Consider removing Ha Long Bay from the World Natural Heritage list?
On December 20, Reuters reported that UNESCO would deploy a group of experts to assess possible risks to conservation. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, because of concerns about development projects that could threaten the conservation of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay.
Reuters quoted an expert from UNESCO: “If threats that endanger the integrity of the heritage and the reasons why the heritage was included in the world heritage list are discovered, the committee may request the remedial measures to enhance protection of this site”.
UNESCO’s field survey was discussed and agreed upon during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held on July 21-31. |
This information has been quoted by a number of Facebook websites with the assertion that UNESCO may consider removing Ha Long Bay from the list World natural heritage.
On December 24, the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) informed about the above issue. Accordingly, information about UNESCO’s field survey has been exchanged and agreed upon by the Vietnamese delegation participating in the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee on July 21-31, 2024 with the UNESCO World Heritage Center. and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
The representative of the Department of Cultural Heritage affirmed that Vietnam needs to closely follow the recommendations of the field inspection team to explain and receive advice and suggestions in the protection of Ha Long Bay.
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The field inspection team also listened, consulted and made comments related to Vietnam’s desire to continue researching and supplementing cultural values (especially the potential cultural and historical values of Vietnam). Ha Long Bay with archaeological cultures of Soi Nhu – Cai Beo – Ha Long).
This activity contributes to promoting the preparation of a dossier to nominate Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Heritage Site, supplementing cultural criteria as prescribed in the Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
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Vietnam is considered a model of cooperation with UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies and a typical case of world heritage conservation. |
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assom – Director of the World Heritage Center – said that Vietnam is a model of cooperation with UNESCO and UNESCO’s Advisory Agencies and is a typical case of world heritage conservation.
“We appreciate Vietnam continuing to conduct research on the unique cultural values of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Islands to build a profile and supplement cultural criteria for Ha Long Bay. – Cat Ba Islands, as well as continue to accompany and support Vietnam for this research content,” Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assom stated within the framework of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.
Strictly follow the 8 recommendations
The 46th session of the World Heritage Committee made 8 recommendations on preserving the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago. For the first 4 recommendations, UNESCO affirmed that it had reviewed and approved Vietnam’s report on Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Islands, including reporting on conservation status and building an effective coordination mechanism. between Quang Ninh province and City. Hai Phong to ensure integrated management of heritage.
Recommendation 5, UNESCO notes on controlling the implementation of projects in heritage protection areas that require heritage impact assessment according to the guidance of the 1972 UNESCO Convention.
Specifically, construction projects must assess the appropriateness of the project’s impact on the outstanding global value of the heritage according to UNESCO’s world heritage impact assessment guidelines.
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UNESCO reminds Quang Ninh province to control water pollution. |
Recommendation 6, UNESCO recognizes and appreciates Quang Ninh province in implementing comprehensive measures to solve the problem of waste and environmental pollution to maintain air and water quality within allowable limits. . However, care still needs to be taken to control water pollution.
Recommendation 7, UNESCO requires submitting to the World Heritage Center a detailed zoning map of the World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago, after the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay is expanded Add Cat Ba Islands.
The 8th recommendation is to invite UNESCO’s feedback monitoring team to evaluate the overall status of heritage conservation, especially heritage management and the effectiveness of heritage protection and management organization.
At the 46th session in 2024, the World Heritage Committee decided to remove the Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) heritage from the List of World Heritage in Danger and add the Tu Saint Hilarion Institute/Tell Umm Amer (Palestine) is on the List of World Heritage in Danger, due to threats to this heritage from the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. To date, there are 56 World Heritage Sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
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