1. German Technical Cooperation strengthening World Heritage Sites

2. Government owned enterprise for international cooperation Supporting complex development and reform processes Contributing to global sustainable development Working in more than 130 countries in 2,750 projects and programmes German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) - a brief overview:

3. Priorities of German Technical Cooperation: Economic development Employment promotion Health and basic education Environmental protection Resource conservation Regional rural development

4. German Development Cooperation – Focusing Biodiversity Since 1985 German Development Cooperation has supported about 400 Biodiversity Projects Germany spends per year about 70 Mio EURO for Projects conserving biodiversity

5. Regional Distribution of Biodiversity Projects:

6. Funding Volume of Biodiversity Projects:

7. Strengthening the World Network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites GTZ Interventions since 1985 in 24 Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites

8. Main GTZ Activities: Assisting developing and transition countries to apply for World Heritage Sites Supporting partner countries to manage World Heritage Sites sustainably Financing feasability studies to establish World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves

9. We are working through: Conservation approaches integrating the needs of local people Sustainable land use planning and local economic development in the surroundings of protected areas Strengthening the national conservation structures and policies Developing long term financing mecanisms Etc.

10. Some examples:

11. Tai National Park Côte dIvoire World Heritage Site since 1982 GTZ/KfW support the National Parks Administration since 1992 mainly to –Improve park management –Develop tourism –Integrate local population in park management activities –Monitor the ecosystem of the park

12. Kahuzi-Biega National Park Democratic Republic of Congo World Heritage Site since 1980 GTZ supports the KBNP since 1985 with –Park infrastructure and management activities –Conflict management during and after the civil war –Habituation of eastern lowland gorillas for tourism –Local development in the buffer zone of the park

13. Banc dArguin National Park Mauritania World Heritage Site since 1989 GTZ supports the BANP since 2001 to: –Strengthen the parks administration –Involve the local population in development and tourism activities –Develop a long term finance system for the park

14. Manu National Park Peru World Heritage Site since 1982 GTZ supports the park since 1991 to: – Improve organisational capacities of the indigenous people in the park –Develop adapted tourism activities and infrastructure with the local population – Attract national and international tourist operators

15. Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve Honduras World Heritage Site since 1982 GTZ/KfW support the Rio Platano Reserve since1997 to: –Develop the legal and admin. framework for the park –Involve the local population in park management activities –Improve resource management in the surroundings of the park

16. Benefits and limitations of the Partnership between UNESCO and GTZ Synergetic effects between UNESCO and GTZ: –Strong lobbying influence of UNESCO on political level and coordinating capacities on international level –Broad stategic and technical experience of GTZ in managing protected areas and support zones in close collaboration with local population Limiting factor: Maintainng World Heritage Sites, esp. in developing countries needs adequate, secure, long-term financial resources