UNESCO Can Revoke World Heritage Site Status

Though it is rare, it has happened. On June 28, 2007 Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oryx is a kind of antelope) had its World Heritage status revoked. Oman had greatly reduced the size of the park and UNESCO decided this diminished the park’s value (source). UNESCO's reason for this being the Omani government's decision to open 90% of the site to oil prospecting.

In today's Telegram Bill Callahan writes that Gros Morne status could be reconsidered. That's very real.

According to UNESCO.org, "The World Heritage Committee deleted the property because of Oman's decision to reduce the size of the protected area by 90%, in contravention of the Operational Guidelines of the Convention. This was seen by the Committee as destroying the outstanding universal value of the site which was inscribed in 1994."

64 km of up to 600 feet wide of clear cutting through Gros Morne would hideously scar a key characteristic which qualified the park for World Heritage Site consideration in the first place, pristine beauty. UNESCO has already sent a message to developers not to tamper with such designated sites, but Gros Morne could be considered in the future to be removed from World Heritage Site status. Don't forget Mealy Mountains in Labrador. NALCOR's plans involves mauling part of that park as well.

In recent weeks this blog has posted a few graphical conceptions of how towers across our parks would look, and for a real eye opener, here's a St. John's version with wires and towers providing the icing on top. Transmission lines and steel towers don't mix well with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is transmitting the wrong message.

Quebec or Foreign Support of Transmission Line through Parks Would Increase Opposition Here

There has been some reported opposition to the idea of hydro transmission lines through two UNESCO World Heritage sites and national parks in Newfoundland and Labrador. That will hopefully grow, albeit slowly. If putting 40 metre high transmission lines through our magnificent parks happened to be something that say Quebec, or some foreign fishing offender openly supported, then there would be ten times as much opposition to the idea.

Here's an example: Today at CBC's NL site, at 11:45 a.m. there are 3 comments about NALCOR's plan to cut through Gros Morne & Mealy Mountains national parks, and so far, 143 comments about the Spanish trawler crew that was rescued. Not that there's anything wrong with asking questions about the quick fire and sinking of that trawler, in fact it's good to do just that.

When we feel we have been duped, mistreated or there has been an injustice, we react with emotion. How long might it take for a similar level of opposition to publicly surface regarding the proposed Lower Churchill transmission line through two of Newfoundland and Labrador's national treasures? There is no outside enemy driving this specific transmission line idea, it is being considered with the support of our provincial leader and energy corporation, NALCOR.

It would be a sorry sight to envision - driving through either park, and you want to stop to get a photo of a valley, or mountain range, but this eyesore of metal and wires ruins the idea of an 11 x 16 framed picture of that scene. A traveler might think, "how could they let this happen!"