and in the Pacific (2016-2020), which were developed and adopted by the States Parties concerned before being endorsed by the World Heritage Committee, identified not only conservation and management, but also risk management and sustainable tourism among the high priorities.
“UNESCO SIDS Action Plan 2016-2021” developed by UNESCO (199 EX/Decision 5) responds to the SAMOA Pathway, an outcome document of the 3rd International Conference on SIDS, in view of protecting tangible heritage, transmitting traditional knowledge are crucial for driving sustainable development. To this end, it is foreseen to enhance cooperation in the sustainable management and conservation of World cultural, natural and mixed heritage sites in SIDS, paying particular attention to risk management and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems is proposed (Action 2.2 of UNESCO SIDS Action Plan).
An estimated overall extra budgetary funding of US$ 500,000 is needed for the implementation of this activity.
These funds will cover capacity building activities for 16 Caribbean States Parties and 14 Pacific Small Island States.
A communication & visibility plan will be developed in consultation with the donor(s) and will include (but not limited to) the options below:
|
Visibility material |
Placement / Event |
Outreach |
Audience |
|
|
Article on the Homepage |
Logo |
WHC website: whc.unesco.org |
Public Statistics for 2016: 13.340.000 |
9,735,000 41,650,000 pageviews |
|
Reports to the World Heritage Committee |
Logo |
World Heritage Committee sessions |
WH Committee members, Observers, NGOs, site-managers, press |
Approx. 2,000 participants from 193 countries |
|
Article in the World Heritage Review |
Logo |
“World Heritage Review” Magazine and “World Heritage Information” |
Public |
Approx. 20,000 targeted subscribers |
Sachiko Haraguchi
Coordinator, World Heritage Programme
for Small Island Developing States
World Heritage Centre
s.haraguchi@unesco.org
Feng Jing
Chief, Asia and the Pacific Unit
World Heritage Centre
f.jing@unesco.org
Mauro Rosi
Chief, Latin America and the Caribbean Unit
World Heritage Centre
m.rosi@unesco.org
