Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus
Factors affecting the property in 2012*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Vandalism
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2012
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2012**
January 2011: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2012
The World Heritage Committee has examined the state of conservation of this property at its 33rd, 34th and 35th sessions. In April 2009, ten rock art sites, in two of the main wadis, were vandalised with spray paint. The State Party submitted a report in February 2010 which summarised the significant damage that had occurred to some of the most well-known rock art paintings in the region. A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission took place in January 2011. As a result, a comprehensive condition assessment was developed and detailed methodologies for conservation and restoration were defined, including a 5-year action plan.
No report was submitted by the State Party in 2011 and in 2012, so the current situation of the property is unknown. It is also unknown whether the recent conflict has affected the property.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2012
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recommend to the Committee to express concern about the conservation and recovery of the vandalised sites and the general protection and management of the property. They note that current political conditions preclude the possibility to implement sustained measures to reverse the vandalism damage. They also note that ensuring long-term conservation and management will require considerable resources, time and capacity-building to develop adequate management and conservation structures. They call upon the international community to support, once conditions allow, the implementation of a multi-faceted conservation strategy for the property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2012
36 COM 7B.55
Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Libya) (C 287)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.54, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Encourages the State Party, once conditions allow, to implement the action plan and the recommendations made by the 2011 reactive monitoring mission;
4. Invites the State Party to consider submitting an International Assistance request for the implementation of priority measures and for the development of a multi-faceted conservation and management strategy for the property;
5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
Draft Decision: 36 COM 7B.55
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7B.54, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),
3. Encourages the State Party, once conditions allow, to implement the action plan and the recommendations made by the 2011 reactive monitoring mission;
4. Invites the State Party to consider submitting an International Assistance request for the implementation of priority measures and for the development of a multi-faceted conservation and management strategy for the property;
5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
Libya
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
