Year of inscription on the World Heritage List

1996

Criteria

(vii) (viii) (ix) (x)

Previous Committee Decisions

30 COM 7B.18; 31 COM 7B.31; 32 COM 7B.24

International Assistance

Total amount provided to the property: USD 63,528 for Preparatory Assistance and Training

Previous monitoring missions

1998: World Heritage Centre monitoring mission; 2001: UNESCO / IUCN reactive monitoring mission; 2005: World Heritage Centre / IUCN reactive monitoring missions

Main threats identified in previous reports

• Lack of adequate management regime;
• Uncertain legal protection;
• Pollution;
• Illegal timber harvesting;
• Gas and oil pipeline project across the World Heritage property;
• Illegal construction on the Lake shore;
• Illegal sale of land;
• Tourism development.

Decision: 33 COM 7B.28

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7B,

Recalling Decision 32 COM 7B.24, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

Welcomes the measures taken by the State Party to strengthen the management of the property, to confirm the operating budget and to reduce locally-generated pollution in Lake Baikal, and in particular, to finalise the closed water system within the Baikalsk pulp and paper mill;

Notes with concern that measures to halt illegal constructions on the shores still appear to be ineffective, that ongoing problems of local pollution in the Baikal inshore water area persist and that the contents of heavy metals in the water of the Selenga River and its delta exceed the maximum allowed concentrations;

Requests the State Party to further enhance its efforts in relation to the conservation of the property, including the following actions:

1. Clarify the effectiveness and strengthen, if necessary, the legal provisions relevant to the protection of the property, including on the draft resolution 'On amendment of the list of categories of activities prohibited in central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory',
2. Rapidly establish enhanced town-planning and land-use regulations to prevent illegal development in the property, and increase its control over such development,
3. Develop and implement a comprehensive tourism strategy for the property,
4. Enhance the regulation and monitoring of pollution in Lake Baikal;

Also requests the State Party to provide detailed information on the proposal to lower the water level of the lake and its possible impact on the Outstanding Universal Value and integrity of the property;

Further requests the State Party to submit to the Word Heritage Centre by 1 February 2011, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property addressing the points above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.