Monitoring the State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties Tim Badman IUCN

The Monitoring Framework Reactive Monitoring The List of World Heritage in Danger Deletion from the World Heritage List Reinforced Monitoring Periodic Reporting

Article 6 of the Convention … Whilst fully respecting the sovereignty of the States on whose territory the cultural and natural heritage mentioned in Articles 1 and 2 is situated, and without prejudice to property right provided by national legislation, the States Parties to this Convention recognize that such heritage constitutes a world heritage for whose protection it is the duty of the international community as a whole to co-operate.

examined during the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee Other inappropriate human activites Number of properties affected by each threat mentioned in the SOC reports examined during the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee

% of properties affected by types of threats by region: Development/infrastructure (black); Other human activities (white); Management / legal issues (grey); Natural events and disasters (dots); Other factors (stripes)

Reactive Monitoring Paragraphs 169-176 of the Operational Guidelines 169. Reactive Monitoring is the reporting by the Secretariat, other sectors of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the Committee on the state of conservation of specific World Heritage properties that are under threat.

How does a property become involved in reactive monitoring? Information received from State Parties, as per paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines; Information received by other sources (NGOs, press, individuals, ABs and their networks), that has been investigated by the Secretariat and ABs, and on which the Secretariat has sought advice of the State Party and the relevant ABs;

What is requested of State Parties? Reports on issues raised by the Committee by 1st February (para 169) Cooperation in monitoring by the Advisory Bodies (para 171) Early advice on issues and concerns (para 172) Cooperation in the organisation of missions requested by the Committee (para 173) Responses to requests for information from the Secretariat (para 174)

Missions Reactive monitoring missions requested by the Committee Joint missions of WHC and the relevant advisory body/ies Mission reports prepared to a standard format and to address the requirements specified in the Operational Guidelines.

State of Conservation Reports Para 176: The information received, together with the comments of the State Party and the Advisory Bodies, will be brought to the attention of the Committee in the form of a state of conservation report for each property. Reports prepared through joint process of WHC and ABs, to a standard format and with a draft decision.

Decision of the Committee a) it may decide that no further action should be taken; b) it may decide that the property be maintained on the List, provided that the State Party takes the necessary measures to restore the property within a reasonable period of time.

Decision of the Committee c) when the requirements and criteria set out in paragraphs 177- 182 are met, the Committee may decide to inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger according to the procedures set out in paragraphs 183- 189;

… Regrets the accident in the English Channel impacting on the property; … Welcomes the rapid response by and the detailed reports and briefings provided to the World Heritage Centre; … Requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed on any further potential impact on the property and on lessons learnt in the implementation of the Risk Preparedness plan; … Also requests the State Party to consider requesting designation under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

… Welcomes the progress made by the State Party in addressing threats and management issues … … Notes with satisfaction that recovery of several wildlife species has started … … Encourages the State Party to establish a sustainable funding strategy … … calls upon the international community to continue support … … Urges the State Party to continue efforts … … Requests the State Party, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to review the opportunity to develop an extension to the property.

… Notes with appreciation the reduction in planned height of the tallest of the structures planned …Regrets that the State Party did not provide the requested comprehensive visual impact assessment of the entire project … Strongly urges the State Party to carry out the comprehensive visual impact assessment … Requests the State Party to halt any building permission for this project until the visual assessment has been reviewed … Also requests the State Party to submit an updated report. Maya Site of Copan (Honduras)

… Notes with extreme concern the existing and potential threats … Welcomes the State Party’s request for inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger in order to encourage national and international assistance; … Decides to inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger; … draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, and a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal from the List in Danger … invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission … invites the international community to make their utmost efforts to support the State Party

Decision of the Committee d) when there is evidence that the property has deteriorated to the point where it has irretrievably lost those characteristics which determined its inscription on the List, the Committee may decide to delete the property from the List. Before any such action is taken, the Secretariat will inform the State Party concerned. Any comments which the State Party may make will be brought to the attention of the Committee;

Decision of the Committee e) when the information available is not sufficient … the Committee may decide that the Secretariat be authorized to take the necessary action to ascertain, in consultation with the State Party concerned, the present condition of the property … N.B. References to the mechanism of International Assistance.

Reinforced monitoring (Decision 31 COM 5.2 – not in OGs) “to ensure the proper implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s decisions” … activated in exceptional and specific cases either by the Committee or the Director-General … a constant cooperative process with the State Party concerned, Operational Aspects refined by WHC and ABs and noted by Committee in Decision 33 COM 7.2

How to make the monitoring process more effective How to make the monitoring process more effective .. and to ensure it leads to positive support for States Parties in their conservation efforts is a key challenge for the Future of the World Heritage Convention.