Europe and North America
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Periodic Reporting
Periodic Reporting is a global conservation monitoring mechanism that aims to provide an opportunity for key stakeholders in World Heritage properties (national authorities, site managers, Focal Points responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention at national level and local communities) to reflect on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and to take stock of matters relating to the identification, conservation, protection and presentation of World Heritage sites, at the local, national and regional levels.
Every six years, States Parties to the World Heritage Convention are invited to carry out a Periodic Reporting exercise on World Heritage on their territory, which allows respondents to provide a self-assessment of the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and facilitates the updating of information on properties, recording any evolution in their state of conservation.
The Third Cycle
of Periodic Reporting
in Europe and North America
World Heritage Regional Action Plan for Europe and North America (2024-2031)
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The Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in the Europe and North America region was launched in 2022, following Decision 41 COM 10A (Krakow, 2017), in accordance with Article 29 of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The reporting exercise took place from September 2022 to July 2023 and involved all 51 States Parties in the region and over 500 World Heritage properties. The online questionnaire was completed by the national Focal Points responsible for implementing the Convention and the World Heritage site managers, with assistance from UNESCO (both through its World Heritage Centre and its Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe) and the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee (ICOMOS, ICCROM and IUCN).
A two-day kick-off meeting was organised online for the national Focal Points on 20-21 October 2022 in order to facilitate the reporting process and a workshop was held at UNESCO Headquarters from 19 to 21 December 2023 to draw up the Regional Action Plan based on the preliminary results of the analysis of the periodic reports submitted by the States Parties in the region.
Earlier, the National Focal Points for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the national cultural and natural heritage institutions of South East Europe met in Kotor, Montenegro, to take stock of the implementation of the Helsinki 2015 Action Plan, to discuss the preliminary results of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting and to define the subregion's aspirations for the Regional Action Plan for Europe and North America for the coming years.
As a result of the reporting process, a Regional Report and a Regional Action Plan have been prepared by UNESCO World Heritage Centre and World Heritage experts together with the Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Committee in close consultation with the national Focal Points. This is the first Regional Action Plan that brings together Europe and North America together. The World Heritage Committee welcomed the Third Cycle Regional Report and endorsed the Third Cycle Regional Action Plan at its 46th session (New Delhi, 2024), by Decision 46 COM 10A. A side event had been organised during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee to present the new Action Plan.
The highly collective and participatory effort behind the new Regional Action Plan has been made possible by the generous support of the Governments of Ireland and Germany.
Periodic Reporting is driven by States Parties and provides an opportunity for regional cooperation and exchange. States Parties in the region are invited to implement the Regional Action Plan resulting from the Third Periodic Reporting Cycle by developing National Action Plans adapted to their own needs and challenges.
Previous Periodic Reporting cycles
First Cycle
The First Cycle of Periodic Reporting was carried out from 2001 to 2006 for Europe, and from 2001 to 2005 for North America, and was largely experimental in nature. It involved 50 States Parties to the Convention throughout Europe and North America, and 275 World Heritage properties, of which 244 were inscribed in Europe before 1998 and 31 properties in North America at the time of reporting.
Two sub-regional programmes, ‘Recommendations and Plan of Action for North America’ and ‘Action Plan for Europe’ were adopted by the World Heritage Committee to strengthen the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and to enhance the conservation process at World Heritage properties in the region. The outcomes of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe were published in 2007 (World Heritage Paper Series, n°20).
Second Cycle
The Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America involved 51 States Parties to the Convention. At the regional level, the exercise involved 468 World Heritage properties inscribed between 1978 and 2013.
Two reports summarising the outcomes of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting were presented to the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014) (Document WHC-14/38.COM/10A) for North America, and at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015) (Document WHC-15/39.COM/10A) for Europe. Subsequently, two subregional action plans were adopted by the Committee: the ‘Action Plan for North America’ and the ‘Framework Action Plan for Europe’ (known as a the ‘Helsinki Action Plan’).
A follow-up survey of the Framework Action Plan for Europe was noted by the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee (Krakow, 2017).
World Heritage in Europe Today
World Heritage in Europe Today is a UNESCO publication which brings together the insights, challenges and success stories of the thousands of people who were directly involved in the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, sharing with their experience with the wider public and showcasing some of the most outstanding outcomes of the reporting through this publication, including the conservation and management efforts to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of over 500 sites that were inscribed at that time on the World Heritage List in this subregion.
Follow the activities in the Europe and North America region
For information on all the activities in the region:
Renewable energy transition related activities
Climate change is an urgent global challenge, the effects of which are increasingly being felt by natural and cultural World Heritage sites and communities around the world. Renewable energy is one of the key solutions to mitigate climate change and substantially increasing its share in the global energy mix by 2030 is one of the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Balancing the growing and legitimate demand for renewable energy with the equally imperative need to protect heritage can be achieved through careful planning, consideration of heritage values, and constructive and informed dialogue between all stakeholders. UNESCO World Heritage Centre is firmly committed to developing the necessary tools to accompany and guide this dialogue The World Heritage Committee has recognised the negative impacts of climate change on World Heritage properties, but also their potential to become laboratories for adaptation and mitigation policies and practices.This dual facet of World Heritage is reflected in both the Policy for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention and in the revised updated Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage, as adopted by the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention in 2015 and 2023 respectively.
Support and guidance tools have been developed with input from States Parties in Europe and North America. The Guidance for Wind Energy Projects in a World Heritage Context provides easy-to-understand and user-friendly information on wind energy projects and World Heritage protection and management, and highlights processes and tools for overcoming potential challenges that may arise.
World Heritage and wind energy planning presents inspiring practices from four countries in Europe in relation to protecting visual integrity in the context of the energy transition.
World Heritage Online Map Platform
Europe and North America was the pilot region for the World Heritage Online Map Platform, the first online geographic information system for World Heritage which has been developed to harness remote sensing and earth observation technologies for more effective monitoring, management and protection.
Recovery and Reconstruction
As part of UNESCO’s action in Ukraine, a project supported by Japan for $4 million is enabling UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in close cooperation with ICOMOS and ICCROM, to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to address urgent cultural heritage protection and recovery needs through the development of emergency preparedness and mitigation plans. These funds also enable the assessment of damage to cultural property using satellite images.
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Decisions (23)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/10D,
- Recalling Decisions 43 COM 10A.5 and 44 COM 10C.5 adopted at its 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) sessions respectively,
- Notes that further progress has been made in the follow-up of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting for Europe and North America, and encourages the States Parties of the region to continue their efforts to address the priority actions identified during the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, while keeping informed the World Heritage Centre on significant advances and/or challenges;
- Recalls further that the follow-up of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting has considerable resource and workload implications for both States Parties and the World Heritage Centre and therefore, encourages States Parties to both financially support follow-up activities to the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region within their countries and to consider making voluntary contributions to the sub-account of the World Heritage Fund dedicated to enhancing the human capacities of the Secretariat or seconding experts;
- Also notes the lack of financial support from States Parties to follow up on the 2016 Helsinki Action Plan Monitoring survey and to assess the results of the 2015 sub-regional Action Plan for North America;
- Welcomes the progress made in finalizing Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value in Europe and reminds the States Parties of the region which have not already done so to submit their Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value by 1 February 2024 at the latest, as well as clarifications of boundaries by 1 December 2023 at the latest;
- Invites the World Heritage Centre to include in the Regional Report to be submitted to its 46th session an assessment of the progress made in the implementation of the respective Action Plans based on the information shared by the States Parties in the framework of the Periodic Reporting exercise between 2022 and 2023.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/10E,
- Recalling Decisions 41 COM 10A, 41 COM 11, 42 COM 10A, 43 COM 10A.1, 43 COM 10B, 43 COM 11A and 44 COM 10D adopted at its 41st (Krakow, 2017), 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019) and extended 44th (Fuzhou/Online, 2021) sessions respectively, as well as the provisions of Paragraph 204 of the Operational Guidelines,
- Notes with appreciation the successful start of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region and commends the preparations undertaken by the Secretariat prior to the exercise;
- Noting that the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting is following a holistic and a State Party-driven approach, invites States Parties to financially support activities in the framework of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region;
- Thanks the Government of Sweden for the funds provided to ensure that the Secretariat is able to maintain a holistic approach throughout the Third Cycle, and calls upon States Parties to continue providing sustainable funding towards the global coordination of the Periodic Reporting exercise and its follow-up;
- Takes note of the outcomes of the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration and the opportunity provided by the UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies to analyse the relevant input from States Parties to UNESCO’s cultural policy monitoring efforts, requests the Secretariat to use the Reflection Period to proceed with a feasibility study to consider the practical modalities of enhancing the Periodic Reporting of the Convention in this framework, including, inter alia, the possibility of moving from a regional approach to Periodic Reporting to a global approach, examining the implementation of the Convention at global level through a succinct analytical report prepared by the Secretariat, and reviewing the analytical framework for Periodic Reporting and its monitoring indicators;
- Calls upon States Parties to provide to the World Heritage Centre, through earmarked contributions to the World Heritage Fund, other voluntary contributions and/or seconded personnel, the necessary financial and human resources to proceed with the requested feasibility study;
- Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a report on the overall implementation of the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting at its 46th session.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/10B,
- Recalling Decisions 36 COM 10B, 37 COM 10B, 38 COM 10A.2, 39 COM 10A.1 and 39 COM 10B.5 adopted at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
- Welcomes progress made by the World Heritage Centre and the States Parties in the follow-up of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America, and notes with satisfaction the activities and initiatives that have been undertaken by States Parties in the implementation of the Action Plans for Europe and for North America;
- Also notes with satisfaction the two publications produced by the World Heritage Centre, World Heritage in Europe Today and Understanding World Heritage in Europe and North America: Final Report of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, 2012-2015 (World Heritage Paper Series, no. 43), which contribute to the wide dissemination of the results of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe;
- Commends the World Heritage Centre for progress made on the Helsinki Action Plan Monitoring Survey, whose innovative format will allow for data collection in a simple and cost-effective way, and encourages States Parties of the Europe region to respond to the survey launched in October 2016;
- Reiterates its invitation to the States Parties of the Europe region to actively implement the Helsinki Action Plan and also encourages them to continue the activities towards the implementation of the Action Plan in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
- Further encourages the States Parties of Canada and the United States of America to continue their cooperation in the implementation of the five-year Action Plan for North America, and recalls that a number of proposed actions require the further strengthening of cooperation with the State Party of Mexico, taking into consideration the shared natural and cultural heritage of the three States Parties;
- Also commends the States Parties for their efforts in continuing the work undertaken in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory and preparing retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, and encourages furthermore the States Parties to finalize this important work in the best of time;
- Also reiterates that the follow-up of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting has considerable resource and work load implications, and encourages furthermore States Parties to financially support the implementation of the regional Action Plans through support to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
- Requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report, based on the results of the Helsinki Action Plan Monitoring Survey, on the follow-up activities of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting carried out by the States Parties in the Europe region, to the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
- Also requests the States Parties of Canada and United States of America to submit a progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan to the World Heritage Centre, for presentation to the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/10A,
- Recalling Decisions 36 COM 10B, 37 COM 10B and 38 COM 10A.2, adopted at its 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively,
- Expresses its sincere appreciation for the considerable efforts made by all States Parties in Europe in submitting the Periodic Reporting questionnaires and thanks all the Focal Points and Site Managers for their participation and commitment;
- Also thanks the authorities of Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden for their support in organizing regional and sub-regional meetings in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre since the end of the First Cycle of Periodic Reporting;
- Further thanks the Finnish authorities for successfully organising the final regional meeting (Helsinki, Finland, 1-2 December 2014) to discuss the outcomes of the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise and develop, with the active participation of the Focal Points, the Framework Action Plan for Europe;
- Commends the World Heritage Centre for the production of a number of tools to guide and assist Focal Points and Site Managers (online Periodic Reporting platform, handbook, video tutorials, FAQ); for the technical support provided throughout the exercise; for making the Summary Reports for each property and State Party available publically on its website as soon as possible after submission, in agreement with the States Parties; and for sharing the national Periodic Reporting datasets with the relevant national authorities;
- Welcomes with satisfaction the Final Report on the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe and encourages the States Parties to widely disseminate the Report among all relevant stakeholders in the region;
- Acknowledges and endorses the Second Cycle Framework Action Plan for Europe (“Helsinki Action Plan”) and its three core objectives (Identification and Protection of Outstanding Universal Value; Effective Management of World Heritage Properties; Increased Awareness of the Convention), and takes note with appreciation of the joint efforts by the World Heritage Centre, the Focal Points and the Advisory Bodies to produce a Framework Action Plan in an innovative format, in order to facilitate its appropriation and integration into national, sub-regional and regional strategies;
- Strongly encourages the States Parties to integrate all relevant elements of the Helsinki Action Plan into to their national strategies for World Heritage;
- Also encourages the States Parties to make use of all the data and information provided to them during the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting to implement the Action Plan at all levels, in particular with regard to the management of World Heritage properties (including management plans, sustainable tourism strategies, disaster and risk preparedness strategies, etc.);
- Further encourages the States Parties to collaborate at regional and/or sub-regional level to ensure the implementation of this Action Plan, for instance by organising regular (sub-) regional meetings;
- Requests the States Parties to devote the necessary technical and financial resources to implementing the Action Plan at all levels, and also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to provide technical support at the request of States Parties;
- Welcomes the World Heritage Centre’s initiative to share the results of a short monitoring survey with the States Parties every two years, in order to assist them in the implementation of the Action Plan, and further encourages the States Parties to actively support this pilot follow-up initiative;
- Decides that the significant modifications to boundaries and changes to criteria (re- nominations) requested by the States Parties in Europe as a follow-up to the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting will not fall within the limit of two nominations per State Party per year imposed by Paragraph 61 of the Operational Guidelines, while they will still fall within the overall yearly limit for complete nominations established by the Operational Guidelines. This decision shall apply for the 1 February 2016 and 1 February 2017 deadlines for Europe, after which the normal limits established in Paragraph 61 will be resumed;
- Further notes that the follow-up to the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting has considerable resource and workload implications for the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and the States Parties, and further encourages the States Parties not only to make all the resources necessary for this follow-up available at national level, but also to support the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
- Finally requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting for examination at its 40th session in 2016.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/10A,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM 10A.1, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Welcomes the preparation of the Action Plan by the World Heritage Focal Points from North America, illustrating the close cooperation between the two States Parties of Canada and the United States of America, and takes note of the efforts to further strengthen the cooperation with the State Party of Mexico for a number of the proposed actions taking into consideration the shared natural and cultural heritage of the three States Parties;
- Acknowledges and endorses the Second Cycle Action Plan for the sub-region of North America and its five result areas (Future Tentative Lists; Strategies for public information and outreach about World Heritage; Increased communication and cooperation between World Heritage site managers throughout the sub-region; International Assistance to World Heritage properties; Integration into existing areas of sub-regional cooperation);
- Commends the States Parties for their efforts to continue the work undertaken in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory and the preparation of the Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, and encourages the States Parties to finalise this important work in the best of time;
- Takes note of the proposed timeframe of five years for the implementation of the Periodic Reporting Action Plan for North America, and requests the States Parties of Canada and United States of America to submit a progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan to the World Heritage Centre, for presentation to the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/10A,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 10B, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Welcomes the preparation of the Periodic Report for North America by the World Heritage Focal Points from North America, illustrating the close cooperation between the two States Parties of Canada and the United States of America;
- Takes note of the Periodic Report for North America and the activities undertaken as a follow-up of the First Cycle, including the work undertaken in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory and the preparation of the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value and encourages the States Parties to continue this important work;
- Decides that the significant modifications to boundaries and changes to criteria (re-nominations) requested by the States Parties of Canada and the United States of America as a follow-up to the Second Cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise will not fall within the limit of two nominations per State Party per year imposed by Paragraph 61 of the Operational Guidelines, while they will still fall within the overall limit of forty-five complete nominations per year. This decision shall apply for the 1 February 2015 and 1 February 2016 deadlines for the sub-region of North America, after which time the normal limit established in Paragraph 61 will be resumed;
- Also encourages the States Parties to prepare an Action Plan to address the main conclusions, issues and opportunities identified in the Periodic Report for North America and present it to the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
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The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/8E,
- Congratulates the States Parties for the excellent work accomplished in the elaboration of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in their territories;
- Adopts the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, as presented in the Annex of Document WHC-14/38.COM/8E, for the following World Heritage properties:
- China: Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area;
- Japan: Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu; Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara; Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama; The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome);
- Sri Lanka: Sinharaja Forest;
- Vietnam: Hoi An Ancient Town; Complex of Hué Monuments;
EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA:
- Albania: Butrint;
- Armenia: Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley;
- Austria: Semmering Railway; Wachau Cultural Landscape;
- Azerbaijan: Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower;
- Belarus / Estonia / Finland / Latvia / Lithuania / Moldova / Norway / Russian Federation / Sweden / Ukraine: Struve Geodetic Arc;
- Belgium: Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels); Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes (Mons); Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai; Plantin-Moretus House-Workshops-Museum Complex;
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar;
- Cyprus: Paphos;
- Denmark: Ilulissat Icefjord;
- Finland: Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki; Fortress of Suomenlinna; Old Rauma; Petäjävesi Old Church; Verla Groundwood and Board Mill;
- Georgia: Historical Monuments of Mtskheta; Upper Svaneti;
- Germany / Poland: Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski;
- Germany: Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch; Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau; Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl; Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg; Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz; Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg; Monastic Island of Reichenau; Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin; Pilgrimage Church of Wies; St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim; Völklingen Ironworks; Wartburg Castle; Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square; Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen;
- Holy See / Italy: Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura;
- Holy See: Vatican City;
- Iceland: Þingvellir National Park;
- Italy: Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua; Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta; Historic Centre of Florence; Historic Centre of Naples;
- Lithuania / Russian Federation: Curonian Spit;
- Lithuania: Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė);
- Malta: City of Valletta; Hal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta;
- Mongolia / Russian Federation: Uvs Nuur Basin;
- Montenegro: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor;
- Netherlands: Historic Area of Willemstad, Inner City and Harbour, Curaçao;
- Norway: Vegaøyan -- The Vega Archipelago; West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord;
- Poland: Centennial Hall in Wrocław; Historic Centre of Warsaw;
- Portugal: Historic Centre of Évora; Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture; Monastery of Alcobaça; Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon;
- Russian Federation: Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye; Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl; Kizhi Pogost;
- Slovakia: Bardejov Town Conservation Reserve; Vlkolínec;
- Slovenia: Škocjan Caves;
- Spain: Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida; Burgos Cathedral; Historic Centre of Cordoba; Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid; Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias; Mudejar Architecture of Aragon; Old City of Salamanca; Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches; Old Town of Cáceres; Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct; Poblet Monastery; Route of Santiago de Compostela; Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe; San Cristóbal de La Laguna; Santiago de Compostela (Old Town); Works of Antoni Gaudí;
- Turkey: Archaeological Site of Troy; City of Safranbolu; Hattusha: the Hittite Capital; Xanthos-Letoon;
- Ukraine: Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra;
- United Kingdom: Gough and Inaccessible Islands; Henderson Island; Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda;
- United States of America: Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site; Chaco Culture; Independence Hall; Mesa Verde National Park; Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; Statue of Liberty;
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBBEANS:
- Argentina: Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks; Los Glaciares; Península Valdés;
- Belize: Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System;
- Bolivia: City of Potosí;
- Brazil: Brasilia; Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia; Historic Centre of São Luís; Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina; Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás; Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda; Historic Town of Ouro Preto; Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas;
- Colombia: Los Katíos National Park;
- Costa Rica / Panama: Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park;
- Cuba: Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba; San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba; Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos; Viñales Valley;
- Dominican Republic: Colonial City of Santo Domingo;
- Guatemala: Tikal National Park;
- Panama: Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection; Fortifications on the Caribbean Side, Portobelo and San Lorenzo;
- Suriname: Central Suriname Nature Reserve; Historic Inner City of Paramaribo;
4. Decides that retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in Danger will be reviewed by the Advisory Bodies in priority;
5. Further decides that, considering the high number of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to be examined, the order in which they will be reviewed by the Advisory Bodies will follow the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, namely:
- World Heritage properties in the Arab States;
- World Heritage properties in Africa;
- World Heritage properties in Asia and the Pacific;
- World Heritage properties in Latin America and the Caribbean;
- World Heritage properties in Europe and North America;
6. Takes note that the World Heritage Centre is in the process of harmonising all sub-headings in the adopted Statements of Outstanding Universal Value and, as appropriate, reflects name changes of World Heritage properties throughout the text of the Statements as requested by the Committee at its 37th session, and requests the World Heritage Centre to also update the size of the property and/or its buffer zone, as appropriate, following subsequent Decisions of the World Heritage Committee concerning Minor Boundary Modifications.
7. Requests the States Parties to provide support to the World Heritage Centre for translation of the adopted Statements of Outstanding Universal Value into English or French respectively, and finally requests the Centre to upload the two language versions on its website.
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/10A,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 10B, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Also recalling that the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America takes place on a two-year basis (Group A: North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions for the first year 2012-2013; and Group B: Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe for the second year 2013-2014),
- Takes note of the activities that took place in the framework of the implementation of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting for Group A and B;
- Thanks the Italian and the Azerbaijani authorities for having hosted Periodic Reporting meetings since the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee;
- Commends the World Heritage Centre for its efforts to make the Periodic Reporting data available as soon as possible to the Focal Points and site managers through the provision of the Periodic Reporting national data sets and the publication of the Short Summary Reports and encourages the World Heritage Centre to continue this work for Group B, in agreement with the relevant States Parties;
- Notes with appreciation the support of the Nordic World Heritage Foundation in the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting;
- Reiterates its gratitude to the States Parties for their financial contributions to the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America, and also encourages support in the future;
- Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit to the World Heritage Committee an overall Periodic Report and Action Plan for Europe at its 39th session in 2015.
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/10B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 10B adopted at its 36th session (Saint Petersburg, 2012),
3. Recalling furthermore that the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America takes place on a two-year basis (Group A: North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions for the first year 2012-2013, and Group B: Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe for the second year 2013-2014), provided that a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for North America will be presented at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, and an overall report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe will be presented at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015,
4. Takes note of the activities implementing the second cycle of Periodic Reporting for Group A and preparing the launch of Periodic Reporting for Group B;
5. Thanks the German authorities and the Georgian authorities for having hosted preparatory meetings in the framework of the Periodic Reporting exercise;
6. Also thanks the Nordic World Heritage Foundation for its collaboration in the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting;
7. Reiterates its sincere appreciation to the Italian authorities, the Azerbaijani authorities and the Luxembourg authorities for their proposals to host future meetings in the framework of the Periodic Reporting exercise in 2013-2015;
8. Welcomes the progress made with the initiative to prepare an integrated and targeted strategy addressing the priority needs in training and capacity-building for the preservation of World Heritage properties in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and commends the Steering Group for its commitment to carry forward this work;
9. Also commends the States Parties which have submitted draft retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value before the official launch of the Periodic Reporting exercise as requested in Decision 35 COM 10C.2 , and urges the States Parties to submit the pending retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value as soon as possible;
10. Reiterates its gratitude to the Andorran, Monegasque, Portuguese and Dutch authorities, as well as the Flemish authorities for their financial contributions to the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting in Europe and North America, and encourages further support and collaboration in the future;
11. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report back to the World Heritage Committee on progress made with Periodic Reporting at its 38th session in 2014.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/10B,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11A.2, 32 COM 11D, 34 COM 10B.3 and 35 COM 10C.2 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007), 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010) and 35th (UNESCO, 2011) sessions, respectively,
3. Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the region of Europe and North America and the activities in preparation of the launching of its second cycle;
4. Thanks the Maltese authorities for having hosted the preparatory meeting for Mediterranean Europe in Valetta from 21 to 24 September 2011 and the Icelandic authorities for having hosted the preparatory meeting for Nordic, Baltic and Western Europe in Reykjavik from 18 to 21 October 2011;
5. Also thanks the Nordic World Heritage Foundation for its collaboration in the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise, including preparation of meetings as well as relevant tools;
6. Expresses its sincere appreciation to the German authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Nordic, Baltic, Western and Mediterranean Europe in Berlin from 19 to 20 September 2012, the Georgian authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in autumn 2012, the Italian authorities for having proposed to host a meeting for Mediterranean Europe in Florence in September 2013 and the authorities of Luxembourg for having proposed to host a meeting for Nordic, Baltic and Western Europe in 2013/2014;
7. Welcomes the initiative of the World Heritage Centre and ICCROM to address the priority needs in training and capacity-building for the preservation of World Heritage properties in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, by an integrated and targeted strategy in the context of the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting;
8. Commends the States Parties which have submitted draft retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value before the official launching of the Periodic Reporting exercise as requested in Decision 35 COM 10C.2 and urges the States Parties to submit the pending retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value as soon as possible;
9. Reiterates its gratitude to the States Parties of Andorra, Monaco, Portugal and the Netherlands who have made financial contributions to the implementation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Europe and North America, acknowledges with thanks the pledge by the Flemish Government to financially support the exercise and encourages further support and collaboration for the future;
10. Also takes note of the Road Map developed at the Reykjavik meeting in 2011 and requests the States Parties to make an effort towards a coordinated approach for its implementation;
11. Decides to launch the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting in the Europe and North America region and also reiterates that it will take place on a two-year basis (North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions, for the first year, and Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, for the second year) provided that a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for North America will be presented at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, and an overall report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe will be presented at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015;
12. Also welcomes the creation of the web platform for the follow-up and implementation of the Periodic Reporting exercise and also encourages the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and other concerned partners to explore all the opportunities that this tool can provide for the joint implementation of the exercise;
13. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to report back to the World Heritage Committee on progress achieved in the Periodic Reporting exercise at its 37th session in 2013.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/10C,
2. RecallingDecisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11A.2, 32 COM 11D and 34 COM 10B.3 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007), 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) and 34th (Brasilia, 2010) sessions respectively,
3. Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in the region of Europe and North America and the results of the sub-regional meetings for Nordic, Western and Mediterranean Europe;
4. Thanks the Israeli authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for Mediterranean Europe in 2010 in Acre, the Estonian authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Nordic and Baltic Europe in 2010 in Tallinn with the support of the Nordic World Heritage Foundation, the Dutch authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Western Europe in 2010 in Amersfoort, the Czech authorities for having hosted a meeting for Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe in 2011 in Prague, and the authorities of Malta for having proposed to host a meeting in Malta in September 2011 for the Mediterranean Europe sub-region, currently under preparation;
5. Welcomes the proposal of Italy to host a preparatory meeting for the Mediterranean Europe sub-region in 2012 in Florence, and takes note of the interest of the authorities of Azerbaijan, Germany and Greece to host preparatory meetings in 2012, for their respective sub-regions, namely Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Western Europe and Mediterranean Europe sub-regions, to be confirmed, as well as of the intention of the State Parties in North America to organize preparatory Periodic Reporting meetings and/or teleconferences with the site managers in 2011 and 2012;
6. Thanks the Netherlands and Monaco for their financial contributions for the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise and calls upon the States Parties and the international community to support financially the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Europe and North America region, considering the scope of work to be done, including capacity-building activities and evaluation of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value;
7. Invites the States Parties to prepare, in coordination with the World Heritage Centre, the launch of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise for the Europe and North America region at the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee and decides that it will take place on a two year basis (North America, Western, Nordic and Baltic Europe sub-regions, for the first year, and Mediterranean, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, for the second year) provided that a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for North America will be presented at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2014, and a report on the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2015;
8. Reiterates its request that the States Parties should submit the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2012, in order to ensure the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise;
9. Also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up of the first cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe and North America and on the preparations for the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise for Europe and North America, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/10B,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1, 31 COM 11 A.2 and 32 COM 11D adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st (Christchurch, 2007) and 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) sessions respectively,
3. Takes note of the follow-up activities to the first cycle of Periodic Reporting exercise in Europe and North America and the results of the sub-regional meetings for Nordic, Western and Mediterranean Europe;
4. Thanks the Irish authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for the Western European region in 2009 in Dublin, the Portuguese authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for the Mediterranean sub-region in 2009 in Tomar, the Swedish authorities for having hosted the follow-up meeting for Nordic and Baltic Europe in Stockholm in 2009, as well as the Israeli authorities for having organized the follow-up meeting for the Mediterranean sub-region in 2010,
5. Welcomes the offer of the Czech authorities to host a meeting for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in 2011; the offer of the Estonian authorities to host a meeting for the Nordic-Baltic region in October 2010; the offer of the Maltese authorities to host a meeting for the Mediterranean region in 2011; and the offer of the authorities of the Netherlands to host a meeting for the Western European Region in December 2010; and encourages cooperation and sharing of knowledge between the European sub-regions.
6. Requests the States Parties, to submit the required retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2012, in order to ensure the preparation of the second cycle of the Periodic Reporting; and notes with concern the workload connected with this request in relation to the resources of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for processing the Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value as it is crucial for the States Parties to have them approved on time.
7. Also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report exercise and on the preparations for the next cycle for Europe and North America for examination at its 35th session in 2011.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/11C,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1, 30 COM 11A.2, 31 COM 11A.1 and 31 COM 11.A.2 adopted at its 30th (Vilnius, 2006) and 31st (Christchurch, 2007) sessions respectively,
3. Takes note of the results of the subregional meetings on the follow-up to Periodic Reporting for "Central and Eastern Europe" (Wroclaw, Poland, September 2007) as well as for "Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe" (Corfu, Greece, April 2008), and further notes that a number of training initiatives were financed through extrabudgetary sources
4. Encourages the European States Parties to continue to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and draft statements of significance/Outstanding Universal Value as soon as possible;
5. Recommends that States Parties, Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre continue their collaboration in addressing any outstanding issues, in particular with focused follow-up meetings and training exercises;
6. Thanks the Greek authorities for having hosted the Mediterranean and South-Eastern European Meeting in Corfu, Greece, 18-19 April 2008, and the Spanish authorities for having organized the Iberian Meeting in Plasencia, Spain, 2-4 April 2008, and welcomes the offer of the Portuguese authorities to host a meeting for Mediterranean Europe in spring 2009;
7. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report and on the preparations for the next cycle for Europe and North America for examination by the Committee at its 34th session in 2010.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11A.1,
2. Recalling Decisions 30 COM 11A.1 and 30 COM 11A.2 adopted at its 30th session
(Vilnius, 2006),
3. Commends States Parties for updating the boundaries and statements of outstanding universal value and encourages the European States Parties to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and statements of significance in a timely fashion and in accordance with deadlines outlined in the Operational Guidelines as a follow-up to the European Periodic Report, at the latest by 1 February 2008;
4. Takes note of the results of the subregional meetings on the follow-up to Periodic
Reporting for Western Europe, Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe and further
notes training initiatives financed through extrabudgetary sources;
5. Recommends that States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre continue their collaboration in addressing any outstanding issues in particular with focused follow-up meetings and welcomes the initiative of the Austrian authorities for a second Western European meeting, the Finnish authorities for having hosted the
Nordic and Baltic Europe meeting, both in May 2007, as well as the Polish authorities
initiative to host a meeting for Eastern and Central Europe in September 2007 and
Greece for Mediterranean Europe in March 2008;
6. Requests States Parties to provide to the World Heritage Centre updated and detailed contact information on site managers in Europe in order to establish a reliable database;
7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a
progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report for examination at its
32nd session in 2008.
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11A.2,
2. Takes note of the clarification of property limits provided by the following States Parties in the European region in response to the Retrospective Inventory:
- Belgium: La Grand-Place, Brussels;
- Bulgaria: Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo; Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari;
- Italy: Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with "The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci; Historic Centre of Florence; I Sassi di Matera; Historic Centre of Urbino;
- Portugal: Historic Centre of Évora;
- Slovenia: Škocjan Caves;
- Spain: Altamira Cave; Mudejar Architecture of Aragon; Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville; La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia; San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries; University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares.
3. Requests the State Parties in the Europe Region who have not yet answered the questions raised in 2005 in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory to provide all requested clarifications and documentation as soon as possible and by 1 December 2007 at the latest;
4. Acknowledges that the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies will not be able to examine proposals for boundary modifications for properties located in the Europe Region whenever current boundaries are unclear. The same principle applies to sites located within other Regions;
5. Thanks the States Parties concerned for their efforts to improve the credibility of the World Heritage List.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/11D.1,
2. Recalling Decisions 25 COM VII.25-27 adopted at its 25th session (Helsinki, 2001), 7 EXT.COM 5 and 7 EXT.COM 5A.1 adopted at its 7th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2004), 29 COM 11.A adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005), 30 COM 11G adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
3. Recognizing the range of benefits for the World Heritage community of the new approach for Section II of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire proposed by the "Working Group on the simplification of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire and setting up of indicators" (the Working Group);
4. Welcomes the new format for Section II as presented in Document WHC-07/31.COM/INF.11D.1;
5. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Working Group to develop a new format for Section I, incorporating the lessons learnt from the revision of the Section II questionnaire and to finalize both Sections I and II of the revised questionnaire and decides to allocate USD 75,000 from the World Heritage Fund for these activities;
6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to develop a Web-based application of the revised questionnaire as found in WHC-07/31.COM/INF.11D.1 and decides to allocate USD 50,000 from the World Heritage Fund for this task;
7. Recognizing the pivotal importance of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value in all World Heritage processes, urges States Parties, in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to prepare all missing Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for properties in their territory before the launching of the second cycle of Periodic Reporting in their Region and decides to allocate USD 10,000 from the World Heritage Fund to the Advisory Bodies to participate in the revision of the Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the Arab States Region;
8. Requests the World Heritage Centre to ensure it has adequate capacity and resources to continue the Retrospective Inventory as the basis to prefill the questionnaire at the outset of the Second cycle of periodic reporting in each region;
9. Acknowledges the importance and complexity of adopting a consistent approach for indicators for World Heritage properties and requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a working document on this issue to be presented at its 32nd session in 2008;
10. Invites States Parties wishing to participate in the Field Testing of the revised questionnaire to contact the World Heritage Centre before 30 September 2007.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30COM/11A.1 and taking note of Document WHC-06/30COM/INF.11A,
2. Recalling Decisions 25 COM VII.25-27 and 7 EXT COM 5A.2, adopted respectively at its 25th session (Helsinki, 2001) and 7th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2004),
3. Expressing its sincere appreciation for the considerable efforts by all 48 States Parties in Europe in submitting the Periodic Reports for Section I in 2004 and Section II in 2005,
4. Notes the successful use of an electronic tool, the development of an evaluation tool and the storage in a World Heritage Centre database of all information submitted by the States Parties;
5. Thanks the German authorities for hosting a European meeting (Berlin, Germany, 8 - 9 November 2005) on the results of Periodic Reporting Section I and the finalization of Section II, as well as the development of an overall Strategic Action Plan and welcomes the "Berlin Appeal" to enhance cooperation and support by European States Parties and European Institutions on World Heritage;
6. Welcomes with satisfaction the synthesis report of the European Region illustrating a growing co-operation among States Parties;
7. Acknowledges and endorses the Action Plan of the European synthesis report on Section I and II and the sub-regional reports and requests the States Parties to make an effort towards a coordinated approach for its implementation;
8. Requests States Parties to work with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to start implementing the Action Plan for the European Region;
9. Further notes that preparations for the follow-up to the Periodic Reporting results, including name changes, boundary changes and statements of significance have started in some European States Parties, following the Circular Letter of 23 January 2006, and welcomes the meetings offered by the Greek authorities in November 2006, by the French authorities in October 2006 and by the Spanish authorities in January 2007, to ensure a coordinated and systematic approach of these follow-up activities;
10. Notes the importance of management plans for the protection of World Heritage properties and that many European sites reviewed lack this tool, and requests States Parties to prepare management plans for those World Heritage properties that still do not have them;
11. Recognizes the need to avoid the nomination of similar types of properties and encourages States Parties to cooperate in harmonizing their Tentative Lists by sharing information on the sites proposed;
12. Strongly encourages the States Parties in Europe to continue the improved cooperation and requests all States Parties to submit any changes to names, criteria, boundaries and statements of significance in a timely fashion and in accordance with deadlines outlined in the Operational Guidelines;
13. Notes also that such proposals (and the similar ones made in Periodic Reports for other Regions) have considerable resource and workload implications for the Committee, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies as well as for States Parties;
14. Further requests that all European States Parties provide an official letter to the World Heritage Centre by 31 September 2006, indicating their agreement to make the electronic database available for data-sharing with the Council of Europe and other partners as well as on the World Heritage webpage for the general public;
15. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to prepare a progress report on the follow-up to the European Periodic Report including time tables, budgetary implications and priorities for examination at its 31st session in 2007.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-06/30.COM/11B,
2. RecallingDecisions 29 COM 11 A.4 and 29 COM 11 A.5 adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),
3. Noting proposals for changes to the nomination dossiers for some World Heritage properties in North America,
4. Approves the Statements of significance for the World Heritage properties in North America as included in Annex I of Document WHC-06/30.COM/11B;
5. Notes the changes to the names as indicated in Document WHC-06/30.COM/8B, and further notes the adjustments to natural heritage criteria concerning geological values, as indicated in Document WHC-06/30.COM/8D and decides to also change the name of Redwood National Park to Redwood National and State Parks;
6. Encourages the State Party of Canada to put forward extensions to Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks and Wood Buffalo National Park, pursuant to Canada's Tentative List for World Heritage Sites (2004);
7. Encourages Canada and the United States of America to submit any outstanding documentation related to World Heritage properties, as soon as possible;
8. Recommends that Canada and the United States of America continue, in cooperation with other Committee members, States Parties, the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre to explore, as appropriate, the potential for developing guidelines for management plans and principles for evaluating visual impacts for activities in and adjacent to World Heritage properties;
9. Encourages Canada and the United States of America to continue their strong collaboration and to consider how to enhance collaboration with the State Party of Mexico in matters of shared interest for natural and cultural heritage.
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Decides, in view of the time constraints, to defer the presentation and the discussion of this item until its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006).
Read more about the decisionThe World Heritage Committee,
1. Requests the World Heritage Centre to produce a publication within three months, if possible, to be funded from extrabudgetary funds, on the Arab States Periodic Report carried out in the year 2000 and information on the follow-up actions. This publication is also to be made available through electronic or other appropriate means (CD-Rom and/or on the UNESCO World Heritage Centre's web site);
2. Notes the progress made to date in the preparation for the Periodic Reporting in Latin America and the Caribbean and in Europe and North America.
Read more about the decisionConcerning the proposals for the Periodic Reporting Exercise for Europe (Section 4 of Document WHC-01/CONF.208/8), the Committee agreed both with the timing and the proposal to collaborate with the Council of Europe and its HEREIN project, a comparative databank on European cultural heritage policies. It furthermore noted the co-operation with the Nordic World Heritage Office/Foundation in the development of technical tools.
Read more about the decisionThe Committee also requested that all States Parties be included in this effort and to fully co-operate with the Advisory Bodies. A number of European States Parties took the floor to support the arrangements proposed, namely to cover Section I of the reports for all countries in 2005 and Section II in 2006. A question was raised as to whether the capacity in the Centre would be sufficient for the work to be carried out and the Director responded that assistance be provided by States Parties through the Associate Expert Scheme.
Read more about the decisionThe Delegate of Hungary pointed out that the year 2007 should be devoted to a stocktaking exercise and the development of conceptual guidelines for the second cycle. The Delegate of Greece informed the Committee that a Conference on the Safeguarding of Byzantine Heritage had been organized in May 2001 and that a database on the state of conservation of this type of heritage for the Mediterranean countries is being established. ICOMOS fully supported the link to the Council of Europe and the HEREIN project, as this is an open project which could be very beneficial to other regions. The thesaurus already exists in English, French and Spanish and the thematic and methodological approach could be expanded to cover the other reporting exercises as it includes heritage protection in general.
Read more about the decision