UNESCO World Heritage Committee: "Expresses Concern" and Calls for a Halt to Huay Samong Dam

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In its 2011 annual meeting, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee requested Thailand to halt all construction on the Huay Samong Dam until the Committee had a chance to review the Environmental Impact Assessment. Thailand withdrew from the World Heritage Convention over a temple dispute.

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (Thailand)

The World Heritage Committee Decision 35 COM 7B.19

Having examined Document WHC-11/35.COM/7B,

  • Recalling its Decision 34 COM 7B.18, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),
  • Notes the State Party’s statement that it is conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment for the expansion of Highway 304, and expresses its concern over reports that highway expansion works are already underway;
  • Also expresses its concern about reports of escalating threats to the property’s Outstanding Universal Value from encroachment, the proposed Huay Samong Dam, cattle grazing, and ineffective management;
  • Urges the State Party to rapidly halt any ongoing encroachment and cattle grazing affecting the property, and requests that all construction work on the Huay Samong Dam be halted until the World Heritage Committee has had the opportunity to review a completed Environmental Impact Assessment and assess its potential impacts on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
  • Encourages the State Party to consider submitting a boundary modification request to the World Heritage Committee for Thap Lan National Park in order to better address forest conservation and encroachment issues in this area;
  • Also encourages the State Party to revise the property’s management approach, and to develop long-term management policies, as well as a comprehensive tourism management plan;
  • Invites the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to support this process, and further encourages the States Parties of Thailand and the United States of America to consider the sister-parks proposal as an opportunity to explore capacity building initiatives;
  • Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission to the property prior to its 36th session in 2012, in order to assess the potential impacts of encroachment, the Huay Samong Dam, cattle grazing, and the expansion of Highway 304 on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value, and to review its management and financial plans;
  • Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN monitoring mission to the property prior to its 36th session in 2012, in order to assess the potential impacts of encroachment, the Huay Samong Dam, cattle grazing, and the expansion of Highway 304 on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value, and to review its management and financial plans;
  • Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, including information on the status of the Highway 304 Environmental Impact Assessment and the Huay Samong Dam, the progress achieved in halting any large-scale encroachment and cattle grazing, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012. 

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