European Periodic Reporting Dr. Mechtild Rössler (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Paris) World Heritage Site Managers Meeting on Periodic Reporting Brühl, Germany, 9 & 10 July 2003

World Heritage Convention 1972: adoption 1992: strategic orientations 1998: Periodic Reporting 2002: 30 th anniversary and strategic goals

Strategic orientations Promote completion of the identification of the World Heritage; 2.Ensure the continued representativity and credibility of the World Heritage List; 3.Promote the adequate protection and management of the World Heritage sites; 4.Pursue more systematic monitoring of World Heritage sites; 5.Increase public awareness, involvement and support;

World Heritage in Danger ALBANIA, Butrint Date of Inscription: 6/12/1997, Naples, 21st Session, of the Committee AZERBAIJAN, Walled city of Baku Date of Inscription 4/07/2003 Paris, 27 th session of the Committee UNITED STATES, Everglades National Park Date of Inscription: 11/12/1993 Cartagena, 17th Session of the Committee REMOVAL 2003 BULGARIA, Srebarna Nature Reserve Date of Inscription: 14/12/1992 Santa Fe, 16th Session of the Committee UNITED STATES, Yellowstone Date of Inscription: 9/12/1995 Berlin, 19th Session of the Committee YUGOSLAVIA, Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor, Date of Inscription: 26/10/1979

What’s Periodic Reporting The States Parties shall submit periodic reports every six years on the provisions taken for: a)the application of the Convention; and b)the state of conservation of the properties inscribed in the List in their territories The purpose is to 1.provide an assessment of the application of the Convention and the maintenance of the values of the properties inscribed; 2.give updated information on the state of conservation of these properties; 3.provide a mechanism for regional cooperation. According to article 29 of the Convention

The benefit of the Regional Periodic Exercise Identify pressing conservation and management needs Elaborate national and sub-regional strategies for addressing these needs Strengthen partnership between States Parties, specialized agencies, donors, stakeholders for implementing the strategies Increase national capacity for the conservation of World Heritage properties Protect and manage the World Heritage values

Periodic Reporting: by regions -2000: Arab States -2001/02: Africa -2003: Asia and the Pacific -2004: Latin America and the Caribbean -2005/2006: Europe and North America

Number of States per Region

Sites per region

Periodic Reporting Europe and North America (currently 376 World Heritage sites, 50 States Parties) 42 States Parties with sites inscribed until 1998: natural sites: 38 mixed sites: 7 cultural sites: 252 Total: 297 sites until 1998

Periodic Reports for Europe and North America will be examined by the World Heritage Committee in 2005 and 2006 Periodic Reports in Europe and North America YearSection ISection II 2005Europe & North America North America Europe

Section 1 Section 1 (State Party information) refers to the legislative and administrative provisions and action taken by the State Party to implement the Convention: 1.Introduction 2.Identification of cultural and natural heritage properties 3.Protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage 4.International co-operation and fund raising 5.Education, information and awareness building 6.Conclusions and recommended action

Section 2 State of conservation of specific World Heritage properties 1.Introduction 2.Statement of significance 3.Statement of authenticity/integrity 4.Management 5.Factors affecting the property 6.Monitoring 7.Conclusions and recommended action

Lessons learnt from other regions -Format-related problems -Site specific problems -Administrative problems -Process-related problems

Format-related problems -too complicated, extensive, duplications -Size of the reports -Questionnaire (form) developed (Arab States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America to facilitate the completion of format), different questionnaires used; reports too large; -Summaries and synthesis produced for the Committee

Site specific problems - incomplete nomination files -No maps (no core/buffer zones/boundaries) -Values of the site: definition of criteria, limited knowledge in State Parties of WH values -Legal and management framework -No management plans

Maps and buffer zones

Administrative problems -Institutional continuity -Financial resources -Competence and responsibility of administrative levels -Lack of coordination -Lack of knowledge of Convention and its application and of interest -Lack of linguistic competences to complete reports -Communication channels

Process related problems -Timely identification of national focal points -Timely reaction to information requests -late submission of reports and translation problems -Lack of understanding of submission process (roles of State Party, Advisory Bodies, Secretariat, Committee) -Involvement of National Commissions and Permanent Delegations to UNESCO/Observer Missions

Solutions? - Identify problems at an early stage -Organize training sessions and international assistance -proactive approach from UNESCO-WHC and active national institutions working with UNESCO -Good coordination on State Parties level -Development of web-page, which will allow an interactive exchange of information -Participation in international tools for data collection

Site managers: Your input is required on SECTION II!!

Strategy and timetable overview SECTION I SECTION II PHASE I (2002/03) data collection national coordinators; prepare web-site and meeting schedule national coordinators to establish list of site managers and contact them PHASE II (2003) training of national focal points through web-site and meetings; Site managers to start process

PHASE III2004 review of draft reports for Section I Organization of sub- regional meetings in 2004/05 PHASE IVCompletion of Section I (December 2004) 2005 finalization and review of all reports for Section II PHASE VCommittee in June 2005 Completion of Section II (December 2005) PHASE VICommittee in June 2006

Phases I and II (2003) PHASE I (2002/03): 1.data collection national focal points; 2.prepare web-site and meeting schedule 3.Focal points to establish list of site managers and contact them PHASE II (2003) 1.Training of national focal points through web- site and national/sub-regional meetings; 2.Site managers to start process

Website Information on: background documents: the Format for Periodic Reporting and the Operational Guidelines, the questionnaires used by other regions, the timetable of the reporting exercise, models for filling in Sections I and II of the Periodic Report, A tool for the electronic completion of the report is under development.

Training meetings National meetings took place in the UK and Italy, in addition to this meeting in Germany others are being prepared in France and Spain, Sub-regional meetings are foreseen in Russia and Hungary Other meetings will be organised for South Western Europe and South Eastern Europe

The Periodic Reporting process will permit States Parties to: Monitor changes of World Heritage Properties in their territories, Examine conservation challenges Draw conclusions for national strategies to enhance World Heritage conservation Strengthen the capacity of heritage conservation authorities

This process will permit the World Heritage Committee to: Examine changes to World Heritage values on a global scale Respond to the needs of State Parties and formulate recommendations Draw conclusions for its own policy and decision making as well as international assistance Elaborate with States Parties and advisory bodies capacity building programmes at the regional, sub-regional and national levels

THANK YOU! For all your efforts…. As your exercise will pave the way for the new periodic reporting cycle starting in 2007 for all other regions of the world…. To preserve the outstanding universal values of the World Heritage sites on earth……..