THE DOLOMITES THE WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE LIST UNESCO Nomination of the Dolomites for inscription on the World Natural Heritage List UNESCO Odle / Geisler O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-manfathomed. Hold them cheap May who ne’er hung there 2 G.M. Hopkins (1844 - 1889) Nomination of the Dolomites for inscription on the World Natural Heritage List UNESCO THE TENTATIVE LIST AND THE NOMINATION OF THE DOLOMITES This Nomination Document is the answer to the Decision to defer the previous nomination of the Dolomites (2005) expressed by the World Heritage Commit- tee during the Thirty-first Session Christchurch, New Zealand (23 June – 2 July 2007). In detail, the World Heritage Committee having examined Documents WHC-07/31. COM/8B and WHC-07/31.COM/INF.8B.2, defers the examination of the nomina- tion of The Dolomites, Italy, to the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (vii) and (viii). As outlined in the document licensed by the Word Heritage Committee at the end of the 29th session held in Durban, South Africa, in July 2005, Italy has proposed the Dolomites as one of the sites deserving consideration for a possible future nomination as a site of outstanding universal value. The request was included in annex 1 of the Tentative List dated march 31st 2005, whereas the denomination ‘Dolomites’ is defined in annex 2 “Tentative List Sub- mission in accordance with decision 27 Com 8a” and annex 3 (Properties ac- cepted as meeting the requirements for Tentative List), within the scope of the broader denomination ‘Alps’, which also includes a) Western Alps and c) Eastern Alps, under the category ‘Natural Sites’. This is in complete compliance with the procedure specified by article 64 of the UNESCO Convention, which stipulates that the nomination proper must be pre- ceded by the compilation of a Tentative List constituting the “inventory of the sites that each country deems appropriate for inscription in the World Heritage List”. States are therefore required to include in their respective Tentative Lists the names of all sites they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstand- ing universal value. The Inter-ministerial permanent work group for the World Heritage List UNESCO, set up through collaboration between the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Ministry of Cultural Heritages and Activities) and the Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare (Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea), has acted effectively in this spirit. Indeed, the two ministries have already been considering nominating the Alpine Region as a serial cross-border site for some time. The nomination documented in this dossier is the result of the work of the two ministries and the substantial efforts of five provincial authorities in the North- East of Italy. 3 ... Imagine mountains which have the shape of gothic cathedrals, castles in ruins, belfries, immense walls, high towers, steeples and pinnacles, pietrified thunder- bolts. Mountains made of rocks which change their color as the day goes on: sun- rise, morning, noon, sunset, evening, night... they could be white like the snow, yellow like the sun, gray like the clouds, pink like a rose, black like a burnt wood, red like the blood... Which is the color of the Dolomites? Is it white? yellow? gray? pearly? Is it the color of the ash? Is it the reflex of silver? Is it the paleness of the dead? Is it the shade of the roses? Are they rocks or clouds? They are real or they are dream? Dino Buzzati (1906/1972) Nomination of the Dolomites for inscription on the World Natural Heritage List UNESCO THE DOLOMITES ARE SPECIAL AND BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS The Dolomites are nominated as a serial property since they appear as an organic whole even though they have a complex structure both from the geographical/ Provincia di Belluno landscape and the geological/geomorphological point of view. In fact the different systems make up a composition of evidence and landscape peculiarities, inter- linked by a network of genetic and aesthetic relationships. This Nomination Document proposes that the unique landscape of the Dolomites be recognized through the award of World Heritage Site status, in particular be- Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano-Alto Adige Autonome Provinz cause of their universal importance for the Earth Sciences (the Dolomites are one Bozen-Südtirol of the historical locations for the origin of Heart Sciences) and for their oustanding natural beauty and aesthetic importance. The achievement of long-term protection and positive management for the nomi- nated Site is a central concern of the proposal. Work towards this nomination has taken several years of active local, national and international consultation, and the Provincia principles and priorities for management have been established through thorough di Pordenone debate. A management framework has been prepared to accompany this nomi- nation, which points up the common engagement of the local Administrations and outlines the future management of the nominated area. The Provincia di Belluno, part of the Regione Veneto, the Provincia di Pordenone and the Provincia di Udine, included in the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia- Provincia Giulia, the Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige / Autonome Provinz Bozen- Autonoma di Trento Südtirol and the Provincia Autonoma di Trento have prepared this nomination, with the scientific contribution, assistance and advice of distinguished professors, many people and institutions. We believe that World Heritage Site status would provide an important contribution to the long-term conservation of the Dolomites and it would ensure that its earth science interests and its outstanding beauty are Provincia properly recognized. We are fully committed to working together to support the di Udine protection and public understanding of these superb mountains, in partnership with the many organisations and individuals who own, manage, visit and value it. We are delighted, therefore, to commend this nomination to the World Heritage Regione Autonoma Committee of UNESCO. Friuli Venezia Giulia 5 NOMINATION OF THE DOLOMITES FOR INSCRIPTION ON THE WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE LIST UNESCO NOMINATION DOCUMENT PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO PROVINCIA AUTONOMA DI BOLZANO – BOZEN PROVINCIA DI PORDENONE PROVINCIA AUTONOMA DI TRENTO PROVINCIA DI UDINE This document has been prepared by: scientific advice prof. Piero Gianolla, geology (coordinator) prof. Mario Panizza, geomorphology arch. Cesare Micheletti, landscape and aesthetics prof. Franco Viola, ecology scientific contribution prof. Alfonso Bosellini prof. Marco Stefani scientific collaboration prof. Alberto Carton (geomorphology, Brenta Dolomites) prof. Mauro Soldati (landslides) prof. Renato Posenato (paleontology) dott. Sandro Furlanis (quaternary geology) arch. Loredana Ponticelli (aesthetics and landscape) dott. Rachele Andreetta, Stefano Furin, dott. Alberto Riva (geological aspects, cartography) dott. Lorenz Keim, dott. Evelyn Kustascher (geology, Bolzano / Bozen area) dott. Marco Avanzini (geology, Trento area) dott. Cesare Lasen (flora) dott. Michele Cassol (fauna) technical collaboration dott. Viviana Valt (secretariat, coordination of the Nomination, Provincia di Belluno) dott. Franco Fiamoi, p.i Luigi Baldovin (geology, cartography, Provincia di Belluno) arch. Paola Agostini (land planning, Provincia di Belluno) dott. Serena Marcolin, p.a. Daniele Zucchiatti (geology, cartography, Provincia di Pordenone) dott. Gabriele Peressi (geology, cartography, Provincia di Udine) dott. Artur Kammerer, dott. Renato Sascor (parks, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano / Autonome Provinz Bozen) dott. Giorgio Zampedri, Federica Boratti, Giangaspare Fucarino (geology, cartography, Provincia Autonoma di Trento) arch. Enrico Ferrari, arch. Angiola Turella (landscape and land planning, Provincia Autonoma di Trento) dott. Ilaria Viola, dott. Angelo Carriero (forests, Provincia Autonoma di Trento) dott. Lucia Fenti (communication, Provincia di Belluno) dott. Fausta Slanzi (communication, Provincia Autonoma di Trento) dott. Martina Dal Pont, dott. Emma Pierobon (Statute of the UNESCO Dolomites Committee, Provincia di Belluno) dott. Stephan Beikircher (Statute of the UNESCO Dolomites Committee, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano / Autonome Provinz Bozen) dott. Michele Da Pozzo, dott. Gianni Poloniato (parks, local experts, Provincia di Belluno) dott. Claudio Ferrari, dott. Ettore Sartori (parks, Provincia Autonoma di Trento) translation The Office Clare Littlewood (aesthetics and landscape) Giovanni Tosatti (geomorphology) graphic design 8 Artimedia Nomination of the Dolomites for inscription on the Summary World Natural Heritage List UNESCO 1. Identification of the Property 1.a Country (and State Party if different) 1.b State, Province or Region 1.c Name of Property 1.d Geographical coordinates to the nearest second 1.e Maps and plans, showing the boundaries of the nominated property and buffer zone 1.f Area of nominated property (ha.) and proposed buffer zone (ha.) 2. Description 2.a Description of Property 2.b History and Development 3. Justification for Inscription 3.a Criteria under which inscription is proposed (and justification for inscription under these criteria) 3.b Proposed Statement of outstanding universal value 3.c Comparative analysis (including state of conservation of similar properties) 3.d Integrity and/or Authenticity. 4. State of Conservation and factors affecting the Property 4.a Present state of conservation 4.b Factors affecting the property (i)