Wonders of Russia, South Africa Up for World Heritage List

SUZHOU, China, June 29, 2004 (ENS) - Forty-eight sites will be considered for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List of outstanding cultural and natural sites during this year's session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, which opened its 10 day meeting here on Monday.

The Committee will consider the inscription of 33 cultural and eight natural sites this year.

The Wrangel Island Reserve in far eastern Russia, along with the Cape Floral Region of South Africa, which includes the famous Table Mountain, are potential natural sites that may be inscribed on the list this year. Other nominated sites are the Illulissat Icefjord in Greenland and the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, according to the IUCN-World Conservation Union, which evaluates sites nominated by governments for inclusion on the list.

A protea, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa (Photo courtesy Galen Frysinger)

The sites are presented for consideration this year by 36 countries - Andorra, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, Cyprus, North Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Sweden, Togo, and the United Kingdom.

The Committee will also consider the nomination of seven extensions of previously inscribed sites in five countries - Costa Rica, China, India, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

Natural sites nominated for extensions include the St. Kilda Archipelago off the western coast of Scotland, and Gough and Inaccessible Islands, in the South Atlantic, nominated by the UK to extend the boundaries to include the surrounding marine zones,

Also nominated for extension is the Guanacaste Conservation Area in Costa Rica, where the IUCN says the government has worked to increase the protection of an adjoining area of valuable conservation land.

In addition, the Committee will review the List of World Heritage in Danger, which currently includes 35 sites. These are sites that are seriously threatened by industry or mining pollution, looting, war, uncontrolled tourism, or poaching.

Mt. Sovetskaya, at 1096 meters, is the highest point on Wrangel Island. (Photo courtesy UW)

In his opening statement, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said the task of deciding amongst the numerous candidate sites is "difficult and arduous," but he expressed confidence that the Committee members would be "impartial."

Mayor of Suzhou City Yang Weize said at the opening ceremony that Suzhou will strive to turn the session into an unforgettable international event with its first-rate conference halls and facilities, urban environment, and civilized image.

The 2,500 year old city is located on the shore of Lake Taihu in southeastern Jiangsu Province some 150 kilometers west of Shanghai.

The old part of the city features unique classical gardens laid out centuries ago. In 1997, and again in 2000, a total of nine classical gardens in Suzhou were inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage.

Dating from the 11th to the 19th century, the protected gardens "reflect the profound metaphysical importance of natural beauty in Chinese culture in their meticulous design," UNESCO says.

One of the classical gardens of Suzhou inscribed on the World Heritage List (Photo courtesy UNESCO)

Mayor Yang told the delegates that "to deepen the sense of heritage protection" among Suzhou citizens he has declared that every June 28 will be World Heritage Day in Suzhou.

To date the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage protects 754 sites of “outstanding universal value” in 129 countries, including 582 cultural and 149 natural sites, and 23 mixed sites.

The Convention encourages international cooperation to preserve shared cultural and natural heritage. Its 178 States Parties make it one of the world’s most widely ratified international agreements.

Nations that ratify the treaty promise to protect sites on the World Heritage List, as well heritage of national or regional importance, through legal and regulatory measures.

The World Heritage Committee is made up of representatives of 21 countries elected for six years. One third of its members are replaced by the General Assembly of the Convention’s signatories every two years.

Each year, the Committee adds new sites to the World Heritage List. Sites are nominated by governments and assessed by two advisory bodies – the International Council on Monuments and Sites for cultural sites, and the IUCN for natural sites. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property also gives its opinion and helps to train experts.

The World Heritage Committee is in charge of applying the 1972 Convention. It considers reports on the state of conservation of listed sites and asks signatory countries to take action when necessary. It also oversees the allocation of over US$2 million a year from the World Heritage Fund to pay for urgent operations, training of experts and to encourage technical cooperation. UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre serves as the secretariat of the Committee.