World Heritage Committee Decisions in 2013

By: 
Susanne Wong
Date: 
Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Below are summaries of all the decisions made on dam-threatened World Heritage Sites that were discussed at this year's 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The list begins with several sites with which we and our partners have been actively involved, and continues with a list of other dam-threatened sites.


Download the full decisions

Lake Turkana National Parks (Kenya)

Lake Turkana at sunset.
Lake Turkana at sunset.
  • Reported that Ethiopia has not submitted a progress report nor invited a joint reactive monitoring mission to Ethiopia. Expressed regret that construction of Gibe III and associated projects has continued although a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has not been completed.
  • Reiterated its utmost concern about the potential and ascertained cumulative impacts of the Gibe III dam on Lake Turkana, and the related on-going and planned irrigation projects in the Lower Omo valley and the planned Gibe IV and Gibe V projects, which present a clear threat to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
  • Requested again that Kenya and Ethiopia conduct a SEA to assess the cumulative impacts of all developments impacting on the Lake Turkana basin in order to identify appropriate corrective measures to ensure that the water level in Lake Turkana, as well as a level of seasonal variation be maintained, which is sufficient to maintain the OUV of the property.
  • Requested that Ethiopia invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to review the impacts of the Gibe III dam and other hydro-electric developments and associated large-scale irrigation in the Omo region on the OUV of Lake Turkana;
  • Urged Kenya and Ethiopia allow for the completion of the on-going bilateral discussions on the impact of GIBE Dam on the Lake Turkana Property.
  • Requested that Kenya, in consultation with Ethiopia, to submit a progress report by February 1, 2014 and a state of conservation report by February 1, 2015.

Lower Valley of the Omo (Ethiopia)

  • Expressed concern over the Kuraz Sugar Cane Development Projects, which may have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Lower Valley of the Omo.
  • Urged Ethiopia to provide details on all planned development projects, and documents on the Kuraz Sugar Cane Development Projects, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried-out in 2011, to the World Heritage Centre by December 1, 2013.
  • Requested that Ethiopia carry out Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs), in particular for relevant roads and the sugar development projects, and submit them to the World Heritage Centre before work commences and before any irreversible commitments are made.
  • Requested that Ethiopia submit a report on the state of conservation of the property by February 1, 2014.

Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves / La Amistad National Park (Costa Rica / Panama)

  • Urged Panama and Costa Rica to complete the Strategic Environmental Assessment in line with international standards of best practice. This includes analyzing impacts to the site, considering least damaging alternatives (including the “no project” option), and ensuring broad stakeholder consultation.
  • Expressed concern that Panama did not suspend the construction of the Bonyic dam until the SEA was completed and its results considered as requested. Expressed concern with the irreversible damage to fresh water biodiversity in at least two watersheds (Changuinola and Bonyic) and the absence of adequate measures to mitigate for biodiversity loss.
  • Requested that Panama implement mitigation measures and put in place an effective and long-term monitoring program.
  • Requested that Panama and Costa Rica halt any further development of hydro-energy projects, mining or road construction within or directly adjacent to the property, particularly in neighboring protected areas and indigenous territories and implement the recommendations of the 2013 IUCN reactive monitoring mission. This includes not permitting further hydro development within the site, subjecting further development to environmental impact assessment and guaranteeing the long-term integrity of unaffected watersheds.
  • Requested that Costa Rica and Panama submit a joint progress report by February 1, 2015.

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Area (China)

  • Expressed concern that “the depth and quality of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) appear to be incompatible with the scale and complexity of the planned hydropower development that may affect the property.”
  • Reiterated its request to China to not proceed with project implementation prior to appropriate EIAs being completed.
  • Requested that China conduct a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the West-East Electricity Transfer Project, including a thorough assessment of its direct, indirect and cumulative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.
  • Requested that China implement the other recommendations of the April 2013 IUCN reactive monitoring mission report and submit a detailed progress report on the conservation of the property by February 1, 2015.

 

OTHER DAM-THREATENED SITES
Alto Douro Wine Region (Portugal): Requested that Portugal continue to implement the recommendations of the joint reactive monitoring mission regarding the Foz Tua Hydro-Electric Dam project, including providing the EIA for the high voltage transmission lines to the World Heritage Center before any decision on their trajectory is taken and suspending further excavation of the navigation channel until hydraulic studies have been finalized.

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (China): Expressed concern that the Yuzhen Palace will become an island within the enlarged Dangiangkou Reservoir. Requests that China invite a joint reactive monitoring mission to assess the potential negative impact of the project on the site.

Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq): Welcomed the announcement of the cancellation of the Makhool Dam.

Dja Wildlife Reserve (Cameroon): Expressed concern about the potential impacts of the Mekin Dam on the World Heritage Site. Requested that Cameroon submit a detailed progress report by February 1, 2014.

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (Thailand): Expressed concern that construction is continuing at the Huay Samong Dam site and reiterated its request that Thailand undertake all necessary mitigation, enforcement and anti-encroachment actions to ensure this project does not impact the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. Requested that Thailand invite an IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property. The site may be considered for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its next meeting.

Lake Baikal (Russian Federation): Expressed concern about the potential impacts of a dam on the Orkhon river in Mongolia on the lake. Requested more information on the status of these plans from Mongolia and Russia. Urged Russia to undertake an EIA to assess the potential impacts of the dam on the lake before a decision is taken to proceed.

Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal): Reiterated its request to Senegal to submit a specific study on the impacts of the Sambangalou Dam project on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, prior to any decision-making on its construction.

Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania): Reiterated its concern that the Stiegler’s Gorge dam project could seriously damage the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and urged Tanzania to respect its commitment not to undertake any development activities within Selous Game Reserve and its buffer zone without prior approval of the World Heritage Committee. Requested that Tanzania undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment and invite a reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess the status of the Kidunda dam and Stiegler’s Gorge dam projects and other developments on the property. Requested that Tanzania submit a progress report by February 1, 2014 for examination by the World Heritage Committee, which may consider the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Volcanoes of Kamchatka (Russia): Welcomed the clarification that there are no plans to construct hydropower stations inside the property, and requested that Russia provide detailed information about possible plans to construct a hydropower station on the Zhupanova river, a key wintering area for wild Reindeer outside the property and their potential impact on Outstanding Universal Value, including copies of Environmental Impact Assessments once these are available, before taking any irreversible decisions.