World Heritage

34 COM
WHC-10/34.COM/7C

Distribution Limited

Paris, 2 July 2010
Original: English / French

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFICAND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONCONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF
THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

World Heritage Committee
Thirty-fourth session
Brasilia, Brazil
25 July - 3 August 2010

Item 7C of the Provisional Agenda: Reflection on the trends of the state ofconservation
SUMMARY
As requested by the World Heritage Committee in Decision 33 COM 7C (Seville,2009), this document contains a summary of the perceived trends, changes andthreats on the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage
List. It is based on an analytical summary of the state of conservation of World
Heritage properties examined by the World Heritage Committee since its 29th
session (Durban, 2005) until its 33rd session (Seville, 2009).
Decision required: 34 COM 7C, See Point VII.

I. INTRODUCTION

1.

With Decision 32 COM 7B.12, the World Heritage Committee requested the World
Heritage Centre to prepare, after consultation with the Chairperson, an analyticalsummary of the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties discussed at the32nd session (Quebec City, 2008) identifying perceived trends for distribution to theCommittee members and discussion at the 33rd session in 2009.

2.

At its 33rd session (Seville, 2009), the World Heritage Committee requested the World
Heritage Centre to prepare, in consultation with the Chairperson, a summary of theperceived trends, changes and threats to World Heritage properties based on an
analytical summary of the state of conservation of World Heritage properties over five
years. This document provides such analytical summary, undertaken by the World
Heritage Centre, based on an analysis of the state of conservation reports that were
examined by the Committee at its 29th (Durban, 2005), 30th (Vilnius, 2006), 31st
(Christchurch, 2007), 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) and 33rd (Seville, 2009) sessions.

3.

It should be noted that, over time, the World Heritage Committee had a number ofthematic debates on recurrent as well as new and emerging issues considered as
threats to World Heritage properties, including fires, extractive industries (mining, oiland gas), developments (road, dams, real estate, etc.), illegal logging, poaching,
agricultural encroachment, introduced invasive species, climate change, natural
disasters,.... Some of these debates led to strategic orientations and policy
development, including from extractive industries (World Heritage properties as “no go”
areas for mining, oil and gas exploration/exploitation, 27th session in 2003), climatechange (29th session in 2005, 30th session in 2006 and 31st session in 2007) or risk
preparedness (Strategy on Risk Reduction at World Heritage properties, 30th session
in 2006).

4.

It should also be noted that, at previous Committee sessions, the Advisory Bodies had
also commissioned studies and presented, at the 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
analyses and reports assessing data on state of conservation of World Heritage
properties and identifying generic threats, underlying key issues and potential trends
over time (1993-2003 for the IUCN study and 1994-2004 for the ICOMOS study).

5.

This document is composed of several Chapters as follows:-

Properties considered in the analysis-

Factors affecting the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage
properties considered in the analysis-

Identifying possible trends in the conservation of properties:• Analysis according to the types of threats• Analysis according to the types of properties (natural/cultural)• Analysis per region

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 1

II. PROPERTIES CONSIDERED IN THE ANALYSIS

6.

As indicated in the introduction of Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B, the World Heritage
Centre and the Advisory Bodies report annually to the World Heritage Committee on
the state of conservation of a number of World Heritage properties facing various
threats.

7.

It is important to consider the selection process for the state of conservation reports(“SOC reports”) in accordance with reactive monitoring process outlined in Chapter
IV.A of the Operational Guidelines. Furthermore, it should be noted that the selection ofthese reports by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies is only the “tip of
the iceberg”, as such reports are being prepared under the Agenda Item 7B, only incases where actions have to be taken at the World Heritage Committee level; and only
the properties facing the most serious threats are reported on each year. Other
properties, with less serious or imminent threats are not necessarily reported upon.

8.

Since its 25th session (Durban, 2005), the World Heritage Committee has reviewed
766 SOC reports, distributed as shown on Chart 1 below. The analysis of threats in thepresent document is based on those 766 reports. However, it is important to note that,considering that only a small number of Mixed properties is examined each year by theWorld Heritage Committee (3 or 4) and that any statistical analysis on such small
numbers would not have any significance. The threats affecting Mixed properties areclassified with Natural properties if the threats affect the natural criteria and with the
Cultural properties if the threats affect the cultural criteria.

Chart 1: Total number of SOC reports presented at each World Heritage Committee session
since 2005

9.

Even though the number of SOC reports examined by the World Heritage Committee
has varied over time (133 in 2006 to 177 in 2009), the percentages of SOC reports ofeach region have not varied significantly since 2005 (see Table 1.C below).

10.

The percentage of properties being reported on since 2005 for each region more orless matches the percentage of properties of each region inscribed on the World
Heritage List, with a higher rate of reporting however for the African and Arab States
regions (see Table 1.A and 1.C below). The percentage of properties from the Europe
and North America region reported on to the Committee is less (around half of theTrends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 2

World Heritage List is from Europe and North America but only around a third of the
SOC reports are from this region).

AfricaArab
StatesAsiaPacific

Europeand North
America

Latin America
and theCaribbean

Table 1.A) Percentage of properties on the World Heritage List
2005

8

7.5

20

50.6

13.9

2006

8.1

7.6

20.3

51

14

2007

8.5

7.6

20

50

13.9

2008

8.7

7.4

20.4

49.7

13.8

2009

8.7

7.4

20.7

49.5

13.7

Table 1.B) Percentage of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger
2005

40

17.1

22

11.4

8.6

2006

38.2

17.6

23.5

8.8

11.8

2007

40

13.3

23.3

13.3

10

2008

40

16.7

20

10

13.3

2009

40

16.7

20

10

13.3

Table 1.C) Percentage of state of conservation reports examined by the World Heritage
Committee per region
2005

18.1

13

23.2

34.1

11.6

2006

22.6

15

23.3

28.6

10.5

2007

18.8

13.8

23.1

31.3

13.3

2008

14.9

9.8

19

32.8

14.4

2009

17.8

10.9

21.3

36.8

14.9

Table 1: Percentage of the total number of World Heritage properties per region
Percentage of the total number of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger per region
Percentage of the total number of SOC reports presented per region

11.

Since 2005, even though 50% of the World Heritage properties are located in Europe
and North America, they represent 10% of the List of World Heritage in Danger. By
contrast, the African region has less than 9% of the total number of World Heritage
properties but they represent around 40% of the properties on the List of World
Heritage in Danger. It can also be noticed that there is a higher percentage ofproperties within the Arab States region on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The
figures are more proportionate for the Asia-Pacific region and the Latin America andthe Caribbean region (see Table 1.A and 1.B below) for which the percentages ofTrends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 3

properties inscribed on the World Heritage List and on the List of World Heritage in
Danger are similar, being 20% and 13% respectively.
12.

The important representation of Africa on the List of World Heritage in Danger is ofcourse distorted by the five properties on this List situated in the Democratic Republicof the Congo, all of which were included as a result of the impact of the conflictsituation which affected this country. It needs indeed to be noted that the majority ofnatural properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger were affected by
the impacts of conflict and political instability at the time of their inscription.

III. FACTORS AFFECTING THE OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE OF THE WORLDHERITAGE PROPERTIES CONSIDERED IN THE ANALYSIS
13.

The current format of the state of conservation reports presented to the World Heritage
Committee includes a section where threats (or factors) affecting the Outstanding
Universal Value of the property identified either at the time of inscription or in previous
reports are listed. These factors have been reviewed and analyzed according to thestandardized list of factors affecting the World Heritage properties designed during therevision of the Periodic Reporting questionnaire (see Annex 1), and have been grouped
into five primary groups of threats. The full list of factors can be found in Document
WHC-08/32.COM/INF.11E (Section II).

14.

In order to have a consistent approach on all the properties examined throughout thedifferent regions of the world and the categories of heritage (such as natural orcultural), the same factors/threats have been used as in Section II of the Periodic
Reporting. This should also make the analysis of potential trends over the years moreconsistent. The primary and secondary threats are grouped as follows:- Development and infrastructure:- Buildings and development- Transportation infrastructure- Utilities or service infrastructure- Pollution- Physical resource extraction- Other human activities:- Biological resource use/ modification- Social/ cultural uses of heritage- Other human activities- Translocated or genetically modified species- Natural events and disasters:- Local conditions affecting physical fabric- Climate and severe weather events- Sudden ecological or geological events- Invasive/ alien species or hyper-abundant species- Management and legal issues:- Management and institutional factors- Other issues (such as risk of or collapse or deterioration due to age of building,problem of stability of the structures, etc…)

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 4

Chart 2: Percentage of properties affected by each primary group of threats(years progressing from 2005 to 2009, from left to right)

15.

It should be noted that in most cases, more than one threat affects the Outstanding
Universal Value of a property. For the 137 properties considered in 2005, 442 different
threats have been identified (an average of 3.2 threats per property). The average
number of threats facing a property has been 3.7, 3.9, 3.7 and 3.7 respectively in 2006,
2007, 2008 and 2009. The average number of threats facing each property hasremained stable between 3 and 4 over the five years. This also shows the complexityof managing World Heritage properties with a large range of issues to deal withsimultaneously. It is important to consider that only the most serious threats arereported upon. Properties might also be affected by much smaller threats which are notincluded in the SOC reports.

16.

Globally, over the 5 years considered, each of the five main groups of threats affects
the properties with the same frequency (see Chart 2). The issues regarding
Development and infrastructure and related to Management remain however the mostworrisome ones impacting on an average of 65% of the properties. An increase ofnearly 22.5 points can be noted in the percentage of properties faced with
Development and infrastructure issues (from 52% in 2005 up to 74.5% in 2008)..

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 5

IV. IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE TRENDS IN THE CONSERVATION OF PROPERTIES

17.

The following section presents the results of a first analysis carried out by the World
Heritage Centre. Due to time constraints, this analysis provides a first summary of thebase data on trends.

18.

The figures discussed in this document have not been tested for their statisticalsignificance. Given that sample sizes fluctuate widely between the variables being
assessed, it is not possible to give one standard confidence level in the difference
measured between variables, from year to year. Furthermore, the number of properties
examined for a number of variables are likely too small (e.g. less than 30) for
differences to be statistically significant. This situation makes it difficult, at this stage,
to arrive at any particular conclusions in regards to statistically ascertained trends formost studied variables.

A) Analysis according to the five primary groups of threats
Primary group of
threats

Secondary threats

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

32,1

43,6

35,4

51,3

41,8

13,1

12,8

16,8

20,9

19,8

- Utilities or service infrastructure

8,75

8,3

8

10,8

6,8

- Pollution

5,1

7,5

8

8,2

5,1

14,6

9,7

9,9

11,4

9,6

18,2

18

18,6

11,4

14,1

18,2

12,8

22,3

5,1

19,2

- Other human activities (illegal activities
such as poaching, logging, civil
unrest, ...)

21,1

27

27,7

30,4

31,1

- Translocated or genetically modified
species

0

0

0

0

0

- Local conditions affecting physicalfabric

2,2

9

9,3

10,1

7,9

- Climate and severe weather events

2,2

6,7

5,6

3,2

4,5

9,4

11,2

11,2

7,0

9,0

3,6

6,7

3,7

4,4

4,5

63,5

69,6

69

63,9

66,1

18,2

18,5

24,1

12,1

20,3

- Buildings and development

Developmentandinfrastructures- Transportation infrastructure- Physical resource extraction- Biological resource use/ modification- Social/ cultural uses of heritage

Other humanactivities

Natural eventsand disasters- Sudden ecological or geological events- Invasive/ alien species or hyperabundant species

Management
and legal issues- Management and institutional factors

Other issues- Other factor(s)Table 2: Percentage of properties affected by each of the secondary threats

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 6

a)Development and infrastructure projects

Chart 3: Percentage of properties affected by Buildings and development projects

Chart 4: Percentage of properties affected by tourism infrastructuresand by the negative impact of tourism

19.

The important decrease in the percentage of properties affected by Buildings anddevelopment is worth mentioning (see Chart 3). Indeed, from 51% in 2008, this has
decreased to 42% of the properties as being threatened by this type of projects in2009. Some of these projects are tourism-oriented development projects (17.7% of theproperties were affected by these projects in 2008 down to 6.2% in 2009) (see Chart 4
above). However, this remains an important threat to World Heritage properties, andStates Parties are encouraged to conform to Paragraph 172 of the Operational
Guidelines and notify the World Heritage Centre of any development projects
potentially affecting an inscribed property.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 7

20.

It is interesting to notice that a peak in terms of tourism-oriented development projects(13,5% of properties affected in 2006) is followed, in the Chart, by an increase in thenegative impact of tourism the following year (16,1% of the properties affected in 2007,
up from 7.5% in 2006) (see Chart 4). On the other hand, when the threats of tourism
development projects decreases, there is a drop the following year in terms ofproperties affected by the negative impact of tourism, and this could be linked.
Perhaps, this could be explained by the fact that once the threat is removed; the SOC
report is no longer examined by the World Heritage Committee.

21.

High-rise buildings projects impacting on the visual integrity/aesthetic values of theproperties appear to be affecting more and more properties over the years: a rise from
2.2% of the properties reported on in 2005 to nearly 5% in 2009 (see Chart 5). As could
be expected, all properties affected by high-rise buildings are cultural properties; these
represent 7.2% of the cultural properties reported on in 2009, up from 3.2% in 2005.

Chart 5: Percentage of properties affected by high-rise building development projects

22.

The threats linked to Utilities and service infrastructure are mainly caused by dam
development projects (see Chart 6) and their associated impacts. On average, 75 to
90% of the affected properties are natural. Development of dams represents thehighest threat amongst the Utilities and service infrastructures (between 58% in 2009
and 90% in 2006). There is, although not necessarily significant, a slight drop of thisthreat (9.5% in 2008 down to 3.9% in 2009).

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 8

Chart 6: Percentage of properties reported on and affectedby hydro-electric dam development projects

23.

As far as mining is concerned, an average of 8.4% of the properties reported on since2005 are affected; this represents around a quarter of all the natural properties
reported on. Even though stable over the years, and besides the adoption by theInternational Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) in 2003 of a position statement
indicating that “ICMM member companies undertake not to explore or mine in World
Heritage properties. All possible steps will be taken to ensure that existing operations inWorld Heritage properties as well as existing and future operations adjacent to World
Heritage properties are not incompatible with the outstanding universal value for whichthese properties are listed and do not put the integrity of these properties at risk”, thisthreat remains high and was the object of recurrent debates during World Heritage
Committee sessions.

24.

Threats due to Oil and gas exploitation seem to have decreased since 2005. Indeed,affecting 3.6% of the properties reported on in 2005, this threat affected only 1.7% ofthem in 2009.

b)

Other human activities

25.

Although, Agricultural encroachment and cattle grazing represent an important threat toWorld Heritage properties (mainly natural properties), 14.6% of the properties wereaffected by this factor in 2005, to around 7% (7% in 2008 and 7.3% in 2009).

26.

Over the years, there has been an important increase of threats due to illegal activities(poaching, illegal logging, vandalism), war, civil unrest (see Chart 7). This factor now
affects more than 30% of the properties (31.6% in 2009), up from 20.4% in 2005. It isalso worth noting that more than one third of them is affected by at least two illegal
activities in conjunction (35.6% on average); in a number of cases, the key factor thatappears to prompt the illegal activities is civil unrest or an armed conflict in the country.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 9

27.

Over the years, armed conflicts, political instability and civil unrest have consistently
remained a threat to World Heritage properties. On average, 8.6% of the properties
reported on to the World Heritage Committee are facing this type of threat since 2005.

Chart 7: Percentage of properties reported on which are affected by “Other human activities”(poaching, illegal logging, other illegal activities, war, civil unrest)

28.

Looking at the types of properties affected by armed conflicts, political instability andcivil unrest, it should be noted that a very large majority of them are natural properties.
However, since 2005, more cultural properties appear to have been affected (7.7% in2005 to 33.4% in 2009) (see Chart 8).

29.

Finally, as evidenced in Chart 8 below, more than 80% of the properties affected bycivil unrest, political instability or war are inscribed on the List of World Heritage in
Danger (100% of them in 2007). Degradation as a result of conflict and politicalinstability or security issues seems to be the main driver which leads to the inscriptionof natural properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Out of the 15 naturalproperties on this List currently, impacts from conflict and insecurity were a main
motivation at the time of their inscription for 11 properties.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 10

Chart 8: Percentage of properties reported on and affected by armed conflicts, political instability
and civil unrest (chart showing both Natural properties andproperties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger)c)Natural events and disasters

30.

Since 2005, this factor has been affecting World Heritage properties in a consistentmanner (around 20% of properties examined).

31.

As shown in Chart 9 below, since 2005, the threat from Invasive species affects moreor less the same number of properties (around 4%) each year. The same trend applies
to the threat related to Climate and severe weather events which have been affecting
an average of 4.4% of the properties each year. In order to address this issue, the 16th
General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention adopted in 2007
a “Policy document on the impacts of climate change on World Heritage properties"(Doc. WHC-07/31.COM/7.1 at http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/31COM/documents/).
Furthermore, the World Heritage Committee is very concerned by the climate change
threat and has reviewed this issue several time during its sessions (Decisions 29 COM
7B.a; 30 COM 7.1; 31 COM 7.1; 32 COM 7B.129 and 33 COM 7B.148).

32.

A slight decrease in the sudden ecological or geological events threat from 12.4% in2005 to 8.4% in 2009 can also be noticed. In order to assist States Parties to protect
World Heritage properties against such events, the World Heritage Committee adopted
at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007) a “Strategy for Reducing Risks from Disasters
at
World
Heritage
properties”(Document
WHC-07/31.COM/7.2
at http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/31COM/documents/) and recommended that arisk management component be incorporated in the Management Plan for World
Heritage properties in accordance with Paragraph 118 of the Operational Guidelines.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 11

Chart 9: Percentage of properties affected by various natural events and disastersd)Management and legal issues

Chart 10: Percentage of properties affected by Management and legal issues since 2005

33.

As evidence in Table 2 and Chart 10 above, the Management and legal issues
represent one of the key threats to World Heritage properties, and have done so
consistently since 2005. Indeed, more than two thirds of the properties (between 63.5%
in 2005 and 69.6% in 2006) are affected by this threat.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 12

Chart 11: Percentage of properties with no buffer zone or no clear delimitations of boundaries(left: percentage of those properties out of all the properties with Management issues)(right: percentage of those properties out of all the properties examined by the Committee)

34.

It is worth noting (see Chart 11 above) that in 2009, 20.2% of the properties affected by
Management and legal issues were threatened due to either the lack of boundaries,
lack of clear boundaries or lack of a buffer zones. This threat is on the increase as2005, when only 9.6% of the properties had this issue, it has more than doubled overthe past five years and is now a threat for more than 10% of the overall number ofproperties examined by the World Heritage Committee (11.3% in 2009).

Chart 12: Percentage of properties affected by various management and legal issues

35.

Since 2005, between 83% and 98.9% of properties facing Management and legal
issues are threatened by the lack of a management plan or system (nearly 100% in2008). This is emerging as, by far, the most important threat to World Heritage
properties in this group. Indeed, the other factors of this group such as lack of financial
and/or human resources, and lack of legal framework, never affect more than 20% of
the properties facing Management and legal issues (see Chart 12 above). There has
however been a drop of 12 points between 2008 and 2009 for the properties with noTrends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 13

Management plan or system and of 7 points for the properties with no legal framework.
The figures also tend to show that some of the properties which were provided with amanagement plan or system are still threatened due to the lack of implementation of
the latter.

Chart 13: Percentage of properties affected by inadequate management activities

36.

Finally, it is important to highlight that an increasing number of properties is under
threat from inappropriate conservation/management activities (e.g. negative impact of
rehabilitation projects on the protection of the traditional urban tissue of an historic
centre, unsuitable restoration techniques, loss of authenticity due to recent restoration
works, low quality of repairs and reconstruction, etc...) which negatively impact on theattributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and on its
authenticity/integrity. While in 2005, 8% of the properties faced such a threat, morethan 10% were threatened in 2009 (see Chart 13 above).

e)

Other issues

37.

The number of properties whose threats came under this group has remained stablesince 2005. Indeed, in 2005, 18.2% of properties were affected by the fragile structureof the buildings, degradation due to the age of the monuments or collapse or imminent
risk of collapse; and there are still 20.2% in 2009. All these threats could be addressedin a proper management plan or system that addressed conservation activities.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 14

B) Analysis per type of properties (natural or cultural properties)

Chart 14: Average percentage of natural (left) and cultural (right) properties
affected by each of the five primary groups of threats between 2005 and 2009

38.

a)

Globally (see Chart 14 above), one can notice that, even though the Development andinfrastructure threats, Management and legal issues, and Other human activities (fornatural properties) remain the main threats affecting World Heritage properties over theyears, they affect natural and cultural properties differently.
Development and infrastructure

Chart 15: Percentage of properties affected by Development and infrastructure projects(NAT: natural properties; CLT: cultural properties)

39.

It is noteworthy that over the years, while more cultural properties have been affectedby Development and infrastructure projects (respectively 52.2% in 2005 to 60.7% in
2009%) yet this threat has remained similarly high for natural properties (69.4% in 2005
and 66.1% in 2009) (see Chart 15 above). The drop of 14 points for the naturalproperties between 2008 and 2009 is most probably due to the fact that, as indicatedTrends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 15

above, in 2008, the major threat was the building of tourism infrastructures (which falls
under “Development and infrastructures – Buildings and development”), yet in 2009,
the tourists themselves and the pressure they put on the properties represent the mainthreat, thus falling under the “Other human activities - Social/cultural uses of heritage”
threat (see Chart 16 below).

b)

Other human activities

Chart 16: Percentage of properties affected by Other human activities(NAT: natural properties; CLT: cultural properties)

40.

Other human activities consist mainly of poaching, illegal timber exploitation, civil
unrest, agricultural encroachment, grazing, negative impact of tourism, changes in local
population and communities, explaining why mostly natural properties are affected (seeChart 16 above). This is the highest threat to natural properties; since 2005, anaverage of 70.5% of the natural properties reported on is affected by this threat.

41.

Out of the 49 to 55 natural properties examined each year since 2005, an average of
25% is affected by mining activities, which is a stable threat over the years (variation
between 22 and 28%).

42.

The impact of tourism is one of the emerging threats to World Heritage properties in
2008, be it for natural or cultural properties. However, this could also be seen as anopportunity, with proper public use planning and management. It should be noted thatout of the 24 properties affected in 2009, 12 were cultural and 12 natural.

43.

Armed conflicts, political instability, civil unrest is still an important threat to World
Heritage properties. Since 2005, out of all the properties reviewed by the World
Heritage Committee and affected by this threat; 76.2% were natural properties and23.8% cultural properties. The natural properties affected by this factor represent about
a quarter of all the natural properties reported on; yet the cultural properties affected
are increasing and represent 4% of all the cultural properties reported on in 2009, up
from 1% in 2005.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 16

c)Natural events and disasters

Chart 17: Percentage of properties affected by Natural events and disasters(NAT: natural properties; CLT: cultural properties)

44.

Over the studied 5-year period (see Chart 17 above), we can notice an increase in thenumber of natural properties affected by Natural events and disasters (from 12% in2005 to 27% in 2009). Cultural properties have significantly increased between 2008
and 2009 (from 12.7% to 21%). However, the nature of the threat differs between thetwo categories of properties.

45.

Indeed, cultural properties are mostly affected by the impact of wind, humidity,
earthquakes, fires, and natural decay, while natural properties are mostly affected by
the impact of climate change, invasive species and cyclones. One also has to consider
the fact that natural properties may recover more easily from earthquakes incomparison to the built environment; earthquake representing therefore a lesser threat
to natural properties.

d)Management and legal issues

Chart 18: Percentage of properties affected by Management and legal issues(NAT: natural properties; CLT: cultural properties)

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 17

46.

The figures of Chart 18 (see above) show that overall, cultural properties appear to be
more sensitive to the lack of proper conservation, or to lack of a management plan orsystem than natural properties (there is an average difference of 14 points between
natural and cultural properties affected by this threat during the 5-year period).

e)

Other issues

Chart 19: Percentage of properties affected by Other issues(NAT: natural properties; CLT: cultural properties)

47.

This group of threats affects mostly cultural properties (an average of 25.7% of culturalproperties is affected compared to 8% of the natural properties) (see Chart 19 above).
This is understandable as this category of threats consists mainly of the fragile
structure of buildings, degradation due to the age of monuments or collapse or
imminent risk of collapse.

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 18

C) Analysis per region

Developmentandinfrastructure
projects

Other humanactivities

Natural eventsand disasters

Management
and legal
issuesOther issues

AfricaArab
StatesAsiaPacific

Europeand North
America

Latin Am.
and theCaribbean

2005

44

81

50

62

81

2006

60

80

61

84

50

2007

57

72

51

62

62

2008

85

76

67

81

56

2009

74

74

62

69

46

2005

56

25

47

32

37

2006

63

45

36

34

50

2007

70

41

48

37

57

2008

62

41

39

23

44

2009

77

58

49

27

50

2005

20

37

3

15

25

2006

30

55

12

21

50

2007

37

36

13

8

38

2008

12

24

18

18

32

2009

32

37

19

11

35

2005

64

75

62

60

69

2006

70

90

70

52

85

2007

63

82

60

75

67

2008

62

82

64

61

68

2009

68

84

57

53

85

2005

24

69

12

8

0

2006

30

30

9

13

14

2007

30

31

24

19

19

2008

19

29

6

7

12

2009

35

37

14

13

23

Table 3. Percentage of properties of each region affected by each of the five primary groups of threats(Darker grey indicates a high percentage of the concerned properties).

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 19

AfricaDevelopment
and infrastructure
projects

Arab States

Asia-Pacific

Europe andNorth
America

Latin Am.
and theCaribbean

=

=

=



=

=

=

=

=
=

Other humanactivities
Natural eventsand disasters==

Management
and legal issues

=

=

=

=

Other issues

=



=

=

( INCREASING - DECREASING - = STABLE HIGH - = STABLE LOW )Table 4. Trends showing how each region has been affected by each of the five primary groupsof threats over the 5-year period studied (2005-2009)48.

Through this regional analysis, over the 5-year period considered (2005-2009), one cannotice that throughout the regions, the two main groups of threats affecting World
Heritage properties are Development and infrastructure as well as Management andlegal issues (see Tables 3 and 4 above). Since 2005, these two groups have generally
affected more than 50%, and up to 90%, of the properties in any given region.

49.

This regional analysis aims at indicating the main threats affecting the region and could
give an indication for the theme of future regional programmes to be developed.

a)Africa50.

In Africa, the major threats affecting the concerned properties are related to
Development and infrastructure (mostly since 2008), Management and legal issues
and Other human activities, all affecting more than two thirds of the properties of theregion. The threat related to Development and infrastructures is less in 2009 than it
was in 2008, but this is not specific to this region as this trend can be seen throughout
the different regions. The reason has been explained above. All other threats arestable, at a lower level (between 20% and one third of the properties affected).

b)

Arab States

51.

In the Arab States region, the main threats remain in relation to Development andinfrastructure and Management and legal issues with more than 75% of the properties
being concerned. It should be noticed that the threat linked to Other human activities is

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 20

on the increase in this region. This is mainly due to an increase of deliberate
destructions of heritage, alterations of the urban fabric or illegal constructions.
c)Asia-Pacific52.

As far as the Asia-Pacific region is concerned, properties are also mainly affected by
Development and infrastructure and Management and legal issues, but in a lesser
extent than for other regions, with slightly less than two thirds of the properties being
affected since 2005. Asia-Pacific is the only region where the threat related to Natural
events and disasters has increased since 2005 (from 3% of the properties affected in2005 to almost 20% in 2009) due to earthquakes, cyclone damages, etc...

d)Europe and North America

53.

The Europe and North America region properties are very affected by Development
and infrastructure projects with more than two thirds of properties examined being
affected. It is the only region where all the threats remain more or less at the samelevel since 2005. Furthermore, the very large majority (more than 90%) of theproperties facing high-rise building development issues are located in Europe andNorth America.

e)

Latin America and the Caribbean

54.

Finally, over the past five years, the highest threat for the Latin America and the
Caribbean region properties relates to Management and legal issues with an averageof 75% of the properties being affected. It is worth noting that the Latin America andCaribbean region is the least affected by Development and infrastructures of all theregions, with half of its properties being affected, compared to more than 2 thirds forthe other regions. Furthermore, it is the only region where this trend seems actually to
be decreasing since 2005 when 81% of the properties were threatened, compared to
46% in 2009.

V. CONCLUSION

55.

This summary analysis of threats to the World Heritage properties examined by theWorld Heritage Committee since 2005 illustrates:-

The wide range of threats to World Heritage properties;-

The two key groups of threats affecting World Heritage properties are:Development and infrastructure and Management and legal issues for culturalproperties and Development and infrastructure and Other human activities fornatural properties.

-

The absence of Management plan or system remains an important threat toWorld Heritage properties;-

Inadequate management activities are also, since 2005, increasingly affecting theconditions of authenticity of properties since 2005;

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 21

-Issues related to the lack of buffer zone or delimitations of the property, as well
as issues due to war, civil unrest and illegal activities are on the increase since
2005;

-

Issues linked to mining activities appear to be constant but remain however
sufficiently important to require further debate;-

Development of hydro-electric dams and high-rise buildings has been on theincrease since 2005. The decrease noticed between 2008 and 2009 does
however not permit any conclusion yet.

-

The slight differences perceived between threats observed in regions of the world
may be related to the types of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (e.g.
Development and infrastructure to cities, Other human activities such as
poaching to natural properties).

VI.

USEFUL REFERENCES•

UNESCO World Heritage Centre - http://whc.unesco.org•

ICOMOS : http://www.icomos.org•

IUCN : http://www.iucn.org•

ICCROM : http://www.iccrom.org•

International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM): http://www.icmm.com•

World Heritage Reports n°22 - Climate Change and World
Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/series/22/•

World Heritage Series n°10 - Monitoring World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/series/10/•

Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/473/•

World Heritage: Challenges for the Millennium http://whc.unesco.org/documents/publi_millennium_en.pdf

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 22

VII. DRAFT DECISION

Draft Decision: 34 COM 7C
The World Heritage Committee,
1.

Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7C,

2.

Recalling Decisions 32 COM 7B.129 and 33 COM 7C, adopted at its 32nd (Quebec
City, 2008) and 33rd (Seville, 2009) sessions respectively,

3.

Welcomes the analytical summary of the perceived trends, changes and threats to thestate of conservation of World Heritage properties over the past five years (2005-2009),
as the basis for further reflection and more extensive analysis of this information;

4.

Considers that this work highlights the need for more systematic monitoring of threats
and of how to identify and react to emerging trends;

5.

Suggests that data on the emergence of trends and on the underlying reasons for the
emergence of trends could be helpful to States Parties, to the World Heritage Centre
and to the Advisory Bodies;

6.

Given the percentage of threats related to Development and infrastructure projects andto high-rise buildings, stresses the need for structured heritage impact assessments ofmajor projects to be carried out at the earliest opportunity in order to assess the impact
of potential projects on Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties;

7.

Recalls the provisions of Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines and that prompt
information on potential development projects and their review for impact on
Outstanding Universal Value is a key tool for ensuring the effective conservation ofWorld Heritage properties and the credibility of the Convention;

8.

Taking into account the information provided in the introduction of Document WHC10/34.COM/7B and specifically the impact of natural disasters affecting World Heritage
properties, and notes the progress made in the implementation of the Strategy for
Disaster Risk Reduction at World Heritage properties as indicated in Document
WHC.10/34.COM/7.3, as well as the newly published Resource Manual on this subject;

9.

Also notes that the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies have considered
the approaches for the selection of properties for state of conservation reports andprocesses for preparing Desired state of conservation statements for the removal ofproperties from the List of World Heritage in Danger and further notes that these will be
subject to a further review at the next World Heritage Centre/Advisory Bodies meetingin September 2010;10.

Acknowledges the inclusion of links to illustrative material in the state of conservation
reports which provide information on potential visual impact on the Outstanding
Universal Value of a property and encourages the States Parties to share theirexperiences concerning visual impact studies and simulations by providing to the Word
Heritage Centre links to relevant information to be made available through the webpage;

Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 23

11.

Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to report back on criteria,
thresholds and processes relevant to the initiation of state of conservation reports andto the preparation and review of Desired state of conservation statements for theremoval of properties from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by theWorld Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2010.

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2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 24

Annex 1

List of factors (threats) affecting World Heritage properties
as designed for the Periodic Reporting (revised questionnaire, Section II)

DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURES
3.1. BUILDINGS AND DEVELOPMENT
3.1.1. Housing
3.1.2. Commercial development
3.1.3. Industrial areas
3.1.4. Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
3.1.5. Interpretative and visitation facilities
3.2. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
3.2.1. Ground transport infrastructure
3.2.2. Air transport infrastructure
3.2.3. Marine transport infrastructure
3.2.4. Underground transport infrastructure
3.2.5. Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
3.3. UTILITIES OR SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE
3.3.1. Water infrastructure
3.3.2. Renewable energy facilities
3.3.3. Non-renewable energy facilities
3.3.4. Localised utilities
3.3.5. Major linear utilities
3.4. POLLUTION
3.4.1. Pollution of marine waters
3.4.2. Ground water pollution
3.4.3. Surface water pollution
3.4.4. Air pollution
3.4.5. Solid waste
3.4.6. Input of excess energy
3.6. PHYSICAL RESOURCE EXTRACTION
3.6.1. Mining
3.6.2. Quarrying
3.6.3. Oil and gas
3.6.4. Water

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2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 25

OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES
3.5. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE USE/ MODIFICATION
3.5.1. Fishing/collecting aquatic resources
3.5.2. Aquaculture
3.5.3. Land conversion
3.5.4. Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
3.5.5. Crop production
3.5.6. Commercial wild plant collection
3.5.7. Subsistence wild plant collection
3.5.8. Commercial hunting
3.5.9. Subsistence hunting
3.5.10. Forestry /wood production
3.8. SOCIAL/ CULTURAL USES OF HERITAGE
3.8.1. Ritual/spiritual/religious and associative uses
3.8.2. Society’s valuing of heritage
3.8.3. Indigenous hunting, gathering and collecting
3.8.4. Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
3.8.5. Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
3.8.6. Positive impacts of tourism/visitor/ recreation
3.8.7. Negative impacts of tourism/visitor/ recreation
3.9. OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES
3.9.1. Illegal activities
3.9.2. Deliberate destruction of heritage
3.9.3. Military training
3.9.4. War
3.9.5. Terrorism
3.9.6. Civil unrest
3.12. INVASIVE/ ALIEN SPECIES OR HYPER-ABUNDANT SPECIES
3.12.1. Translocated species
3.12.6. Modified genetic material
NATURAL EVENTS AND DISTASTERS
3.7. LOCAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING PHYSICAL FABRIC
3.7.1. Wind
3.7.2. Relative humidity
3.7.3. Temperature
3.7.4. Radiation/light
3.7.5. Dust
3.7.6. Water
3.7.7. Pests
3.7.8. Micro-organisms
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2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 26

3.10. CLIMATE AND SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS
3.10.1. Storms
3.10.2. Flooding
3.10.3. Drought
3.10.4. Desertification
3.10.5. Changes to oceanic waters
3.10.6. Temperature extremes
3.11. SUDDEN ECOLOGICAL OR GEOLOGICAL EVENTS
3.11.1. Volcanic eruption
3.11.2. Earthquake
3.11.3. Tsunami/tidal wave
3.11.4. Avalanche/ landslide
3.11.5. Erosion and siltation/ deposition
3.11.6. Fire3.12. INVASIVE/ ALIEN SPECIES OR HYPER-ABUNDANT SPECIES
3.12.2. Invasive/alien terrestrial species
3.12.3. Invasive / alien freshwater species
3.12.4. Invasive / alien marine species
3.12.5. Hyper-abundant species
MANAGEMENT AND LEGAL ISSUES
3.13. MANAGEMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
3.13.1. Legal framework
3.13.2. Governance3.13.3. Management systems/ management plan
3.13.4. Financial resources
3.13.5. Human resources
3.13.6. Low impact research/monitoring activities
3.13.7. High impact research/monitoring activities
3.13.8. Management activities
OTHER FACTORS
3.14. OTHER FACTOR(S)Trends on the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
2005-2009

WHC-10/34.COM/7C, p. 27