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Resolution of the international workshop "Golden Mountains of Altai - Our Common Heritage"

July 3rd - 4th, 2013, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

1. Background and Organization

The international workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongolia and Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO with the support of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and WWF Mongolia. The workshop was attended by 32 participants - representatives of governmental agencies, scientific and non-governmental organizations from China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, representatives of UNESCO and IUCN.

The Russian Federation developed and submitted the nomination "Golden Mountains of Altai", which was inscribed as a natural serial property into the World Heritage List in 1998. Reaffirming the Outstanding Universal Value of the Altai Mountains, working in the framework of implementation of the World Heritage Convention, considering earlier technical meetings, taking into account recommendations of previous sessions of the World Heritage Committee and drawing on international experience regarding preparation of natural transboundary nominations, the participants discussed the extension of the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage property and agreed on the following:

2. Joint preparation of the transnational serial mixed property "Golden Mountains of Altai"

  • Delegations from Peoples Republic of China, Republic of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Russian Federation agreed to proceed together towards an extension of the current property. Under the same name the future property is expected to include additional components and buffer zones located in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and the Russian Federation and become a mixed transnational serial property. State Parties will consult with the World Heritage Center regarding the precise translation of the above name of the existing property.
  • The surface area the existing property of 1,611,457 ha will be significantly enlarged. In addition, buffer zones will be designated as required. This will consist in a major modification and therefore imply the preparation of a new nomination dossier. 

Each country prepared separate statements and proposal presenting their positions, proposals and the progress to date. The statements are attached to this documents as Annex 1.

3. Cooperation Structure

Participants agreed on establishing a  cooperation structure in order to develop the nomination and to finalize it  by  2016 at the latest. The structure will consist of the following elements:

Strategic steering group

Composition: 4 official representatives of the State Parties.

Role: coordinate the process at regional level, ensuring the involvement of the respective governments and appoint national focal points. Leadership will be shared between the countries on rotation basis.

National focal points:

They will be responsible to coordinate the process at national level and represent their countries in the regional process.

National working groups

Each country will establish a working group to develop proposals at the national level, including identification of components and buffer zones as appropriate. Experts will be identified in each country and be organized in regional ad-hoc working groups as needed (possible topics include biodiversity, cultural values, mapping etc). 

IUCN, ICOMOS, BfN and other relevant international partners will be invited to assist the process as appropriate.

Public participation and community involvement:

Each State Party will ensure proper consultations among local authorities, civil society and indigenous and local communities. 

Joint transnational management plan and management system:

The four States Parties will ensure preparation of an overall management plan and the establishment of a joint management structure for its implementation.

4. Road Map:

  • The State Parties will designate their representative to the strategic steering group and national focal points.
  • IUCN, ICOMOS and World Heritage Centre will each designate their contact persons. Deadline: mid-September 2013.
  • On a temporary basis the coordination will be ensured by WWF-Mongolia together with the following persons:

Country

Name

Position

Contacts

Russia

Ms. Elena Vikulova,

Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation,

vikulova_elena@mail.ru

Mr. Alexey Butorin

Natural Heritage Protection Fund

butorin@nhpfund.ru

Kazakhstan

Mr. Roman Jashenko

Member of National Commission RK on UNESCO and ISESCO , Chairman of MAB Committee

r.jashenko@inzool.kz

China

Ms. Zuo Xiaoping

National Park Division, Department of Urban Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development P. R. China

zuoxp@mail.cin.gov.cn

Mongolia

Ms. T. Erdenechimeg
Mr. B. Chimed-Ochir

Ministry of Environment and Green Development
WWF Mongolia

Erka1111@yahoo.de
chimed@wwf.panda.org

 

State Parties will identify an institution as a focal point for maps and GIS information as soon as possible.

Work plan:

The general aim is to finish the process by September 2015 in order to submit the joint nomination to the World Heritage Center by February 1st, 2016.

Note:

If a State Party is ready to submit its nomination earlier this can be done separately.

In order to meet above mentioned deadline the documentation at country level should be ready by the end of 2014. Regional coordination meeting is planned in September 2014, tentatively in Eastern Kazakhstan.

Joint transnational management plan should be prepared and management system established by September 2014.

Funding of the process:

Each state party is responsible for the development of nominations; support from donors will be sought to ensure highly professional nomination preparation.

Annex 1: Statements and proposals from the national delegations

Statement of the delegation from Kazakhstan:

Kazakhstan will develop nomination dossier of Kazakhstan part of site

  • Katon-Karagay SNP – 981 940 ha (criterion Х);
  • Markakol SNR – 304 161,7 ha (criterion Х);
  • West Altai SNR – 86 122 ha (criterion Х);
  • Historical-cultural museum “Berel” - 174 ha (criterion II).

Total area – 1,362,498 ha, which includes a core area with a total size of 812,754 ha and buffer zone with a total size of 539,646 ha.

Proposed procedure/steps:

  • Establishing an International Coordination Committee consist from representative of four countries for coordination of the process of development and submission of nomination dossier (now in Ulaanbaatar);
  • Inclusion of Kazakhstan part into tentative list (by 2013);
  • Development of nomination dossier by individual countries (by 2013 - 2014);
  • Integration of nomination dossiers into one joint nomination proposal for submission to UNESCO and development of the management mechanisms for the whole trans-boundary territory (by 2015). In case some country will not have developed nomination dossier – submission of the nomination proposal without this country;
  • Approval of the joint nomination and submission it to the UNESCO (January 2016).

Statement of the delegation from the Russian Federation:

  • Recognizing the Outstanding Universal Value of the Altai ecoregion, developed and submitted the nomination "Altai golden mountains" to World natural heritage in 1998;
  • Following encouragement of the 22nd Session of the World Heritage Committee to  extend Golden Mountains of Altai to neighboring countries, supports the initiative of neighboring countries to establish a serial transboundary / transnational property;
  • Highly appreciating the efforts of Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia in the preparatory work for a future serial nomination;
  • Calls upon the involved countries to establish an International Coordination Council with participation of federal and regional governmental institutions, as well as academic and non-governmental institutions in preparing a nomination for a future serial transboundary / transnational property of Golden Mountains of Altai;
  • The Russian Federation considers the possibility of adding Sailyugemskyi National Park to the existing property and of establishing buffer zones to the existing property;

Statement of the delegation from Mongolia:

The Mongolian delegation expresses its willingness to nominate Mongolian Altai as a mixed property to the World Heritage List as part of the collective efforts of four countries on extension of the existing property  “Golden Mountain of Altai”.

The proposed landscape reflects the following criteria: II (C), III (C), IY (C) and X (N)

The provisional size of the landscape to be inscribed encompasses the territory of .... ha, including following clusters including buffer zones: Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Siilkhemiin Nuruu National Park, Munkh Khairakhan, Myangan Ugalzat, Tsambgarav National Park, Achit Nur, Devlii Aral Nature Reserve, Chivertei Gol National Park, Khukhserkhiin Mountain Striktly Protected Area and Ongog National Park.

The inclusion into the Tentative List is planned to be achieved within the current year. Mongolian delegation proposes the joint  nomination by four states of a transboundary serial mixed property under a unified title “Golden Moutains of Altai”

Statement of  the delegation from China:

China is willing to support the extension of the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage property in the Russian Federation.

In 2010 China has included the China Altai on the World Heritage Tentative List. The China Altai comprises two distinct components: (1) Kanas National Natural Reserve and (2) Two Rivers’ Headwaters Nature Reserve of Altai. The total area of the property to be nominated is 341,700 ha, with 196,576 ha of buffer zone. The site is suggested under criteria (vii), (ix) and (x).

Next steps

  • We hope to develop a joint action plan by the 4 countries. Upon agreement, the joint action plan should be officially signed by the relevant authorities of the 4 countries.
  • Each country can implement this action plan according to its own needs and priorities.
  • We propose the organization of a meeting every year to share experiences, discuss common concerns and challenges. The meeting should be hosted by the 4 countries on a rotating basis.
  • Each country can nominate the site separately according to its own priorities and progress already made.
  • We propose the organization of joint expert meetings for managers and experts of various natural parks in the region under the guidance of IUCN.
  • We propose the establishment of a regional platform to exchange and share experiences on good practices in the management, monitoring and conservation of natural sites. Within this platform, a wide range of activities could be carried out including exchange visits.

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