Monitoring & reporting

Reactive Monitoring is the reporting by the World Heritage Centre, other sectors of UNESCO and the Advisory Bodies to the Committee (IUCN, ICOMOS and ICCROM) on the state of conservation of specific World Heritage properties that may be under threat. The Committee may seek reports on:

• Properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger;
• Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List for which state of conservation reports and/or reactive monitoring missions were requested by the World Heritage Committee at previous sessions;
• Properties which have come under threat since the last session of the World Heritage Committee and which require urgent actions in addition to the consultations and discussions which normally take place between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in order to address the threat;
• Properties for which, upon inscription on the World Heritage List, follow-up was requested by the World Heritage Committee.

In many cases, a report to the World Heritage Committee is not required, as issues are resolved through consultations and discussions with the State Party concerned, or through expert advice provided on a specific project. In some cases, States Parties decide to invite an advisory mission to review a specific issue potentially affecting the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. If a mission is conducted, a report containing recommendations will be prepared for the consideration of the relevant State Party and the World Heritage Committee.

An essential source of information for State of Conservation monitoring are the SOC reports submitted by the relevant States Parties on request of the World Heritage Committee (Paragraph 169 of the Operational Guidelines) or the World Heritage Centre.  This report is the opportunity for a State Party to bring all relevant information to the attention of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies. Annex 13 of the Operational Guidelines provides a format for State Party reports on the State of Conservation to the World Heritage Committee.

Under paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, States Parties are also invited to report on their intention to undertake or to authorise major restorations or new constructions in a World Heritage property which may affect its Outstanding Universal Value. This is so that the Committee may assist in seeking appropriate solutions to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is fully preserved.

Every six years, the States Parties are invited to submit to the World Heritage Committee a periodic report on the application of the World Heritage Convention, including the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties located on its territories. Guidance on this process is provided in Chapter 5 of the Operational Guidelines.

The aims of periodic reporting are to provide:

• an assessment of the application of the World Heritage Convention by the State Party;
• an assessment as to whether the World Heritage values of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List are being maintained over time;
• updated information about the World Heritage properties to record the changing circumstances and state of conservation of the properties;
• a mechanism for regional co-operation and exchange of information and experiences between States Parties concerning the implementation of the Convention and World Heritage conservation.

The process and history of periodic reporting is set out on the World Heritage Centre website:

• Periodic Reporting

From 2015-2017 there is a two year period of reflection on the previous cycle of periodic reporting. Key recommendations and the proposals for the Periodic Reporting process and questionnaire shall be discussed and adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.

• Reflection Period after the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting (2015-2017)

In addition, the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee prepare their own reports.

For cultural World Heritage properties, ICOMOS periodically prepares a Heritage At Risk report aiming to identify threatened heritage places, monuments and sites. The reports present typical case studies and trends, and share suggestions for solving threats.

• Heritage at Risk

In 2014 IUCN introduced their World Heritage Outlook report on the outlook for conservation of natural and mixed properties. It is intended that this Outlook report will be repeated every 3 years with updates possible at any time.

• IUCN World Heritage Outlook

Australia’s State Party reports on the State of Conservation of its World Heritage properties are available on the World Heritage Centre website in the documentation for the relevant World Heritage property.

The Australian World Heritage Focal Point within the Department of the Environment and Energy submits quarterly reports on development proposals relevant to Australian World Heritage properties.

Australia sits in the Asia and Pacific Region for World Heritage periodic reporting and this region is due to participate again in 2019. 

IUCN’s Outlook report drew on the example of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority which published its first Outlook report in 2009. The report compiles an assessment of the outlook of the values of the Great Barrier Reef based on the site monitoring and research and what management activities are in place to address issues. The most recent Outlook Report for the Great Barrier Reef was published five years later in 2014 providing comparable trend information and a foundation for State of Conservation reporting.

• Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report

In Australia, State of the Environment (SoE) reporting occurs at both the national and state/territory level. Some regional-scale reporting also occurs in many areas throughout Australia. Every five years the Australian Government conducts a comprehensive review of the state of the Australian environment.

National SoE reports provide information about environmental and heritage conditions, trends and pressures for the Australian continent, surrounding seas and Australia's external territories. In national SoE reports, Heritage includes listed heritage places and items as well as community heritage and places that are not formally protected.

• State of the Environment (SoE) reporting

A variety of different monitoring methodologies are used around Australia to cater for the different reporting requirements in the states and territories. Efforts are being made to share methodologies, increasingly in an online format.

The Australian Government on behalf of the Australian Heritage Council has commenced the development of a standardised monitoring methodology for heritage places. To minimise duplication, the methodology aims to be consistent with existing monitoring and reporting requirements for World Heritage properties. Managers of National Heritage places and World Heritage properties will continue to be involved in this process. Guidance on implementation will be provided on this page when the methodology has been developed. 

Australian experts have also made a significant contribution to the methodologies for assessing management effectiveness which is a key part of monitoring and adaptive management in World Heritage properties (see World Heritage Papers 23).

• Enhancing our Heritage Toolkit. Assessing management effectiveness of natural World Heritage sites (2008) World Heritage Papers 23

Parks Australia has thoroughly integrated management effectiveness into the new management plan for Kakadu National Park. Figure 15 on page 147 of the management plan outlines Parks Australia’s Management Effectiveness Framework. At the core of the Management Effectiveness Framework is adaptive management. Reviewing priorities and approaches based on new knowledge, outcomes and changing environments is essential in ensuring that Kakadu is well managed and the values of the park are maintained.

• Kakadu National Park Management Plan 2016-2026