Periodic Reporting Europe and North America Progress Report

Periodic Reporting Europe and North America Progress Report and Future Strategy Paris, UNESCO 22 January 2003

What’s Periodic Reporting According to article 29 of the Convention The States Parties shall submit periodic reports every six years on the provisions taken for: a) the application of the Convention; and b) the state of conservation of the properties inscribed in the List in their territories The purpose is to 1. 2. 3. provide an assessment of the application of the Convention and the maintenance of the values of the properties inscribed; give updated information on the state of conservation of these properties; provide a mechanism for regional cooperation.

How to report? At its 22 nd session the World Heritage Committee adopted a format for submitting the periodic reports. This format is divided in two sections: - Section I refers to the provisions (administrative, legal, others) taken by the State Party to implement the Convention (STATE LEVEL) - Section II refers to the state of conservation of World Heritage sites in the country (SITE LEVEL)

When has to be reported? All the 50 countries of the region Europe and North America have to present section I of the periodic report in 2005. USA and Canada have to present section II in 2005. Europe has to present section II in 2006, except the following countries that had no sites inscribed before 1998: - Andorra Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia Herzegovina Iceland Israel Monaco San Marino

Section I (State level) • Introduction • Identification of cultural and natural properties • Protection, conservation and presentation of cultural and natural heritage • International co-operation and fundraising • Education, information and awareness building • Conclusions and recommended action

Section II (Site level) • • Introduction Statement of significance Statement of authenticity Management Factors affecting the property Monitoring Conclusions and recommended actions

States and sites • 50 States Parties in Europe and North America are going to do the periodic reporting exercise, whereof 42 have sites inscribed until 1998 and will fill in both sections I and II of the format. • There are currently 376 sites in the region, whereof 297 were inscribed until 1998 (cultural 252, natural 38, mixed 7)

Partnership To enhance regional cooperation and facilitate the periodic reporting, UNESCO closed a partnership agreement with the Council of Europe on the use of tools and the collection of data collection (HEREIN) www. european-heritage. net Countries are encouraged to use the HEREIN tool for periodic reporting, as one section of it has been adapted to the periodic report format (sections I and II)

Steps for periodic reporting - Dispatch of form to State Parties - Identification of national focal points -

Periodic Reporting Format:

Periodic Reporting Steps I Dispatch of form to States Parties; Identification of national focal point II Desk studies, harmonization of data and updating of existing information III Data collection of missing information and preparation of the periodic reports, analyses of challenges IV Finalization of the Periodic Reports and submission for examination by

Phase I: Introduction through information dissemination Inform the State Parties of the process and implementation of Article 29 of the Convention and paragraph 69 of the Operational Guidelines – Action I: Information Meeting for all Asia-Pacific countries at UNESCO Headquarters on 14 November 2000 – Action II: Circular Letter by February 2001 to identify national focal points (27 out of 35 States Parties replied)

Phase II: Desk studies, harmonization of data and updating of existing information – Action 1: Collation of existing data and information relevant for the periodic reports; – Action 2: Analyze and harmonize information and identify missing information; – Action 3: Collection of missing information by States Parties, other institutions and UNESCO;

Phase III: Collection of missing information and preparation of the reports • Exchange of information between site managers, national authorities and focal points, UNESCO, ICOMOS, and ICCROM • Expert mission (if required or upon request) to support national effort • Sub-regional / National workshops in Eastern, Southeast & Central Asia for compilation of information

Regional / National workshops: – China – India – Indonesia – – – – (Beijing, October 2000) (Hampi, October 2000) (Tana Toraja, April 2001) of Korea (Gyeongju, July 2001) India (New Delhi, July 2001) China (Dazu, May 2002) Iran (Isfahan, June 2002) India (Bhopal, July 2002) Pakistan (Lahore, July 2002) Khazakstan (Almaty, Sept. 2002) Sri Lanka (Sigiriya, Sept. 2002) Nepal (Kathmandu, 2002) Republic planned planned to be proposed

Phase IV: Finalization of the Reports and examination by the Committee Deadline for Final National Reports to be submitted by States Parties to World Heritage Centre: 31 December 2002 Prepare the final version of the regional synthesis report analyzing information provided by the States Parties and partners Formulate conclusions and recommendations for followup action

Tool: Periodic Reporting Questionnaire The Questionnaire aims to: facilitate the preparation of the Periodic Reports closely following the Format adopted by the World Heritage Committee; encourage reflection of the national authorities/site managers; achieve a better analysis and comparison of the results at national and regional levels.

Periodic Reporting Questionnaire Evaluate national reports quantitatively (detailed replies expected) Assess the strengths and weaknesses concerning the implementation of the World Heritage Convention; Redefine policies and request International Assistance to projects or training activities; Assist the World Heritage Committee to formulate Action Plans with States Parties, mobilize funds and technical support at international level for enhancing conservation of endangered properties and national capacities.

International Assistance • Aims to support States Parties in building capacity • Submission of training and technical cooperation requests is encouraged for completing the Periodic Reporting Exercise • Request forms available in CD-ROM distributed to National Focal Points

Partners States Parties Local Authorities NGO’s Universities Specialized Institutions

UNESCO’s assistance: UNESCO World Heritage Centre UNESCO Field Offices (Almaty, Bangkok, Beijing, Dhaka, Hanoi, Islamabad, Jakarta, Kathmandu, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Tashkent, Tehran)

Japan Funds-In-Trust support Assist the States Parties to: • prepare cartographic information on the site; • demarcate boundaries of the property; • application of effective tools such as GIS; • enhance national/local capacities for a monitoring system for management and conservation of cultural properties in China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.