International Assistance

Paragraph No. as presented in WHC-98/CONF.203/14Rev.

Requesting State Party

Type of Assistance

Description

Amount Approved(US$)

Comments/ Observations/ Conditions

A.2.2.1

Ecuador

Technical

Co-operation

Ecological monitoring in the Galapagos Archipelago - establishing a quarantine system for monitoring the introduction and spread of alien species

61,000  under Technical Co-operation

31,500 under Training

The Committee commended Ecuador for its efforts to mitigate the problem of the introduction and spread of alien species. The Committee urged the Centre and the State Party to co-operate with global initiatives, launched as a part of activities undertaken by the Convention on Biological Diversity and by international organizations such as SCOPE (Scientific Committee for the Protection of the Environment), for mitigating the introduction and spread of alien species.

A.2.2.2

IUCN-Environ-mental Law Centre

Technical Co-operation

Legal interpretation and application of the World Heritage Convention

The Committee invited IUCN-ELC to circulate the proposal widely in order to obtain comments and suggestions from legal and other specialists, particularly with regard to the expected outcome of the project. The Committee requested IUCN-ELC and the Centre to co-operate to identify donors who can provide the US$ 90,000 needed for the services of the two legal consultants (US$ 60,000) and one research associate (US$ 30,000), respectively. If IUCN-ELC and the Centre succeed in obtaining the US$ 90,000 as expert costs essential for starting the project, then they may submit proposals for the organization of the meeting of the panel of experts and regional experts workshop at the appropriate time.

The Delegate of Canada pointed out that IUCN should be requested to obtain funds needed to implement this project from sources other than the World Heritage Fund.

The Delegate of Italy noted that the project should not deal with expected outcomes (iii) and (iv), since they involved policy prerogatives which are the responsibility of the work of the Committee.

A.2.2.3

Niger

Technical Co-operation

Strengthening management at "W" National Park

45,000

The Committee noted that the State Party has informed the Centre that it has paid its dues to the Fund. Furthermore, the Committee requested the State Party to acknowledge receipt of equipment received and provide an inventory, to the Centre, of equipment delivered to the "W" National Park and finalize all administrative matters regarding the equipment purchase project funded by the US$ 50,000 approved by the Committee in 1997.

Natural heritage

Subtotal

Technical Co-operation

106,000  under Technical Co-operation

 31,500 under Training

A.1.1.1

Tanzania

Training

Support for three fellowships for African Specialists in Protected Area/Wildlife Management for the Academic Year 1999-2000 at Mweka College of African Wildlife Management, Tanzania

30,000

Natural heritage

Subtotal

Training

30,000

A.1.3.1

China

Emergency

Rehabilitation of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and Flood Damage Control

60,000

The Bureau commended the Chinese authorities for investing more than US$2 million in the emergency rehabilitation of Wulingyuan. The Bureau requested the Chinese authorities to take note of the Centre/IUCN mission undertaken in September 1998 on the rehabilitation of Wulingyuan; (i) strengthening embankment and other structures essential for controlling the debris-flow is an urgent priority; (ii) the Chinese authorities may wish to review thoroughly, taking into consideration the hydrological regime of rivers, and the risks associated with frequency and severity of possible future floods and other factors, the locations and designs for the planned reconstruction of the bridges and roads with a view to making necessary changes to improve visitor management and scenic values; and (iii) the State Party may wish to undertake a thorough review of the site's tourism development policy before starting the repair and reconstruction of roads and bridges so that future locations and designs of such structures could be planned in a manner so as to improve visitor management flows. The Bureau approved the contribution of US$60,000 requested as emergency assistance under the conditions that priority use of the funds should be for studies and analyses that may needed to complete (ii) and (iii) above. The Bureau requested the Chinese authorities to propose an itemized budget for the expenditure of US$ 60,000 to the Centre in order to enable the Centre to establish a contract and complete other necessary administrative procedures.

Natural Heritage

Subtotal

Emergency

60,000