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UNESCO WHC Meeting 5: World Heritage in Danger and State of Conservation of Properties Inscribed on the World Heritage List
  PublishDate:2011-06-28  Hits:2995
Out of the total 911 World Heritage sites nominated till the last World Heritage Committee, 34 sites had been inscribed in the World Heritage list in danger. During the 35th World Heritage Committee, another 2 World Heritage sites have been moved to the list in danger. There remain a wide range of challenges facing World Heritage properties that result from diverse pressures. Three trends of the utmost concern for the World Heritage Committee are: 1) Mining and mineral exploration, and oil exploration and exploitation; 2)Dams and other energy related megaprojects; 3)Natural disasters and impacts on World Heritage properties.

For the above types of development 1) and 2), IUCN is developing good practice advice in this area and recalls that all environmental assessments of proposals affecting World Heritage properties should, at a minimum: i)assess the likely impacts of the proposal on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value and integrity, based on the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value; ii)consider and assess feasible and less environmentally damaging alternatives to the proposal and may include alternative energy production/efficiency options at national level and iii)undertake adequate stakeholder consultation in line with international best-practice principles.

In the context of a number of natural disasters which occurred during 2010 and 2011, the World Heritage Committee recommended that a risk management component be incorporated in the Management Plan for World Heritage properties. Further, there is an urgent need to enhance the capacity so as to respond to the emergency situation of disaster-prone developing countries, the least developed countries and Small Island Developing States in particular, to reduce the impact of natural disasters through strengthened national efforts and enhanced bilateral, regional and international cooperation, including through technical and financial assistance.
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