Notification of new restoration and construction proposals
To ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property is fully preserved, any intention to undertake or to authorize in an area protected within the UNESCO boundaries and buffer zones under the Convention major restorations or new constructions shall be reported to the UNESCO World Heritage (OG para. 172).
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. Impact assessments for proposed interventions are essential for all World Heritage properties (OG para. 110).
Despite of the protection and conservation efforts and their legal regulation, the World Heritage properties and other heritage sites worldwide and in Uzbekistan are being harmed by human activities, as well as impacted by climate change, disasters and armed conflicts. Historic cities in Uzbekistan are particularly vulnerable due to rapid development and infrastructure projects, which are often implemented without the dueHeritage Impact Assessment (HIA)and proper mitigation measures. If a site loses the characteristics defined at the time of its inscription on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee may decide to include it on the List ofWorld Heritage in Danger.
Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA)
A HIA should provide the National or Local Authorities with enough information to understand the impact of the conservation/retsoration or new construction/development proposals on the significance of any heritage site affected. Follow the steps if you would like to know more about the HIA process. Following these steps do not guarantee that your project will be approved. The submission of inadequate or false information may lead to your applicationto be invalid.
Step 1 Participation - Who should be involved?
Before you start make sure you have the right participation. This group is includes interdiciplinary team of experts, stakeholders and the local community that will be benifited from this project.
Step 2 Screening - Do I need this assessment?
Following paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention , to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property is fully preserved, any intention to undertake or to authorize in an area protected within the UNESCO boundaries and buffer zones under the Convention major restorations or new constructions shall be reported to the UNESCO World Heritage (OG para. 172).
Check if your project is within or close by the UNESCO boundaries and buffer zones of the World Heritage property. Links to official maps of the boundaries and buffer zones can be found under each World Heritage property. If yes, you need a HIA go to Step 3.
Step 3 Scoping - Initial Evaluation
Carry out an initial evaluation by assessing the OUV of the World Heritage property, other values and type of impact that the project might have.
Find a team to carry out the assessment. This team is usually interdiciplinary and includes experts. Their selection depends whether it is a conservation/restoration or new construction project.
Step 4 Baseline Assessment
You need to understand the World Heritage property, its values and attributes based on the criteria when they were listed on the World Heritage List. This includes physical and intangible (processes) dimensions.
How, when and where the proposal could impact the sites.
Follow the selected Uzbek legal documents related to cultural and natural World Heritage and their management. Further information here.
Step 5 Understanding the Proposed Action
Understand the location and setting of the proposal. This includes all that is in its surrounding such as infrastructure facilities, power lines and access roads. So, a large area that might be affected should be mapped.
This step should also include all stages from construction, operation and closure of the project.
Step 6 Identifying and Predicting Potential Impacts
Do a systemtic cross-refence of positive an negative actions.
What could happen if the project takes place? Make scenarios.
Assess how the proposed project will interact with the attributes of the World Heritage property -> with or without the project.
Step 8 Mitigation and Enhacement -Should the project proceed?
Based on the results of Step 7 take a decision if the project needs to be:
avoided (restart the HIA process with an improved project)
minimized (work on mitigation strategies)
enhanced
Then go back to Step 5 and restart the process.
Step 9 Report
A report shall be prepare to be submitted to the Ministry of Culture. The report shall include all process of the HIA, as well as previous decisions.
Step 10 Review
The Ministry of Culture shall be sent to the World Heritage Centre the report. The WHC will send it to the Advisory Bodies the report for review. Currently there is no established timeline for the Advisory Bodies to returned their reports.
Step 11 Decision Making
The restoration or development can start once the Advisory Bodies agree with the project. The process will have to restart if there is a negative review until it gets approved.
Follow the selected Uzbek legal documents related to cultural and natural World Heritage and their management go here.
Examples of Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) are below:
Example 1 of HIA
Example HIA 1
Example 2 of HIA
Example HIA 2
Example 3 of HIA
Example HIA 3
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring and Reporting is a part of the World Heritage process. It includes the State of Conservation (SOC) and reporting any changes to the OUV. If you have a future project of conservation/restoration or new projects in a World Heritage property, you have to get permit before you start. See steps Notification of New Restoration and Construction Proposals below.
Reactive Monitoring
Reporting to the Committee on the state of conservation of specific World Heritage properties that are under threat (OG 169). Each year, the Committee examines state of conservation of reported properties.
Periodic Reporting
The state of conservation of all the properties is reported to the Committee every 6 years.
Top issues reported in state of conservation reports and periodic reports are:
Management system/plan
Housing
Impact of tourism/visitors
Legal framework
Ground transport infrastructure
New developments
In addition, based on the Operational Guidelines paragraph 172, any major restorations or new constructions should be notified to the the World Heritage Committee.
Previous reporting Cycles of Uzbekistan, as aprt of the Asia & Pacific Region were:
