La Convention en action
Angkor (Cambodia)
One of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia, Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia contains the magnificent remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire. Over the years, political and military upheavals, illicit excavation, pillaging of archaeological sites and landmines were destroying the site. Although many monuments are still in need of attention and pressure from tourism is growing, more than fifteen major conservation and restoration projects have been undertaken. In 2004, the Committee considered that Angkor was being properly managed and that the numerous conservation and restoration activities were successful and the site was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sangay National Park (Ecuador)
In 2005, Sangay National Park, Ecuador, was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger as significant measures had been taken to address threats. Heavy poaching of wildlife, illegal livestock grazing, encroachment along the park's perimeter and unplanned road construction were threatening to cause irreversible damage to the natural environment. Today, activities such as hunting, mountain climbing or illegal grazing can only be found in a minimal section of the park, and road construction has been modified to satisfy rigorous international environmental standards.
Ilulissat Icefjord (Greenland, Denmark)
Over the years, the town of Ilulissat experienced a rise in the number of cruise tourists. Without proper management, the growing number of visitors led to difficulties such as attrition, crowding and problems of waste disposal. A management plan (2009–2014) was formulated with initiatives encompassing commercial hunting, motorized vehicles, navigation, recreational activities, research and information. When the plan was presented at a public meeting, many citizens joined the discussion about the management of the World Heritage site.
Island of Mozambique (Mozambique)
Decades of wars and economic stagnation allowed the former historic capital, on the Island of Mozambique, to lapse into decay. Under a truly multi-donor rehabilitation project – with financing from Japan, Portugal, the Flemish Government of Belgium, the Netherlands and the Union of Luso-Afro-American-Asian Capital Cities – more than 100 local and Mozambican professionals and students were trained in traditional building techniques, using local building materials and decorative principles to restore the fortress and install a new public water cistern.
Tongariro National Park (New Zealand)
New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park, whose mountains have cultural and religious significance for the Maori people and symbolize their spiritual links with the environment, was designated as the first cultural landscape on the World Heritage List in 1993. The recognition of cultural landscapes as World Heritage sites in 1992 was an important step in underlining the intimate spiritual relationship between peoples and their natural environment.
Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen)
The 16th-century Old Walled City of Shibam, Yemen, nicknamed 'the Manhattan of the desert', has been under threat of destruction because of the abandonment of the old agricultural flood management system in the wadi surrounding the city and the overloading of the traditional sanitary systems. Extensive conservation works implemented by partner organizations have resulted in the restoration of 65 per cent of the buildings, and large-scale flood control measures have been taken in the wadi.
Parc national de Yellowstone (États-Unis d'Amérique)
Le Parc national de Yellowstone est le noyau de la Région du Grand Yellowstone (Greater Yellowstone Area, GYA), une vaste région comprenant six forêts nationales, deux parcs nationaux et deux refuges nationaux de vie sauvage. En 1964, afin de coordonner la gestion des écosystèmes au-delà des frontières, les trois agences fédérales de gestion territoriale qui opéraient au sein du GYA, formèrent le Comité de coordination du Grand Yellowstone (GYCC). Un sous-comité du GYCC lança en 2007 une approche créative afin de développer un Plan d'action climatique au niveau des écosystèmes pour identifier et réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Les projets de réduction des émissions des gaz à effet de serre ont été identifiés par chaque agence individuelle du GYCC, rassemblés en objectifs pour chaque agence. De cette façon, chaque unité possède non seulement une complète autonomie sur les actions de réductions d'émission du plan mais contrôle également l'agenda de sa mise en œuvre. Le plan a depuis évolué en un modèle type pour d'autres zones écologiquement sensibles du pays.