World Heritage Watch Report 2021

World Heritage Watch 2021 - ReportWorld Heritage Watch
World Heritage Watch
Berlin 2021
Bibliographical Information
World Heritage Watch: World Heritage Watch Report 2021. Berlin 2021 228 pages, with 240 photos, 30 graphics and 84 maps Published by World Heritage Watch e.V. Berlin 2021 ISBN ISBN 978-3-00-069191-1 NE: World Heritage Watch 1. World Heritage 2. Civil Society 3. UNESCO 4. Heritage at Risk 5. Natural Heritage 6. Cultural Heritage 7. Historic Cities 8. Sites 9. Monuments 10. Cultural Landscapes 11. Indigenous Peoples 12. Participation
World Heritage Watch
© World Heritage Watch e.V. 2021
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Editorial Team Stephan Doempke (chief editor), Louise Tournillon and Michael Turner. Map editors: Martin Lenk, Andrea Martinez Fernandez Cover photos: Angel Falls, Canaima National Park, Venezuela. Photo: Rodolfo Gerstl Protests in Windhoek against oil and gas development in the Kavango basin, 20 May 2021. Photo: Liz Frank, WLC Laying concrete pavements on the Acropolis of Athens. Photo: Mikhalis Karagiannis / Eurokinissi Main buildings of the Vat Phou temple complex. Photo: Martin Lenk Back cover map: Martin Lenk
Cover Design: Bianka Gericke, www.layoutmanufaktur.de Design and layout: Bianka Gericke, www.layoutmanufaktur.de Printed by: Buch- und Offsetdruckerei H.Heenemann GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin
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Contents
Stonehenge, Avebury & Associated Sites Under Imminent Threat of Major Road Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Kate Fielden, Stonehenge Alliance
Malta’s gantija Temple: Threat to One of the World’s Most Ancient Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Dawn Adrienne-Saliba, Malta-ARCH / Astrid Vella, Flimkien gal Ambjent Ajar
Mdina’s Citadel Fortifications, Malta, in Urgent Need of Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Jorg Sicot, Flimkien gal Ambjent Ajar
The Acropolis of Athens in Peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Tasos Tanoulas, Acropolis:SOS
Threats to the Churches of the Virgin and St. George of the Gelati Monastery and their Wall Paintings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Manana Tevzadze, ICOMOS Georgia
The Current State of Archaeological World Heritage Sites in the Idlib Governorate, Syria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ammar Kannawi, Idlib Antiquities Center
Chinese-style Pavilions in Front of Jokhang Temple Shows China Disregards Tibetan Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 International Campaign for Tibet
II. Historic Cities 45
All Seems Lost on Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City WHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Gerry Proctor, Engage Liverpool
Okhta Cape: Archeological Site Extending from the Stone Age to the XVIII Century in Urgent Need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of Support and Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Elena Minchenok
Continuing Destruction of Historic Buildings in Vienna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Herbert Rasinger, Initiative Stadtbildschutz Wien
The State of Venice and its Lagoon with Reference to the Recommendations of the Advisory Mission of January 2020 . . . . . . .57 Franco Migliorini, Tutta la Cittá Insieme!
Protecting Valletta, Manoel Island andMarsamxett World Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Astrid Vella, Flimkien gal Ambjent Ajar
The Bypass Road of Gjirokastra – Short-term Effects vs. Sustainable Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Kreshnik Merxhani
How to Preserve and Protect Ancient Aleppo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 Louay Dakhel, Conservation Architect
Old Aleppo and the Challenge of Reconstruction and Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Anonymous1
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Nea Church in Old City in Jerusalem: A Chance to Emphasize the City’s Multi-faceted Heritage? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Chemi Shiff, Emek Shaveh
Historic Cairo: A Diminishing Historic Urban Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Anonymous
Lamu Old Town is at a Critical Point of Losing its Outstanding Value and Heritage Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Mohamed Athman, Save Lamu
III. Cultural Landscapesand Mixed Properties 87
Hope that Some of the Threats to the Kujataa UNESCO World Heritage Site Could Subside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Niels Henrik Hooge, Friends of the Earth Denmark’s Uranium Group
The Lake District: World Heritage Site and Favourite Off-road Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Fritz Groothues (LakesWatch and Lake District Green Lanes Alliance)
The Curonian Spit: In Danger of Losing Its Outstanding Universal Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96 Alexandra Koroleva, Ecodefense! Russia
The World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley Faces Multiple Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Klaus Thomas and Elke Greiff-Gossen, Rheinpassagen Citizens Initiative
Semmering Railway and Surrounding Landscape in Danger: Incessant Water Inrushes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Christian Schuhböck and Josef Lueger, Alliance For Nature
Government Tourism Development Continues Threatening Transboundary Lake Neusiedl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Zoltán Kun, Wildland Research Institute / Christian Schuhböck, Alliance for Nature
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region: Death by a Thousand Cuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Sonja Dimoska and Daniel Scarry, Ohrid SOS
Upper Svaneti World Heritage is in Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Nato Tsintsabadze, ICOMOS Georgia
Siwa Oasis: a Forgotten Heritage Under Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Insaf Ben Othmane Hamrouni, Œcumene Studio
The Ahwar of Iraq: Persisting Threats and Paths to Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Toon Bijnens and Salman Khairalla, Save the Tigris Campaign
The State of the Sacred Conservation Zone of the Vat Phou Cultural Landscape, Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Martin Lenk, Consultant on Nature Conservation
Raising Local Voices, Supporting Local Concerns in Bali’s World Heritage Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Wiwik Dharmiasih, Universitas Udayana
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IV. World Heritage Properties and Indigenous Peoples 139
Canada’s “Call to Action” for Wood Buffalo National Park has not Fully Materialized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Mikisew Cree First Nation
Chaco Canyon and the Greater Chaco Landscape at Grave Risk Because of Oil Drilling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Paul F. Reed, Archaeology Southwest
The Need to Prevent the Future Degradation in the Yagul and Mitla Caves of Oaxaca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Guadalupe Yesenia Hernandez Marquez, Preservamb
Canaima National Park: Relentless Mining on the Rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 SOSOrinoco
Koutammakou – a World Heritage Property to be Completed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Ibrahim Tchan, Corps des Voluntaires Beninoises
UNESCO Must Protect Present and Future World Heritage Sites From Oil and Gas Pollution in Africa’s Eden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Andy Gheorghiu, Saving Okavango’s Unique Life (SOUL) Alliance
Komodo National Park: The Only Home of Komodo Dragons in Peril . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) / Sunspirit for Justice and Peace
V. Natural Properties 173
Doñana Dries up Surrounded by Environmental Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Juanjo Carmona and Teresa Gil, WWF Spain
Biaowiea Forest World Heritage Site: What is Next After the 2020 Relief? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178 Tomasz Pezold Kneevi, WWF Poland
Europe´s Last Ancient, Primary and Old-growth Forests Under Threat of Destruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 EuroNatur Foundation (Germany) / Agent Green (Romania) / WOLF Forest Protection Movement (Slovakia) / Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (Albania)
The Never-ending Story: Gold Mining in the Virgin Komi Forests World Heritage Property. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Irina Panteleeva, Mikhail Kreyndlin and Alexandra Pilipenko, Greenpeace Russia
Resorts as the Greatest Danger for the Western Caucasus World Heritage Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Irina Panteleeva, Mikhail Kreyndlin and Alexandra Pilipenko, Greenpeace Russia
Ile-Alatau State National Natural Park: Development or Destruction? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Valeriy Krylov, Sergey Kuratov and Nataliya Medvedeva, Ecological Society “Green Salvation”
Major Weakening of Lake Baikal’s Protection Regime in 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Eugene Simonov, Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition (RwB) / Mikhail Kreindlin, Greenpeace Russia
Dam Construction is Threatening the Landscapes of Dauria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Vadim Kirilyuk, Daursky Nature Reserve / Andrey Petrov, Greenpeace Russia / Eugene Simonov, Rivers without Boundaries International Coalition
A Resort Project and Ocean Disaster in the Volcanoes of Kamchatka World Heritage Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202 Irina Panteleeva, Mikhail Kreyndlin and Alexandra Pilipenko, Greenpeace Russia
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Selous Game Reserve – Where Do We Go From Here? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205 Günter Wippel, uranium network
Bangladesh Must Halt High Carbon, Highly Polluting Industries Near the Sundarbans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .…