World Heritage Monitoring - State of Conservation Report
Reactive Monitoring
In general, World Heritage Sites today face increasing threats. The State of Conservation report seeks to ensure that threats are appropriately addressed and reported to the World Heritage Committee
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. IUCN submits its reports in February to the Bureau and in May to the Committee. 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. 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.
How we do it
- Information is received from various sources (IUCN Regional and Country Offices, Environmental NGO's, WCPA members, IUCN members and partners, internet, newspapers, etc. ).
- This information is reviewed by the IUCN World Heritage Panel and forwarded to various experts for comment and verification.
- Summaries of the information are forwarded to the World Heritage Centre, which in turn may request an official response from the State Party concerned.
- State Party responses received by the World Heritage Centre are reviewed by IUCN and its experts.
- The IUCN State of Conservation report is incorporated into the report of the World Heritage Centre and presented to the World Heritage Bureau and / or Committee.
- he World Heritage Bureau and Committee make final decisions on response strategies which are presented in the Bureau and Committee reports.
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.
| State Party | Site |
| Argentina | Iguacu/Iguazu |
| Australia | Tasmania |
| Brazil | Iguacu/Iguazu |
| Central African Republic | Manova Gouda |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Virunga National Park |
| Costa Rica | Talamanca / La Amistad |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Mont Nimbia |
| Ethiopia | Simien |
| France | Pyrenees |
| India | Manas |
| Keoladeo | |
| Indonesia | Lorentz |
| Japan | Shiretoko |
| Panama | Talamanca / La Amistad |
| Russian Federation | Golden Mountains of Altai |
| Volcanoes of Kamchatka | |
| Western Caucasus | |
| South Africa | Vredefort Dome |
| Spain | Pyrenees |
Reporting by State Parties
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.
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.
To see previous reports by State Parties click here
