Periodic Reporting and the Questionnaire

A preliminary analysis

Second Meeting of the Reflection Year on Periodic ReportingParis, 2-3 March 2006

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Insufficient planning at the start of the periodic reporting process:– How the data would be used – and hence

what data should be requested -- was not analyzed

– the time (and budget) necessary to examine each report was not considered

– no procedure was put in place to evaluate Section II reports against the original nomination dossiers

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Insufficient planning at the start of the periodic reporting process

• Poor institutional memory at all levels

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Insufficient planning at the start of the periodic reporting process:

• Poor institutional memory at all levels• Definition of Baseline data:

– Geographic identification– Criteria and statements of significance (SP proposed, Advisory

Body recommended; Committee decisions)– Legal protection– Management tools– Statistical indicators at the time of nomination

• Baseline data does not exist in any consistent, easily retrievable form for most World Heritage sites

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Insufficient planning at the start of the periodic reporting process:

• Poor institutional memory at all levels• Baseline data does not exist in any

consistent, easily retrievable form for most World Heritage sites

• No uniform approach was adopted by the Secretariat either to the questionnaire or to the analysis of the returns

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Pre-fill the questionnaire with data already

available in the Centre– Pre-fill the questionnaire with data provided in

Cycle 1– Section II questionnaire should include

provisions for serial, mixed, and transnational properties

– Most non-European States will need to complete the form in an off-line mode

20122006

Lines 126a – 127a

Some questions to consider in revising the questionnaire

Some questions to consider in revising the questionnaire

• How will the answers be used? By whom and for what purpose?

Some questions to consider in revising the questionnaire

• How will the answers be used? By whom and for what purpose?

• If statistical indicators are used, are the specific needs of each site being considered?

Some questions to consider in revising the questionnaire

• How will the answers be used? By whom and for what purpose?

• If statistical indicators are used, are the specific needs of each site being considered?

• What mechanism is being put in place to respond to requested changes in the status of the site? What is the timeframe envisaged and budget implications?

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Simplify the questionnaire

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Simplify the questionnaire– Make greater use of statistical indicators

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Simplify the questionnaire– Make greater use of statistical indicators – respond to questions raised in Cycle 1 before

beginning on Cycle 2

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Simplify the questionnaire– Make greater use of statistical indicators – respond to questions raised in Cycle 1 before

beginning on Cycle 2• requested changes to names. boundaries, criteria• new or revised statements of significance /

outstanding universal value

Summary: Retrospective Inventory – Berlin mtg

• Recommendations– Simplify the questionnaire– Make greater use of statistical indicators – respond to questions raised in Cycle 1 before

beginning on Cycle 2– put in place a process to address these

issues

Circular Letter N°1 (2006)