Srebarna Nature Reserve
Factors affecting the property in 1995*
- Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
- Surface water pollution
- Water (extraction)
- Water infrastructure
- Other Threats:
Loss of biodiversity
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Upstream Iron Gates dam
- Deterioration of the water quality
- Impact of upstream pig farms
- Loss of biodiversity
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1995
Total amount approved : 33,000 USD
| 1994 | Purchase of equipment for the measurement and ... (Approved) | 19,000 USD |
| 1994 | Training workshop in Srebarna Nature Reserve (Approved) | 14,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1995**
1992: 2 IUCN missions
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1995
The site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 and placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. The Centre is continuously in contact with the Bulgarian authorities, and a report was presented on their restoration efforts at the last session of the Bureau. Two small-scale international assistance projects from the World Heritage Fund are presently under way at the site, as well as international assistance from other sources. The Centre is waiting a detailed report to be presented orally to the nineteenth session of the Bureau.
Action Required
In the absence of a detailed report, the Secretariat is not able to recommend any specific action to the Bureau at this point.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1995
A substantive state of conservation report, prepared by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Bulgaria, was examined by the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee at its nineteenth session. The report recalled the history of the site and the deterioration of the state of conservation, which led to the inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 and the Montreux List of the Ramsar Convention in 1993. The measures taken to restore the ecological integrity of the site were research studies and the construction of a channel and a monitoring programme to review the status of the Reserve since 1994. The hydraulic connection between the lake and the Danube River was reestablished and the water level has now risen by lm. Furthermore, it is indicated that the Dalmatian Pelican is continuing to nest in the site.
The Representative of IUCN informed the Bureau that they were awaiting a detailed monitoring report from the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and recalled that the previous Bureau felt that the site may no longer retain the values for which it was inscribed.
The Bureau took note of both the report received from the State Party and the comments made by IUCN and recommended that no decision could be taken until the monitoring report by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat is received. At the time of the preparation of this document, the report was not yet available, It will be presented to the session of the outgoing Bureau in December 1995.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1995
Depending on the content of the above-mentioned report the Bureau is requested to make a recommendation to the World Heritage Committee.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1995
19 BUR VI.20
Danger Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The Bureau recalled that the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 and placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. A report was presented by the State Party on their restoration efforts at the last session of the Bureau. Two small-scale international assistance projects from the World Heritage Fund are presently under way at the site, as well asinternational assistance from other sources. On 29 June 1995 the World Heritage Centre received a report prepared by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Bulgaria recalling the history of the site and the deterioration of the state of conservation, which led to the listing of the site both on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the Montreux List of the Ramsar Convention in 1993. The main results of the measures taken to restore the ecological integrity of the site were research studies and the construction of a channel and a monitoring programme to oversee the status of the Reserve since 1994. The hydraulic connection between the lake and the Danube River was reestablished and the water level is now raised by lm. Furthermore, it is indicated that the Dalmatian Pelican is continuing to nest in the site.
The Representative of IUCN underlined that they are awaiting a detailed monitoring report from the Ramsar Convention Secretariat and recalled that the previous Bureau felt that the site may no longer retain the values for which it was inscribed.
The Bureau took note of both the report received from the State Party and the comments made by IUCN and recommended that no decision can be taken until the monitoring report by the Ramsar Convention Secretariat is received. This report should be presented to the session of the outgoing Bureau in December 1995.
19 COM VII.A.1.3
SOC: Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
VII.3 Srebarna Nature Reserve (Bulgaria)
The committee recalled that the site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992 and that the Bureau at its nineteenth session examined a substantive state of conservation report, prepared by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Representative of IUCN informed the committee that a monitoring mission was undertaken by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention and a detailed monitoring report was prepared. This report indicates that the new water control structure allows an inflow of water on a small scale, and that a small colony of the Dalmatian Pelican had been reestablished. The integrity of the site, however, has not yet been adequately restored.
The Committee took note of the report received from the Ramsar Secretariat and the comments made by IUCN. The Delegate of France supported the report presented.
The Committee encouraged the Bulgarian authorities in their continuing efforts to restore the site, including increasing the water intake and the preparation of a management plan for the site. The Committee furthermore requested that a status report be presented in three years time. Meanwhile, the Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Bureau recommends the Committee to examine the information contained in the working document and the oral report provided by the Secretariat and the advisory body. The Bureau recommends the Committee to adopt the following:
"The Committee encouraged the Bulgarian authorities in their continuing efforts to restore the site, including increasing the water intake and the preparation of a management plan for the site. The Committee furthermore requested that a status report should be presented in three years time. Meanwhile, the Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger."
BulgariaDocuments examined by the Committee
19COM (1995)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
