III.1 The Delegate of the United States of America proposed that a new item be added on the revised provisional agenda, immediately after the Report of the Rapporteur, which would be 'Management and staffing of the World Heritage Centre'. Following this motion, seconded by Delegates of Germany and Thailand, the Committee adopted the revised agenda as amended.
IV.1 Ms Olga Pizano (Colombia) was elected Chairperson of the Committee by acclamation. Mr D. José Guirao Cabrera (Spain) was elected Rapporteur, also by acclamation, and the following members of the Committee were elected as Vice-Chairpersons: China, Oman, Senegal, Thailand and the United States of America.
VII.9 The Committee discussed further the management and staffing of the World Heritage Centre after having taken note of the proposal prepared by the working group consisting of China, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Senegal, Thailand and the United States of America. Based on the conclusions of this working group, the Committee agreed on the importance of the World Heritage Centre as a unified body within the Secretariat of UNESCO. Furthermore, the Committee underlined that the determination of needs on staffing and funding levels can only be reached based on a clarification of the ...
VIII.1 The Secretary of the Committee, Mr von Droste, first explained the rationale for setting-up a budget subcommittee, pointing out that its main tasks would be to (i) review the statement of the accounts; (ii) fix the budgetary ceiling; (iii) establish a reserve fund and (iv) allocate amounts to each budgetary line. Thereupon the Committee decided that the Sub-Committee would consist of the members of the previous and the new Bureau. It was asked to report to the Committee before the end of the session. (See Part XII of the Report.)
IX.1 The Secretariat introduced the working document WHC-93/CONF.002/4 and recalled that the World Heritage Committee at its sixteenth session in Santa Fe requested the Centre to convene an expert meeting on the methodology of monitoring. The working document outlines the main conclusions of the expert meeting that was held at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, U.K., from 1 to 4 November 1993. The report of this meeting was made available to the Committee as information document WHC-93/CONF.2/INF.5.
IX.2 The Secretariat emphasized that this document is a progress ...
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
The Representative of IUCN recalled that the site was inscribed in 1983 and added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 due to threats from poachers, boundary encroachment and unplanned road construction. A field mission was conducted by IUCN's Office in Ecuador and the Committee discussed the proposed six-point action plan including the recommendation that an environmental impact assessment of the road construction be undertaken. The technical assistance request for Sangay National Park (US$ 28,500) will be reviewed in the light of the ...
Sites: Sangay National Park
Tikal National Park (Guatemala)
The Committee noted the prospects to expand the size of the site from 57,400 ha to 85,000 ha to include a substantial area of undisturbed natural forest and that a buffer zone project on agroforestry is being carried out with funding from Danish Government sources (DANIDA). The Centre is requested to send a letter to the authorities in Guatemala informing them of the opportunity which exists to apply for assistance for the preparation of a new nomination incorporating all the new elements of the site, both cultural and ...
Sites: Tikal National Park
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its sixteenth session in 1992 due to threats caused by the encroachment of the Bodo tribe. No response had been received from the Government of India to several letters transmitting the Committee's previous requests for information since 1990. The Director of the World Heritage Centre informed the Committee furthermore that a mission to India was undertaken by a staff member of the Centre to contact the authorities directly. The Committee had an extensive ...
Sites: Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
Royal Chitwan National Park (Nepal)
On the basis of a detailed report provided by the IUCN Office in Nepal, a state of conservation report on this site was presented. A number of threats were noted including poaching of the rhinoceros and tiger populations in the Park. It was further noted that the 1976 Management Plan does not address many of the current management issues and thus urgently requires updating. The new legislation providing for a buffer zone around the Park is, however, a commendable step and should be implemented as soon as possible. The Committee requested the Centre to ...
Sites: Chitwan National Park
Air et Tenere National Nature Reserve (Niger)
The Committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its session in 1992. The Committee noted that very little could be done until political negotiations are concluded. It was further noted that the Centre had sent condolences to the families of the reserve staff who were killed during the civil disturbances at the site.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve (Sri Lanka)
The Committee recalled that this site is protected as a National Wilderness Area and had been listed on the World Heritage List since 1988. There are many incremental threats to the site, but the Committee noted that a Management Plan to address these had been completed. It was further noted that continued monitoring of the site should be implemented as a priority activity of the Plan.
The Committee noted the contribution of the Government of Norway of US$ 600,000 over a four-year period for the implementation of the Plan. The Committee asked the ...
Sites: Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)
The Committee recalled that the site was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1990 and noted the recommendations and discussion of the seventeenth session of the Bureau concerning uncontrolled cultivation in the conservation area. Technically, this cultivation is not permissible under the legislation for the area and much damage to natural values had been caused.
The Director of the World Heritage Centre and the Director of the UNESCO Division of Physical Heritage provided information regarding the situation of the site's cultural ...
Sites: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Virunga National Park (Zaire)
IUCN reported on the difficult social and economic situation which is creating serious negative impacts on Virunga National Park. However, the emergency assistance project funded by the World Heritage Fund and carried out by WWF since its approval by the Bureau in June 1993, had positive effects for the protection of the site. The Committee discussed in detail the impact of listing the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and IUCN confirmed that Virunga National Park would definitely be a candidate for this procedure. After considerable discussion ...
Sites: Virunga National Park
Victoria Falls National Park (Zimbabwe/Zambia)
IUCN reported about the proposed construction of a dam (Batoka Gorge Hydro Power Scheme), which would not affect the Falls but would have a serious impact on the lower gorges, changing the character of the site from a turbulent river to a hydroelectric reservoir. The Committee was informed about an environmental impact assessment to which the IUCN Office in Harare was contributing technical assistance. The Committee requested the Centre to invite the authorities of both Zimbabwe and Zambia to activate the joint Victoria Falls World Heritage ...
Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
The Centre informed the Committee that a mission was carried out in September 1993 in cooperation with IUCN to Plitvice Lakes National Park. The report noted the continuing cooperation of the authorities in the region as well as that of the United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR). The report underlined the current situation whereby the natural values of the Park are intact and essentially recovering. There was no evidence of new damage to the Park as a result of the ongoing war in the region. However, social tension had increased and the ...
Sites: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Mount Nimba Nature Reserve (Guinea/Côte d'Ivoire)
The Committee recalled that this site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its sixteenth session in 1992. In its presentation, IUCN continued to stress its concern over the long-term risks associated with potential mining operations adjacent to the World Heritage site. It further noted the growing population pressure in the region.
Recalling that a comprehensive report had been submitted to the Bureau in June 1993, the Secretariat highlighted several developments which occurred since the mission in May 1993. A ...
Everglades National Park (United States of America)
The Committee recalled that the damage caused to the site by Hurricane Andrew on 24 August 1992 was discussed at the sixteenth session of the Committee. Further discussion on the ecological impacts took place at the seventeenth session of the Bureau. IUCN reported that it had not been able to carry out a site mission.
The United States Delegation informed the Committee that the Superintendent of the Everglades National Park was present and that he would be pleased to present a report. The Superintendent indicated that a significant ...
Sites: Everglades National Park
Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal)
The Representative of IUCN informed the Committee that the road project was almost completed and that the University of Dakar had finished an environmental assessment study on the impacts of the road construction. A donors' round table was held in June and has led to a project supported by the French Government for the future management of the Park. The Centre was requested to transmit the Committee's views to the appropriate authorities in Senegal and to be kept informed about the long-term effects of the improved road access on the Park. In the ...
Sites: Niokolo-Koba National Park
Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)
A comprehensive plan for the integral conservation and rehabilitation of the city should be prepared, particularly in relation to traffic flow, tourism and housing. Such a plan should lead to projects for urban rehabilitation and tourism development. A further concern is the state of conservation of the numerous ruins in the city that are in danger of collapse in the event of an earthquake.
Sites: Antigua Guatemala
Historic Town of Ouro Preto (Brazil)
Important measures were taken by the municipal authorities to improve the traffic flow in the city and extensive work has been done to shore-up the hill slopes around the city. National and international tourism creates certain problems and an integral rehabilitation plan would have to be developed so as to improve the effects of tourism.
Sites: Historic Town of Ouro Preto