03 July 2018
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Calls for the Protection of Socotra archipelago, a WHC site
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) has called for the safeguard of Yemen’s World Heritage List site of Socotra archipelago during the 42nd World Heritage Committee session, held and Chaired by Bahrain at UNESCO Village at the vicinity of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Manama.
Following IUCN’s advice, the World Heritage Committee has urged Yemen to halt any activity that may negatively impact on the unique wildlife and landscapes of the Socotra Archipelago World Heritage site. The country has been requested to urgently facilitate an IUCN-UNESCO mission to the site to assess impacts from uncontrolled developments, unsustainable fish export and the introduction of non-native species. If the mission finds that the site is at risk of losing its exceptional natural values – which include plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet – the site could be considered for the List of World Heritage in Danger next year.
Mr. Peter Shadie, IUCN Senior Adviser for World Heritage, said “The Socotra Archipelago faces a long list of challenges which threaten the site’s unspoiled nature and iconic species as well as the lives of local communities who depend on them,”, “IUCN stands ready to work in partnership with the authorities and the many stakeholders on the ground to urgently address these threats and help shape a future that balances conservation and development within the site.”
Often described as the ‘most alien-looking place on Earth’ or ‘the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean’, Socotra Archipelago hosts exceptional biodiversity on land and sea, such as the “Vulnerable dragon’s Blood Tree” and rare coral hybrids. But threats to its fragile ecosystem have multiplied due to the cumulative impacts from two cyclones in 2015 and environmentally damaging activities that have since proliferated in the site.
According to information examined by IUCN, together with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, uncontrolled developments such as leisure resorts are damaging coral reefs and turtle nesting beaches. Newly re-opened fish export facilities are putting pressure on traditional fisheries and making fish unaffordable to local people. The archipelago’s ecosystem is also disrupted by invasive alien species – the number-one threat to all natural World Heritage sites, according to the independent IUCN World Heritage Outlook assessment. These species have been introduced into Socotra by uninspected cargoes and exotic vegetation planted on roadsides. Due to its remoteness, Socotra has so far escaped civil conflict affecting other parts of Yemen. However, it has become increasingly isolated due to difficult access, especially after two cyclones destroyed villages, roads, trees, electricity and water facilities in 2015. The cyclone Mekunu, which hit Socotra in May 2018, has caused further damage and loss of life.
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage ( ARC_WH), Manama, deploys strenuous efforts to protect and safeguard the Socotra archipelago, a World Heritage Site, through a very efficient TABE'A Program, a IUCN’s Natural World Heritage Programme for the Arab States, in cooperation with IUCN.
The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARCWH) had also previously organized at its office in Manama a meeting to discuss and develop an emergency response plan for Socotra archipelago, Yemen after 2015 cyclone. In 2016, an experts meeting was also held at the ARC_WH headquarters to discuss the best TABEA strategic plans to protect the Socotra archipelago site. In addition, the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) launched June 2017 TABE'A II Report - enhancing regional capacities for World Heritage, and to meet the specific needs of states, stakeholders and sites within the region and ensure World Heritage contribution to IUCN's wider regional programme and the Regional Centre's strategy. The workshop was attended by 6 heritage experts working on the development and rehabilitation of heritage lovers’ capacity building in the Yemeni archipelago. The Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC_WH) will host 17th the International Soqotra Conference and Annual.General Meeting of the Friends of Soqotra, to be held from 25-28 October 2018 in Manama. The conference will gather talented experts interested to discuss scientific researches undertaken with regard to the Yemeni site and the latest safeguard efforts deployed to protect Socotra world heritage list site.
