Periodic Reporting
Reactive Monitoring
The Process
World Heritage Sites in Danger
How can you help?
This year's World Heritage Monitoring Missions
Monitoring success stories
'Enhancing Our Heritage'

Periodic Reporting

Every six years, States Parties to the Convention are invited to submit to the World Heritage Committee a periodic report on the application of the World Heritage Convention in their countries (click here to view the list of natural or mixed sites according to the WCPA regions). These periodic reports include the state of conservation of the sites located on the State Party's territory.

The periodic reporting process is being developed on a regional basis. In 2002, the African region presented their reports to the World Heritage Committee. In 2003, the Asia-Pacific region will do the same. IUCN advises States Parties as necessary in the preparation of periodic reports.

Periodic Reports
Asia-Pacific Periodic Reports 1997-2003

Reactive Monitoring

Each year, IUCN reports to the World Heritage Centre on the conservation status of certain natural and mixed World Heritage sites, as well as cultural landscapes. The State of Conservation report is based on reactive monitoring of specific World Heritage properties including those inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. In general, World Heritage Sites today face increasing threats. The process of reactive monitoring seeks to ensure that these threats are appropriately addressed and reported to the World Heritage Committee. This process draws heavily on the local knowledge and expertise of IUCN Regional and Country Offices, our expert networks, particularly the WCPA and Species Survival Commission, various environmental non-governmental organizations and individuals concerned for the conservation of World Heritage sites worldwide.

The Process

IUCN compiles a State of Conservation report, which includes recommendations for corrective actions for the threats highlighted. Not all sites are included in the State of Conservation reports each year. IUCN and the World Heritage Centre report on the sites where the most serious threats exist (ongoing or new threats); where monitoring missions have taken place and those sites for which the Bureau or Committee have requested information.

In the past , IUCN prepared two State of Conservation reports, one in April for the Bureau and one in September for the Committee. The reporting cycle changed in 2002, however information collection, verification and reporting to the World Heritage Centre is a continual process. IUCN now submits its reports in February for the Bureau and in May for the Committee.

Recommendations vary depending on the issues and may involve the assistance of IUCN and the World Heritage Committee. In certain cases a State Party is requested to invite an IUCN / UNESCO expert monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of a site. Sites with severe threats to their World Heritage values may be added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

World Heritage Sites in Danger

As part of its State of Conservation reporting, IUCN can recommend that a site be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger if the site requires major conservation measures or is in urgent need of assistance to protect or maintain the values for which it was originally inscribed on the World Heritage List. Danger to sites can be ascertained or potential, due to natural or human causes, such as resource extraction (e.g mining and illegal logging), poaching, agricultural encroachment, spread of invasive species, threats induced by armed conflict and war, earthquakes and other natural disasters, oil spills, unplanned construction or development, lack of management plans, legal frameworks, staff numbers and capacities.

The sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger are entitled to particular attention and emergency conservation action. The intention of this listing is not to sanction the State Party, but rather to provide a call for assistance and facilitate greater national and international attention and action to address the conservation needs in an efficient manner. The site can be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger for as long as the threats to its natural values are evident. The World Heritage Committee can decide to remove the site from this List when the threats have diminished and the natural values of the site are no longer endangered.

World Heritage Monitoring Missions

Monitoring Missions 2007-2008

Following the decisions of the 31st Session of the World Heritage Committe in Vilnius, IUCN is currently planning to underake monitoring missions to the following World Heritage Sites. The aim of these missions, organised jointly with UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is to evaluate the state of conservation of those World Heritage sites which have major threats to their natural values.

Reports of Previous Monitoring Missions

Safeguarding our natural World Heritage

How can YOU help?

Have you visited a natural World Heritage site recently?

Are you studying or carrying out research in a natural World Heritage Site? Have you recently heard about a threat to a natural World Heritage Site?

The IUCN Programme on Protected Areas would like to hear from you about the state of conservation of that site.

IUCN is required each year to prepare a report on the state of conservation of the natural values of World Heritage sites. In effect, we are asked to be "eyes and ears" for the World Heritage Committee in relation to issues affecting natural World Heritage sites. Many of these areas face significant challenges and it is important that relevant, credible and up-to-date information is provided to the World Heritage Centre and the World Heritage Committee to enable appropriate response strategies to be developed.

We need your help to monitor the state of conservation of the world's most outstanding natural and mixed sites. If you become aware of serious threats to the state of conservation of an existing World Heritage site you can let us know at the IUCN Protected Areas Programme. In carrying out such a task, you will be contributing to the conservation of some of the natural world's "crown jewels" and your assistance will be greatly appreciated. IUCN reviews all the information received in an unbiased way.

We like to hear about the good news too! It is important to inform the international community about success stories, new projects or results from research. This can encourage exchanges on methods of best practice.

Please note that in the review process we may forward the information you send us to our expert networks and / or the World Heritage Centre, who may contact the State Party in relation to the issue you raised. Please let us know if you would prefer that your name, or that of your organisation, is kept confidential.

You can send information by email to Josephine Langley email: whmonitoring@iucn.org or by fax (++41 22 999 0025).

Many thanks for your help in safeguarding our natural World Heritage.

Enhancing Our Heritage

Monitoring and Managing for Success in World Natural Heritage Sites

Enhancing Our Heritage - Monitoring and Managing for Success in World Natural Heritage Sites is a four-year UNESCO/IUCN project funded by the United Nations Foundation. The project commenced in 2001 and is operating in ten World Heritage sites in Africa, South Asia and Latin America that have all been recognized for their biodiversity values

These sites are:

• Sangay National Park, Ecuador
• Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras
• Keoladeo National Park, India
• Kaziranga National Park, India
• Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal
• Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles
• Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, Republic of South Africa
• Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
• Serengeti National Park, United Republic of Tanzania
• Canaima National Park, Venezuela

The aim of the project is to enhance management effectiveness of World Heritage sites by using anassessment, monitoring and reporting framework. The project encompasses the training of site managers in the application of assessment and monitoring techniques and the integration of these practices into the general management process. The results of the project will enable IUCN to provide recommendations to the World Heritage Committee on a consistent approach to assessment, monitoring and reporting on the state of conservation and management effectiveness of the sites.

The activities of the first year of the project are reviewed in the progress report.

For more information contact Marc Hockings, School of Natural & Rural Systems Management, University of Queensland, Australia (m.hockings@mailbox.uqg.edu.au) or Sue Stolton and Nigel Dudley, Equilibrium Consultants, Bristol, UK (equilibrium@compuserve.com).