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State of Conservation (SOC)

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (2005)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from1983-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 51,083USD

2001   Preparation of the Management Plan for the Ruins of Kilwa ...   24,320  USD
1999   Purchase of radio calls and solar panels for World Heritage sites   9,713  USD
1996   Preparatory assistance for tentative list about Ruins of Kilwa ...   10,550  USD
1983   Preparation of a conservation and management plan for Kilwa ...   6,500  USD
Missions**

ICOMOS mission, 23 to 27 February 2004.

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

- Ruins damaged by sea erosion; collapsing monuments;

- lack of clear boundary of property and buffer zone; population pressure;

- no participation of community;

- unclear management systems leading to inactivity; old legal framework.

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The World Heritage Centre received in October 2004 from the French NGO Chantiers Histoire & Architectures Médiévales (CHAM), a report on their three-year semi permanent work programme at the Kilwa Kisiwani property. The programme for the restoration and enhancement of the property, with a view to develop tourism in the region, started in 2002, upon the request of the Tanzanian Ministry for Tourism and Natural Resources through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ’Priority Solidarity Fund’ (FSP). The programme is part of the joint partnership of Tanzania, Japan, France and UNESCO for the development of the Kilwa Kisiwani World Heritage property started in 2001 and amounting to US$ 1,438,000.

The World Heritage Centre noted that besides the work-training project, the programme activities for the development of the property and of tourism include: the establishment of a visitor centre and museum; the construction of boat jetties; conservation awareness events for the local population; reinforcing legislation to protect the monument; training site guides and a research programme.

The World Heritage Centre further noted that the global aims for the property’s development are: to stimulate sustainable development in the region through promoting tourism leading to job creation, improvements in services and infrastructures and a rise of local living standards; to preserve and present the archaeological, architectural and historic material; to improve visitor facilities, site interpretation and educational tools on the site and to increase and ensure wide-ranging diffusion of knowledge and research about the sites’ history. CHAM further aims to transmit technical know-how in the preservation and maintenance of historic monuments among the local population; to train the site manager and work supervisor (district officers), in technical, administrative and financial aspects for site management so that they can continue the work effectively after the termination of the project; to consolidate the most threatened architectural features and control the deterioration of the remains of the monuments through restoration work and to make the property more accessible and understandable to visitors.

The World Heritage Centre received in March 2005 for its comments drafts of the Management Plan, the Tourism Master Plan including draft promotional materials, as well as a report on the intangible aspects and the proposed extension to include Kilwa Kivinje. These reports will be submitted by the State Party in their final form at the time of the 29th session of the Committee in 2005.

The World Heritage Centre notes that the State Party is putting many efforts in establishing plans for the conservation, proper management and sustainable development of the site involving the local community as well as the international donor community. The final documents could facilitate the involvement of interested donors in the continued need for support for the urgent conservation works at the property.  

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

29COM7A.15
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.41, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Commends the State Party of United Republic of Tanzania for the efforts undertaken to establish a management and conservation plan and a Tourism Master Plan for the property, and invites the State Party to submit the final documents;

4. Notes with appreciation the continued support provided by the Governments of France and Japan to address some of the problems facing this property;

5. Encourages the State Party to implement the management plan and tourism master plan for the protection, conservation and development of the property;

6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2006, a report on the state of conservation of the property including follow up action on the recommendations of the ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission of 2004, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

7. Decides to retain Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.15

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.41, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Commends the State Party for the efforts undertaken to establish a Management and Conservation Plan and a Tourism Master Plan for the site, and invites the State Party to submit the final documents;

4. Notes with appreciation the continued support provided by the Governments of France and Japan to address some of the problems facing this property;

5. Encourages the State Party to implement the Management Plan and Tourism Master Plan for the protection, conservation and development of the site;

6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2006, a report on the state of conservation of the property including follow up action on the recommendations of the ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission of 2004, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006;

7. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
State Party:
Tanzania, United Republic of
Date of Inscription: 1981
Nomination records (Year): 1980
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
    - Collapsing monuments- No participation of communit
Documents
WHC-05/29.COM/7A
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1244
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2004
Threats to the Site:

Deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List


* : 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.