INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE World Heritage renomination Presentation to the first leadership committee of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Alliance Tim Badman, Director IUCN World Heritage Programme

“Convention concerning the protection...”

Article 6 […] 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.

IUCN’s formal role in the Convention The recognised adviser to the World Heritage Committee on nature Evaluator of all new nature nominations Monitor with UNESCO of natural and mixed World Heritage Sites Training and Capacity Building

The World Heritage Convention is one of the most important global conservation instruments. The world’s most valued protected areas. 228 natural sites

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Outstanding Universal Value – the central concept of the Convention Cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity.

Summary of the 10 criteria (i) masterpiece of human creative genius; (ii) interchange of human values (iii) cultural tradition or to a civilization (iv) building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape (v) traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use (vi) associated with events or living traditions, ideas, or beliefs (vii) superlative natural phenomena or exceptional natural beauty (viii) earth's history, record of life, landform processes and features (ix) significant ongoing ecological and biological processes; (x) significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity

Summary of the 10 criteria (i) masterpiece of human creative genius; (ii) interchange of human values (iii) cultural tradition or to a civilization (iv) building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape (v) traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use (vi) associated with events or living traditions, ideas, or beliefs (vii) superlative natural phenomena or exceptional natural beauty (viii) earth's history, record of life, landform processes and features (ix) significant ongoing ecological and biological processes; (x) significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity

OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE MEETS CRITERIA INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT Illustration of the three pillars of Outstanding Universal Value. All three must be in place for a property to meet the requirements of the World Heritage LIst

Conservation issues in Ha Long Bay Inscribed on the World Heritage List in State of Conservation Reports needed almost every year since then. Next report expected in December 2016.

Ha Long Bay – Issues noted by the WH Committee Population growth Increased tourism pressure and development Urban and industrial development Lack of financial and technical resources Absence of an integrated planning approach.

The most recent Committee decision on Ha Long Bay – 2014 Commended much good work and progress; Management effectiveness evaluation needed; Establish an integrated management system; Strengthen Ha Long Bay Management Department and give it more authority; strengthen efforts on reducing tourist visitor pressure and increase the contribution of tourism revenue to the Ha Long Bay Management Dept. Next report: 1 December 2016

WORLD HERITAGE OUTLOOK First global assessment of conservation prospects for natural World Heritage sites  worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org 63% of sites rated in the green  Visibility for well-managed sites  Draws attention to the need for action

Cat Ba – IUCN recommendation (1) Recommend an extension of Ha Long Bay, under criteria (vii) and (viii) and possibly criterion (x), to include Cat Ba Archipelago. This would add values and improved integrity to the existing inscribed property of Ha Long Bay. Draws the attention of the State Party to the range of severe threats to the nominated property, and within the wider Ha Long Bay area, and recommends the State Party to take action to address these concerns prior to the submission of proposed extension.

Cat Ba – IUCN recommendation (2) Threats to be addressed include: a) poaching and hunting impacts on Cat Ba Langur; b) tourism use pressure and associated boating; c) large scale tourism development with potential for serious reclamation, pollution and overuse; d) water and solid waste pollution impacts from major urban centres such as Cat Ba Town; e) dredging spoil and industrial waste disposal impacts; f) pollution impacts from fish farm development.

Summary Ha Long Bay is one of the very best known World Heritage Sites. There is clear support from IUCN to extend Ha Long Bay WH Site to include Cat Ba. Management challenges to ensure long term conservation still need to be addressed. There is also a need to ensure that visitors are satisfied with the quality their experience of Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba. The Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Alliance is an excellent step to achieve success through World Heritage.

Submission dates 1 st February every year – February 2017 would be the next reasonable target date for a proposal. The decision remains with Viet Nam regarding the sites they wish to nominate.