Education, training and public awareness related to the effects of exposure to mercury and mercury compounds on human health and the environment in collaboration with relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and vulnerable populations, as appropriate.

Chapter IV.A Reactive Monitoring Definition of Reactive Monitoring 169. Reactive Monitoring is the reporting by the Secretariat, other sectors of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the Committee on the state of Decision 39 COM 11 conservation of specific World Heritage properties that are under threat. To this end, the States Parties shall submit specific reports and impact studies each time exceptional circumstances occur or work is undertaken which may have an impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property or its state of conservation. [Decision 39 COM 11] Reactive Monitoring is also foreseen in reference to properties inscribed, or to be inscribed, on the List of World Heritage in Danger as set out in paragraphs 177-191. Reactive Monitoring is also foreseen in the procedures for the eventual deletion of properties from the World Heritage List as set out in paragraphs 192-198. These reports shall be submitted to the World Heritage Committee through the Secretariat, using the standard format in Annex 13, in English or French: a) by 1 December of the year preceding the examination of the property by the Committee, for the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, b) by 1 February of the year of examination of the property by the Committee, for the properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, and for specific cases of utmost urgency. Objective of Reactive Monitoring 170. When adopting the process of Reactive Monitoring, the Committee was particularly concerned that all possible measures should be taken to prevent the deletion of any property from the List and was ready to offer technical cooperation as far as possible to States Parties in this connection. [Article 4 of the Convention:"Each State Party to this Convention recognizes that the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and situated on its territory, belongs primarily to that State...".] 171. The Committee recommends that States Parties cooperate with the Advisory Bodies which have been asked by the Committee to carry out monitoring and reporting on its behalf on the progress of work undertaken for the preservation of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. Information received from States Parties and/or other sources 172. The World Heritage Committee invites the States Parties to the Convention to inform the Committee, through the Secretariat, of their intention to undertake or to authorize in an area protected under the Convention major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. Notice should be given as soon as possible (for instance, before drafting basic documents for specific projects) and before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, so that the Committee may assist in seeking appropriate solutions to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is fully preserved. 173. The World Heritage Committee requests that reports of missions to review the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties include: [Decision 27 COM 7B.106] a) an indication of threats or significant improvement in the conservation of the property since the last report to the World Heritage Committee; b) any follow-up to previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of the property; c) information on any threat or damage to or loss of Outstanding Universal Value, integrity and/or authenticity for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List. 174. When the Secretariat receives information that a property inscribed has seriously deteriorated, or that the necessary corrective measures have not been taken within the time proposed, from a source other than the State Party concerned, it will, as far as possible, verify the source and the contents of the information in consultation with the State Party concerned and request its comments. Decision by the World Heritage Committee 175. The Secretariat will request the relevant Advisory Bodies to forward comments on the information received. 176. The information received, together with the comments of the State Party and the Advisory Bodies, will be brought to the attention of the Committee in the form of a state of conservation report for each property, which may take one or more of the following steps: [Decision 39 COM 11] [Decision 43 COM 11A] a) it may decide that the property has not seriously deteriorated and that no further action should be taken; b) when the Committee considers that the property has seriously deteriorated, but not to the extent that its restoration is impossible, it may decide that the property be maintained on the List, provided that the State Party takes the necessary measures to restore the property within a reasonable period of time. The Committee may also decide that technical cooperation be provided under the World Heritage Fund for work connected with the restoration of the property, proposing to the State Party to request such assistance, if it has not already been done; in some circumstances States Parties may wish to invite an Advisory mission by the relevant Advisory Body(ies) or other organization(s) or expert(s) to seek advice on necessary measures to reverse deterioration and address threats; c) when the requirements and criteria set out in Paragraphs 177-182 are met, the Committee may decide to inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger according to the procedures set out in Paragraphs 183-189; d) when there is evidence that the property has deteriorated to the point where it has irretrievably lost those characteristics which determined its inscription on the List, the Committee may decide to delete the property from the List. Before any such action is taken, the Secretariat will inform the State Party concerned. Any comments which the State Party may make will be brought to the attention of the Committee; e) when the information available is not sufficient to enable the Committee to take one of the measures described in a), b), c) or d) above, the Committee may decide that the Secretariat be authorized to take the necessary action to ascertain, in consultation with the State Party concerned, the present condition of the property, the dangers to the property and the feasibility of adequately restoring the property. Such measures may include the sending of a Reactive Monitoring mission or the consultation of specialists, or through an Advisory mission. The Secretariat shall report to the Committee on the results of its action. In case an emergency action is required, the Committee may authorize its financing from the World Heritage Fund through an emergency assistance request. Chapter IV.B The List of World Heritage in Danger Guidelines for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 177. In accordance with Article 11, paragraph 4, of the Convention , the Committee may inscribe a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger when the following requirements are met: a) the property under consideration is on the World Heritage List; b) the property is threatened by serious and specific danger; c) major operations are necessary for the conservation of the property; d) assistance under the Convention has been requested for the property; the Committee is of the view that its assistance in certain cases may most effectively be limited to messages of its concern, including the message sent by inscription of a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and that such assistance may be requested by any Committee member or the Secretariat. Criteria for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 178. A World Heritage property - as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention - can be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by the Committee when it finds that the condition of the property corresponds to at least one of the criteria in either of the two cases described below. 179. In the case of cultural properties : a) ASCERTAINED DANGER - The property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger, such as: i) serious deterioration of materials; ii) serious deterioration of structure and/or ornamental features; iii) serious deterioration of architectural or town-planning coherence; iv) serious deterioration of urban or rural space, or the natural environment; v) significant loss of historical authenticity; vi) important loss of cultural significance. b) POTENTIAL DANGER - The property is faced with threats which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics. Such threats are, for example: i) modification of juridical status of the property diminishing the degree of its protection; ii) lack of conservation policy; iii) threatening effects of regional planning projects; iv) threatening effects of town planning; v) outbreak or threat of armed conflict; vi) threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors 180. In the case of natural properties : [Decision 39 COM 11] a) ASCERTAINED DANGER The property is faced with specific and proven imminent danger, such as: i) A serious decline in the population of the endangered species or the other species of Outstanding Universal Value for which the property was legally established to protect, either by natural factors such as disease or by human-made factors such as poaching. ii) Severe deterioration of the natural beauty or scientific value of the property, as by human settlement, construction of reservoirs which flood important parts of the property, industrial and agricultural development including use of pesticides and fertilizers, major public works, mining, pollution, logging, firewood collection, etc. iii) Human encroachment on boundaries or in upstream areas which threaten the integrity of the property. b) POTENTIAL DANGER The property is faced with major threats which could have deleterious effects on its inherent characteristics. Such threats are, for example: i) a modification of the legal protective status of the area; ii) planned resettlement or development projects within the property or so situated that the impacts threaten the property; iii) outbreak or threat of armed conflict; iv) the management plan or management system is lacking or inadequate, or not fully implemented. v) threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors. 181. In addition, the threats and/or their detrimental impacts on the integrity of the property must be those which are amenable to correction by human action. In the case of cultural properties, both natural factors and human-made factors may be threatening, while in the case of natural properties, most threats will be human-made and only very rarely a natural factor (such as an epidemic disease) will threaten the integrity of the property. In some cases, the threats and/or their detrimental impacts on the integrity of the property may be corrected by administrative or legislative action, such as the cancelling of a major public works project or the improvement of legal status. [Decision 39 COM 11] 182. The Committee may wish to bear in mind the following supplementary factors when considering the inclusion of a cultural or natural property in the List of World Heritage in Danger: a) Decisions which affect World Heritage properties are taken by Governments after balancing all factors. The advice of the World Heritage Committee can often be decisive if it can be given before the property becomes threatened. b) Particularly in the case of ascertained danger, the physical or cultural deteriorations to which a property has been subjected should be judged according to the intensity of its effects and analyzed case by case. c) Above all, in the case of potential danger to a property, one should consider that: i) the threat should be appraised according to the normal evolution of the social and economic framework in which the property is situated; ii) it is often impossible to assess certain threats such as the threat of armed conflict as to their effect on cultural or natural properties; iii) some threats are not imminent in nature, but can only be anticipated, such as demographic growth. d) Finally, in its appraisal, the Committee should take into account any cause of unknown or unexpected origin which endangers a cultural or natural property. Procedure for the inscription of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 183. When considering the inscription of a property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the Committee shall develop, and adopt, as far as possible, in consultation with the State Party concerned, a “Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger”, and a programme for corrective measures. 184. In order to develop the programme of corrective measures referred to in the previous paragraph, the Committee shall request the Secretariat to ascertain, as far as possible in cooperation with the State Party concerned, the present condition of the property, the dangers to the property and the feasibility of undertaking corrective measures. The Committee may further decide to send a Reactive Monitoring mission from the relevant Advisory Bodies or other organizations to visit the property, evaluate the nature and extent of the threats and propose the measures to be taken. In some circumstances, the State Party may wish to invite an Advisory mission to provide advice and guidance. [Decision 39 COM 11] 185. The information received, together with the comments as appropriate of the State Party and the relevant Advisory Bodies or other organizations, will be brought to the attention of the Committee by the Secretariat. 186. The Committee shall examine the information available and take a decision concerning the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Any such decision shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds of the Committee members present and voting. The Committee will then define the programme of corrective action to be taken. This programme will be proposed to the State Party concerned for immediate implementation. 187. The State Party concerned shall be informed of the Committee's decision and public notice of the decision shall immediately be issued by the Committee, in accordance with Article 11.4 of the Convention . 188. The Secretariat publishes the updated List of World Heritage in Danger in printed form and is also available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/danger 189. The Committee shall allocate a specific, significant portion of the World Heritage Fund to financing of possible assistance to World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Regular review of the state of conservation of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger 190. The Committee shall review annually the state of conservation of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. This review shall include such monitoring procedures and expert missions as might be determined necessary by the Committee. 191. On the basis of these regular reviews, the Committee shall decide, in consultation with the State Party concerned, whether: a) additional measures are required to conserve the property; b) to delete the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger if the property is no longer under threat; c) to consider the deletion of the property from both the List of World Heritage in Danger and the World Heritage List if the property has deteriorated to the extent that it has lost those characteristics which determined its inscription on the World Heritage List, in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraphs 192-198. Chapter IV.C Procedure for the eventual deletion of properties from the World Heritage List 192. The Committee adopted the following procedure for the deletion of properties from the World Heritage List in cases: [Decision 39 COM 11] a) where the property has deteriorated to the extent that it has lost those characteristics which determined its inclusion in the World Heritage List; and b) where the intrinsic qualities of a World Heritage property were already threatened at the time of its nomination by human action and where the necessary corrective measures as outlined by the State Party at the time, have not been taken within the time proposed (see paragraph 116). 193. When a property inscribed on the World Heritage List has seriously deteriorated, or when the necessary corrective measures have not been taken within the time proposed, the State Party on whose territory the property is situated should so inform the Secretariat. 194. When the Secretariat receives such information from a source other than the State Paily concerned, it will, as far as possible, verily the source and the contents of the information in consultation with the State Paily concerned and request its comments. 195. The Secretariat will request the relevant Advisory Bodies to forward comments on the information received. 196. The Committee will examine all the information available and will take a decision. Any such decision shall, in accordance with Article 13 (8) of the Convention , be taken by a majority of two-thirds of its members present and voting. The Committee shall not decide to delete any property unless the State Party has been consulted on the question. 197. The State Party shall be informed of the Committee's decision and public notice of this decision shall be immediately given by the Committee. 198. If the Committee's decision entails any modification to the World Heritage List, this modification will be reflected in the next updated List that is published.

Chapter V.A Objectives 199. States Parties are requested to submit reports to the UNESCO General Conference through the World Heritage Committee, on the legislative and administrative provisions they have adopted and other actions which they have taken for the application of the Convention , including the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties located on their territories. [Article 29 of the World Heritage Convention and Resolutions of the 11th session of the General Assembly of States Parties (1997) and the 29th session of the UNESCO General Conference.] 200. Periodic Reporting is a self-reporting process and should be led as far as possible by the States Parties in each region. The Secretariat coordinates and facilitates the Periodic Reporting Process at the global level. States Parties may request expert advice from the Advisory Bodies and the Secretariat, which may also (with agreement of the States Parties concerned) commission further expert advice. [Decision 41 COM 11] 201. Periodic Reporting serves four main purposes: a) to provide an assessment of the application of the World Heritage Convention by the State Party; b) to provide an assessment as to whether the Outstanding Universal Value of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List is being maintained over time; c) to provide up-dated information about the World Heritage properties to record the changing circumstances and state of conservation of the properties; d) to provide a mechanism for regional cooperation and exchange of information and experiences between States Parties concerning the implementation of the Convention and World Heritage conservation. 202. Periodic Reporting is important for more effective long term conservation of the properties inscribed, as well as to strengthen the credibility of the Decision 41 COM 11 implementation of the Convention . It is also an important tool for assessing the implementation by States Parties and World Heritage properties of policies adopted by the World Heritage Committee and the General Assembly. [Decision 41 COM 11] Chapter V.B Procedure and format 203. Every six years, States Parties submit periodic reports for examination by the World Heritage Committee. During the six-year Periodic Reporting cycle, States Parties report region by region in the following order: [Decision 22 COM VI.7] [Decision 41 COM 11] Arab States Africa Asia and the Pacific Latin America and the Caribbean Europe and North America 204. The sixth year of each cycle is a period for reflection and evaluation. This pause allows the Periodic Reporting mechanism to be assessed and revised as appropriate before a new cycle is initiated. The World Heritage Committee may also decide to use the reflection to initiate the development and publication of a Global World Heritage Report. [Decision 41 COM 11] 205. At appropriate intervals, and whenever deemed necessary, the World Heritage Committee adopts and revises Monitoring Indicators and an Analytical Framework for Periodic Reporting. 205bis. The Periodic Reporting process is used as an opportunity for regional exchange and cooperation and to enhance active coordination and synchronization between States Parties, particularly in the case of transboundary and transnational properties. [Decision 41 COM 11] 206. The Periodic Reporting questionnaire is an online tool to be completed by the respective National Focal Points and Site Managers of the World Heritage properties, as appropriate. [The format of this questionnaire was reviewed further to the second cycle of Periodic Reporting and was adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017).] [Decision 41 COM 10A] a) Section I refers to the legislative and administrative provisions which the State Party has adopted and other actions which it has taken for the application of the Convention , together with details of the experience acquired in this field. This particularly concerns the general obligations defined in specific articles of the Convention . b) Section II refers to the state of conservation of specific World Heritage properties located on the territory of the State Party concerned. This Section should be completed for each World Heritage property. 206bis. The Periodic Reporting format may be reviewed following each cycle of Periodic Reporting. An outline of the format is contained in Annex 7 to the Operational Guidelines . [Decision 41 COM 11] 207. In order to facilitate management and analysis of information, States Parties are requested to submit reports, in English or French, using the online tool provided on the website of the World Heritage Centre. The online tool of the full questionnaire can be accessed here: https://whc.unesco.org/en/periodicreporting/ [Decision 41 COM 11] Chapter V.C Evaluation and follow up 208. The Secretariat and the Advisory Bodies facilitate the States Parties to consolidate national reports into Regional State of the World Heritage reports, which are available in electronic format at https://whc.unesco.org/en/publications and in paper version (World Heritage Paper series). [Decision 41 COM 11] 209. The World Heritage Committee carefully reviews issues raised in Periodic Reports and advises the States Parties of the regions concerned on matters arising from them. 210. States Parties, working in partnership with the Secretariat and the Advisory Bodies, develop long-term regional follow-up programmes structured according to the Committee's Strategic Objectives and submit them for examination. These programmes are adopted as follow-up to Periodic Reports and regularly reviewed by the Committee based on the needs of States Parties identified in Periodic Reports. They should accurately reflect the needs of World Heritage in the region and facilitate the granting of International Assistance. [Decision 36 COM 13.I] [Decision 41 COM 11]

212. The Committee seeks to develop capacity building within the States Parties in conformity with its Strategic Objectives and the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy adopted by the Committee. [Budapest Declaration on World Heritage (2002)] [Decision 43 COM 11A] The World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy 213. Recognizing the high level of skills and multidisciplinary approach necessary for the protection, conservation, and presentation of the World Heritage, the Committee has adopted the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy. The definition of capacity building identifies three broad areas where capacities reside and for which audiences for capacity building need targeting: practitioners, institutions, and communities and networks. The World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy provides a framework of action, and orients actors at the international, regional, or national levels to create regional and national capacity building strategies in addition to individual capacity building activities. The actions can be taken up by the many actors who currently provide or could provide capacity building activities for the benefit of World Heritage. The primary goal of the Capacity Building Strategy is to ensure that necessary skills are developed by a wide range of actors for better implementation of the Convention . In order to avoid overlap and effectively implement the Strategy, the Committee will ensure links to other initiatives such as the Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage List and Periodic Reporting. The Committee will annually review relevant capacity building issues, assess capacity building needs, review annual reports on capacity building initiatives, and make recommendations for future capacity building initiatives. [World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011) (see Document WHC11/35.COM/9B).] [Decision 43 COM 11A] National capacity building strategies and regional co-operation 214. States Parties are encouraged to ensure that there is a gender-balanced representation of their professionals and specialists at all levels and that they are adequately trained. To this end, States Parties are encouraged to develop national capacity building strategies and include regional cooperation for training as part of their strategies. Development of such regional and national strategies can be assisted by the Advisory Bodies and the various UNESCO Category 2 Centres related to World Heritage, taking into consideration the World Heritage Capacity Building Strategy. [Decision 43 COM 11A] 214bis. States Parties are encouraged to develop educational and capacity building programmes that harness the reciprocal benefits of the Convention for heritage and society. The programmes may be based on innovation and local entrepreneurship, and aimed in particular at medium/small/micro scale levels, to promote sustainable and inclusive economic benefits for local communities and indigenous peoples and to identify and promote opportunities for public and private investment in sustainable development projects, including those that promote use of local materials and resources and foster local cultural and creative industries and safeguarding intangible heritage associated with World Heritage properties. [Decision 43 COM 11A] Research 215. The Committee develops and coordinates international cooperation in the area of research needed for the effective implementation of the Convention . States Parties are also encouraged to make resources available to undertake research, since knowledge and understanding are fundamental to the identification, management, and monitoring of World Heritage properties. States Parties are encouraged to support scientific studies and research methodologies, including traditional and indigenous knowledge held by local communities and indigenous peoples, with all necessary consent. Such studies and research are aimed at demonstrating the contribution that the conservation and management of World Heritage properties, their buffer zones and wider setting make to sustainable development, such as in conflict prevention and resolution, including, where relevant, by drawing on traditional ways of dispute resolution that may exist within communities. [Decision 43 COM 11A] International Assistance 216. Training and Research Assistance may be requested by States Parties from the World Heritage Fund (see Chapter VII).

Awareness-raising 217. States Parties are encouraged to raise awareness of the need to preserve World Heritage in their own countries. In particular, they should ensure that World Heritage status is adequately marked and promoted on-site. 218. The Secretariat provides assistance to States Parties in developing activities aimed at raising public awareness of the Convention and informing the public of the dangers threatening World Heritage. The Secretariat advises States Parties regarding the preparation and implementation of on-site promotional and educational projects to be funded through International Assistance. The Advisory Bodies and appropriate State agencies may also be solicited to provide advice on such projects. Education 219. The World Heritage Committee encourages and supports the development of educational materials, activities and programmes. International Assistance 220. States Parties are encouraged to develop quality educational activities related to World Heritage through a variety of learning environments tailored to each audience with, wherever possible, the participation of schools, universities, museums and other local and national educational authorities. [Article 27(1) of the World Heritage Convention] [Decision 43 COM 11A] 221. The Secretariat, in cooperation with the UNESCO Education Sector and other partners, produces and publishes a World Heritage Educational Resource Kit, “World Heritage in Young Hands”, for use in secondary schools around the world. The Kit is adaptable for use at other educational levels. [“World Heritage in Young Hands” is available at ucation/ https://whc.unesco.org/en/whed ucation/ ] 222. International Assistance may be requested by States Parties from the World Heritage Fund for the purpose of developing and implementing awarenessraising and educational activities or programmes (see Chapter VII).

The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly, take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems, as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species, in the Convention area . To this end, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish protected areas. The establishment of such areas shall not affect the rights of other Contracting Parties and third States. In addition, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information concerning the administration and management of such areas.

Each Contracting Party shall periodically exchange with the other Contracting Parties up-to-date information relating to its implementation of this Protocol, including the identity of the authorities responsible for such implementation, and information on their laws, regulations, institutions and operational procedures relating to the prevention of oil spill incidents and to the means of reducing and combating the harmful effects of oil spills.

the provision of information on protected areas and protected species, including migratory species.