Report of the Seminar on the US World Heritage Tentative List Process
National Geographic Society, Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Sponsored by IUCN/US and US/ICOMOS*
*IUCN = The World Conservation Union
ICOMOS = International Council on Monuments & Sites
Don't forget there are other such as the George Wright Society
The following are direct quotes:
The preamble to the World Heritage convention stipulates that the convention establish "an effective system of collective protection of the cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value, organized on a permanent basis and in accordance with modern science methods...
The Operating Guidelines are essential reading for any World Heritage site proponent. Proponents are strongly urged to consult with the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS and IUCN as well as the Office of International Affairs of the US National Park Service for further guidance.
World Heritage Meetings have highlighted the varying understandings of values including statements on authenticity (1994), intangible aspects (2003), merging of cultural and natural criteria (2004), and site setting and buffer zones (2005).
The last US inscriptions were the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks in 1995. The trans boundary example (US-Canada) is part of a newer trend in the World Heritage Convention as are mixed sites and extensions to existing sites. Trends within the existing World Heritage listing process include noting Heritage as risk [do I hear Yellowstone????] and the relisting of sites under different categories, or as mixed sites.
Another trend is toward larger sites with BUFFER ZONES (my caps now and throughout this piece). BUFFER ZONES ARE NOW REQUIRED IN THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLANNING. There are as yet no comprehensive rule and regulations on buffer zones although the 2005 Xi'an Declaration of ICOMOS is relevant.
Industrial, desert, polar, coastal/marine and small island sites are still underrepresented. Sites of universal significance are not necessarily visually pleasing (WHITE SANDS), and the emphasis on beauty in earlier listing is giving way to a more complex application of criteria (Do I hear Nature Conservancy? Oh, yes. The Nature Conservancy was a participant in this Seminar. See Annex 2).
Commentators on this presentation noted that it is difficult to build CONSENSUS (see Delphi principle, one of the basic tools in promoting global warming) around controversial places, and political issues must be taken into account in achieving a successful listing. People should look to properties with the greatest CONSENSUS first; they are easier to nominate. Controversial places (Otero County???) in the US should also be discussed as a topic for further analysis in the decade leading to the next tentative list.
The new tentative list is an important element in a broader strategy of renewed engagement of the US government in the World Heritage Convention.
The last US tentative list was formulated in 1982; it was one of the first created and is, perhaps, the oldest unrevised list. The 1982 "indicative" list was not tied directly to the nomination process , but was ESSENTIALLY AN EXPERT OPINION DEVELOPED INSIDE OF NPS WITHOUT A PUBLIC PROCESS.
The short-term goal for the US is to develop the tentative list with STRONG PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
(You will love this, sports fans) AFTER the closing date (April 1, 2007) there will be opportunities for public comment on the draft list. Non-NPS comments will be incorporated (yepper) and professional reviews will be undertaken, the nature of which will NOT BE FULLY DEFINED UNTIL IT IS KNOWN WHAT APPLICATIONS FOR THE US TENTATIVE LIST HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. The ultimate decision on which sites to include will be made by the Secretary of Interior, in consultation with the NPS.
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The next installment will include geotourism, consensus building in the US, the Canadian experience, too many Christian sites in Europe, strategies on buffer zones and viewscapes and stakeholder (you and me) involvement.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Supporters of the United Nations World Heritage Site Designations...In Their Own Words
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2 comments:
If you want the source and address for these direct quotes (all in one document) just leave and message and I will forward it to you.
Spottedeagle Boy says:
I pirated this from Janet's posting. Hellooooo.....peoples....
quote:
(You will love this, sports fans) AFTER the closing date (April 1, 2007) there will be opportunities for public comment on the draft list. Non-NPS comments will be incorporated (yepper) and professional reviews will be undertaken, the nature of which will NOT BE FULLY DEFINED UNTIL IT IS KNOWN WHAT APPLICATIONS FOR THE US TENTATIVE LIST HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. The ultimate decision on which sites to include will be made by the Secretary of Interior, in consultation with the NPS.
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