Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago
Factors affecting the property in 2002*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Management systems/ management plan
- Marine transport infrastructure
- Other Threats:
Rapid economic development
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Rapid economic development, particularly in the tourism, transportation - including marine transport - sectors
- Donor co-ordination
- Monitoring and setting environmental standards befitting an internationally significant marine protected area
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2002
Total amount approved : 67,615 USD
| 2000 | Workshop for Strengthening the Capacity of Ha Long Bay ... (Approved) | 14,508 USD |
| 1998 | Geomorphology Study of the Ha Long Bay World Heritage ... (Approved) | 8,857 USD |
| 1997 | Support to the Management Department of Ha Long Bay, ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1996 | Management Planning for Sustainable Tourism at Ha Long ... (Approved) | 24,250 USD |
Missions to the property until 2002**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2002
Previous deliberations:
25th session of the Committee – Annex IX, paragraphs 73 – 78.
Main issues:
Rapid economic development, particularly in the tourism, transportation - including marine transport - sectors. Donor co-ordination. Monitoring and setting environmental standards befitting an internationally significant marine protected area.
New information:
An international expert meeting on the application of the World Heritage Convention in tropical coastal, marine and small-island ecosystems, jointly organized by the Centre and IUCN, is to be convened in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay from 23 February to 1 March 2002. A Centre staff as well as several IUCN experts are attending the workshop and are expected to report back on issues raised by the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau in December 2001. The report requested by the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau from the State Party for 1 February 2002, is yet to be received. The Centre staff attending the workshop is expected to verify with the State Party authorities as to when this report could be available.
Action Required
The Bureau based on new information that is expected to be available at the time of its session may take decisions and make recommendations as appropriate.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2002
26 COM 21B.29
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The World Heritage Committee,Notes the state of conservation report and the decision of the Bureau contained in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.11- XII.13.
26 BUR XII.11-13
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
XII.11 The Bureau noted that an international expert meeting on the application of the World Heritage Convention in tropical coastal, marine and small-island ecosystems, jointly organized by the Centre and IUCN, was convened in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay from 23 February to 1 March 2002. A Centre staff, as well as several IUCN experts, attended the Workshop and are expected to report back on issues raised by the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau in December 2001. The report requested from the State Party by the 25th extraordinary session of the Bureau has not been received.
XII.12 IUCN informed the Bureau that the number of caves open to visitation has been reduced, capacities for cave visitation and interpretation have been substantially improved, and the State Party has decided not to open new caves for visitation. Illegal extraction of coral and other forms of sea life for the tourism markets has been halted at the site; however, the collection of cycads and other plants is more difficult to control and still occurs at the site. IUCN noted the number of recent positive measure that should be acknowledged by the Bureau.
XII.13 The Bureau expressed concerns regarding the rapid pace at which developments around this site are being planned and executed while conservation action, such as the implementation of the Government of Vietnam/JICA-sponsored Environmental Management Plan, appears to be rather slow in being launched. The Bureau reiterated its request made at its 25th extraordinary session in Helsinki that the Government of Vietnam, in collaboration with JICA and other partners as necessary, take urgent steps to implement the recommendations of the Environmental Management Plan without delay. The Bureau invited the State Party to present as a part of the Periodic Reporting Exercise to the 27th session of the Committee (2003), a work plan for the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan for Ha Long Bay. This should include benchmarks that could be used to measure progress in the implementation of the Plan on an annual basis. It was noted that all reports for the Asia Pacific region could be provided as part of the Periodic Reporting exercise for this region due in 2003.
The Committee is requested to note the decision by the Bureau in document WHC-02/CONF.202/2, paragraphs XII.11– XII.13
Viet NamDocuments examined by the Committee
26COM (2002)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
