IUCN statement to the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee

Dear Mr Chairperson, please accept IUCN’s sincere congratulations on your appointment.   

Distinguished Committee Members and Delegates, UNESCO and Advisory Body Colleagues. 

Buenos Dias 

It is a pleasure to restate IUCN’s deep commitment to the World Heritage Convention, both as your Advisory Body, and equally importantly, as the Convention’s partner.  Our report for this item is before you, and the IUCN delegation is here to support you during this Committee meeting.  

The contributions of World Heritage are twofold: first, the direct conservation results on the ground, and second, as an exemplary beacon that inspires innovation and best practice. This dual role means that our advice must consistently uphold and foster the highest standards while shaping constructive, practical solutions. 

IUCN’s proposed new programme of work includes, for the first time, a specific World Heritage result, through which we will track the achievement of effective and equitable conservation in World Heritage sites, globally, regionally and nationally. 

We know that while the decisions taken here are an important step in the right direction, more work remains to be done.  We need to complement them with direct support for States, sites and communities.  This includes innovative ways to embrace the full range of international conservation funding mechanisms, such as the Global Environment Facility. 

The highly successful World Heritage Leadership Programme that ICCROM has just referred to, is a growing priority, and can help animate the proposed new capacity building strategy that is on your agenda. 

But to make a real difference, World Heritage must be in synergy with larger efforts.  IUCN is very pleased to support the recommendations of the recent workshop linking World Heritage and the Global Biodiversity Framework, held with the support of Germany, Norway and Switzerland.  

A crucial priority for IUCN is to recognise and support the vital role of Indigenous Peoples, and ensure their rights are respected and realised.  We thus strongly welcome the new Indigenous Peoples Forum for World Heritage, and the prioritisation of actions to include indigenous issues in the World Heritage Convention. 

I am pleased to inform you that the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) has created a new World Heritage Specialist Group. This presents a great opportunity to strengthen and diversify global expertise on World Heritage.  The co-chairs are here with us to help build this important new work. 

I encourage us all to link World Heritage to the larger family of international designations, including other designated sites and the areas recognised by Ramsar and FAO.  Thanks to the Republic of Korea, and the Island of Jeju for your support in this regard. 

Mr Chair, it is particularly encouraging that the decisions recommended by the World Heritage Open Ended Working Group, that you will debate later in the agenda, and IUCN’s vision are so well aligned.  It is important we all commit to act on the priorities identified by the Group: action on a balanced list, the priority for nature, support for Indigenous Peoples, and reforms to financing are all strategic priorities we must deliver.  At IUCN we are keen to work with the Committee, and directly with Parties and non-governmental partners to advance these ideas, as well as with UNESCO, to find new solutions and new strategies. 

Lastly, let me invite you to IUCN’s World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in October, where over 10,000 people will join and where we will be shaping the future of nature conservation. We will launch the new IUCN World Heritage Outlook, assessing the future prospects for natural World Heritage.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the IUCN Congress.  Your questions and comments are welcome.  

Thank you. Merci. Gracias.