IUCN, the official advisory body to UNESCO on nature, is developing a new, proactive monitoring system for all natural and mixed World Heritage Sites. Find out how you can get involved!
2. STATE OF WORLD HERITAGE
1. WHAT IS THE STATE OF WORLD HERITAGE
Conservation Outlook Assessments
2. WHY DO IT
3. HOW DOES IT WORK
Methodology
4. GETTING INVOLVED
4. WHAT IS THE STATE OF WORLD
HERITAGE?
• Led by IUCN, with WCPA expertise
• A website and a report
• Conservation Outlook Assessments for all
222 natural and mixed sites
New monitoring system to track the status of natural World
Heritage sites over time
5. • Projection into the future of the potential for a site to
conserve its values over time
Conservation Outlook Assessments
WHAT IS THE STATE OF WORLD
HERITAGE?
6. • Current state and trend of values of a site
• Threats affecting those values
• Effectiveness of protection and management in
maintaining values of the site
Evaluates:
WHAT IS THE STATE OF WORLD
HERITAGE?
7. • Benefits
• Conservation issues relevant to a site
• Ongoing projects or project needs
Compiles additional information on:
WHAT IS THE STATE OF WORLD
HERITAGE?
10. WHY DO IT
A. 25%
B. 40%
C. 10%
D. 60%
What percentage of natural World Heritage Sites are not
regularly monitored?
11. WHY DO IT
• Most inspiring places on Earth
• Conservation of World Heritage is non negotiable
• Benchmark for best practice
Importance of monitoring
12. WHY DO IT
State of Conservation
(SOC) Reports
• Every year
• For Sites where problems
have been identified
• Reactive monitoring
2 main monitoring systems in place
Periodic Reporting
• Every 6 years
• For all sites and regions
13. WHY DO IT
• Be more transparent and proactive
• Strengthening the World Heritage Convention
(2012 IUCN Resolution)
Monitoring role:
IUCN is the World Heritage advisory body on nature
14. WHY DO IT
Conservation Outlook
Assessments
• Every 3 years
• For all sites
• Recognizes the need for
support when dealing with
issues
• Proactive monitoring:
future projection
State of World Heritage monitoring
Web-based
• Regular updates
• Single information hub
o Assessment details
o Document library
o Address book
• Back office for assessors
• Feedback mechanism
15. • Pro-actively identify conservation issues
• Prevent information gaps
• Provide support for long-term planning
• Give recognition to well-managed sites
• Understand the context of benefits
• Knowledge empowerment
Objectives
WHY DO IT
17. HOW DOES IT WORK?
• Standardized methodology
• Consultation and review
Independent, accurate, transparent and repeatable
18. • Desk-based
• Based on best available information
No new research or monitoring mission
HOW DOES IT WORK?
19. HOW DOES IT WORK?
• World Heritage documents
• Management plans
• Effectiveness evaluations
• Other site documents
• All sources are referenced
Information sources
• Confidential feedback on
values, threats, and
protection and management
• Acknowledgement of
contributions
Knowledge-holder
consultation group
20. HOW DOES IT WORK?
ASSESS
REVIEW
GATHER
available
information
sources
INVOLVE
knowledge holders
through
consultation
FINAL EVALUATION
25. REVIEW
Internal
review
• IUCN World Heritage Propgramme
External
review
• Expert reviewers: e.g. WCPA, SSC, researchers, NGOs
etc.
• Site managers
Finalization
• Feedback compiled and integrated
• Assessments are finalized by IUCN and approved by the
World Heritage Panel
26. REVIEW
• Assessments are confidential until the final review
• Review cycle gives opportunity for knowledge-holders to
check for inaccuracies before publication
Confidentiality of assessments
29. • Assessments released in stages, by region
• 2013: Development stage
• 1st Regional release
• Website soft launch
• 2014: Official launch
• 2nd Regional release
• Global report
• World Parks Congress
Timeframe
GET INVOLVED
30. • Download the consultation form
• English
• French
• Spanish
• Russian
• Contact us
• whconservation@iucn.org
Be part of the consultation process
GET INVOLVED
We will release the assessments in several phases as they are finalized. Webiste now in development (estimated release end of summer)We will start drafting regional reports later this summer. We expect Africa, Arab State, Oceania and maybe LAC to be released by the end of the year. Benefits of step-by-step release:Regional relevance for practitioners: gives a good overview of a region’s conservation outlookLive website allows us to get people on board early in the process
