UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Statistics for periodic reporting Simon Ellis

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS What’s it for? l Outstanding Universal Value? l Management process? è Risk/threat è Resources l Future plans? l All of the above!!

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS What can we expect? l From site managers è EU/NA everything?, other regions much less?? l Statistics or qualitative info? l Resources è database design > data entry > extraction > publishing > long term maintenance è Training; glossaries, technical assistance, capacity building

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Fundamental principles of statistics l Minimise the collection burden on countries è Fitness for purpose è Do not duplicate collection of the same information è Only collect what is needed and use all that is collected

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Iceberg or Pyramid? l Site level è Management effectiveness l National level è Management effectiveness è Publication è Prioritisation è Identify best practice l Regional level è Publications and reviews è Prioritisation è Identify best practice l Global level è Universal value è Prioritisation l Evidence based policy

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Response rates ~ local co-operation l Less than 60% of countries reported whether they had involved local authorities or communities l In Arab States less than 40%

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Low response rates ~ some reasons l Design issues; use of colour l Capacity; resources, technical skills l Results not used l Understanding; language, concepts l Number of open questions; length of time/thought required l Other work; relevance, priority

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS The questionnaires l Too many questions è often open-ended, no time to process = not used è Duplication, inconsistency è Flow and routing l Complex notes l Translation/adaptation issues l Too many questions about uncertain future l For each question ask for all regions è Is this often filled in? Are answers clear? è Is the data used in publications and reports? è Are answers/non-response followed up? l Use and feedback l Periodicity; to what extent is structure fixed for whole reporting cycle? Regional cycle = reduced comparability

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS A new strategy l At international level put resources into improving response rates in a smaller set of ‘core’ data l Review questionnaire design consider mixed instruments è Data sheet è Structured questionnaire (matrix, yes/no) è Interview (qualitative data) è Inventory (facilities) l Leave detailed interpretation to national (and regional?) levels

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS A core data set (all types of site) Absolute minimum l Site ref no l Staff numbers l Area covered by designation l Population in smallest surrounding administrative community Other possibilities less likely to be available l Annual visitor numbers l Budget for on-site activities l Scientific/research publications

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Purpose of indicators l To provide a broad brush picture of trends and patterns of distribution l To inform policy decisions l To suggest areas for further investigation/research

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Indicators l Designation issues l Financial resources è GDP l Human resources è Staff l State of Conservation l Survey problems mean only first category can currently be assessed

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Designation ~ number of sites by type and region

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Designation ~ mountain sites by criteria, nos of sites

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Finance l Budget in relation to national GDP l % of national budget allocated to cultural and natural heritage l % of site budget expenditure allocated to conservation l % of ticket revenue allocated to site where available

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Sites at risk in relation to GDP

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Human resources ~ what level of detail? l Headcount or full time equivalent l Trained personnel è Cannot judge the quality of the course è Training v. years of experience l Duties are they distinct roles è Conservation, guide,

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Potential HR indicators Human resources l Percentage of staff allocated to conservation, preservation l Numbers of staff related to numbers of tourists l Numbers of staff in relation to local population

UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS State of Conservation l Measures in relation to key thresholds – visitors, acidity l Regular maintenance – budget, staff time l Measures of annual change – change in average annual rainfall (acidity?), changes in numbers of species etc.