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State of Conservation (SOC)

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (2004)

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
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The Italian firm RODIO has successfully implemented the first phase of the emergency consolidation for the cliffs and niches. The National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo, Japan, has begun conservation work on the mural paintings in the Buddhist caves as well as the preparation of a General Master Plan. The Japanese company PASCO has initiated the 3D documentation and mapping of the property.

 

Furthermore, ICOMOS, financed by the Government of Germany, is currently restoring a Sunni mosque and another building located in the vicinity of the large Buddha. The building is being used to accommodate security staff and to store equipment. UNESCO is presently organising the provision of adequate water and electricity supply for this building.

 

In addition, UNESCO is assisting the Government of Afghanistan to create a site museum to be located in a traditional mud-brick house, which is currently being restored through contributions from the Government of Switzerland.

 

With the aim to ensure the coordination of all safeguarding activities in Bamiyan, a second UNESCO/ICOMOS Expert Working Group was held from 18-21 December 2003 in Munich, Germany, in order to evaluate the progress achieved in consolidation, conservation and archaeological excavation activities. The experts attending the working group commended the consolidation method and work carried out by RODIO. They also formulated concrete recommendations for the follow-up and a work-plan for 2004 for the final consolidation of the small Buddha niche and the conservation of the remains of the two Buddha statues, as well as for the preservation of the mural paintings and the coordination of the archaeological activities undertaken by the “Délégation Archéologique Française en Afghanistan” (DAFA) and the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (NRICP), Japan.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

28COM15A.22
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Commends the State Party for its dedication to the safeguarding of this property;

2. Thanks the Governments of Japan, Germany and Switzerland for their generous contributions towards the conservation of this property;

3. Reasserts the need for the international community and various organizations involved in the protection of this property to continue their cooperation and assistance to the Afghan authorities;

4. Requests the State Party, with the assistance of UNESCO and ICOMOS, to develop a comprehensive programme to mitigate the threats facing this property, including the development of a Site Management Plan to shape future strategy for protection of the property's outstanding universal value;

5. Reiterates its concern over the significant and persisting danger posed by antipersonnel mines in various areas of the Bamiyan Valley and supports the request from the Afghan authorities that all cultural projects include funds for
de-mining;

6. Requests the State Party, with assistance from the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Kabul and the Division of Cultural Heritage, to submit a report on the State of Conservation of this property by 1 February 2005 for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005;

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

28COM15C.2
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Following examination of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-04/28.COM/15A Rev),

2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.21)
  • Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.22)
  • Butrint, Albania (Decision 28 COM 15A.28)
  • Tipasa, Algeria (Decision 28 COM 15A.16)
  • Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, Azerbaijan (Decision 28 COM 15A.29)
  • Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin (Decision 28 COM 15A.14)
  • Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, Central African Republic (Decision 28 COM 15A.1)
  • Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire (Decision 28 COM 15A.2 )
  • Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea (Decision 28 COM 15A.5)
  • Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Virunga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Garamba National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Salonga National Park, Democratic Rep. of the Congo (Decision 28 COM 15A.3)
  • Sangay National Park, Ecuador (Decision 28 COM 15A.12)
  • Abu Mena, Egypt (Decision 28 COM 15A.17)
  • Simien National Park, Ethiopia
  • (Decision 28 COM 15A.4)
  • Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras (Decision 28 COM 15A.13)
  • Group of Monuments at Hampi, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.24)
  • Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India (Decision 28 COM 15A.10)
  • Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat), Iraq (Decision 28 COM 15A.18)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, Jerusalem (Decision 28 COM 15A.31)
  • Timbuktu, Mali (Decision 28 COM 15A. 15)
  • Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (Decision 28 COM 15A.25)
  • Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (Decision 28 COM 15A.6)
  • Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan (Decision 28 COM 15A.26)
  • Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone, Peru (Decision 28 COM 15A.30)
  • Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines (Decision 28 COM 15A.27)
  • Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal (Decision 28 COM 15A.7 )
  • Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia (Decision 28 COM 15A.9)
  • Everglades National Park, United States of America (Decision 28 COM 15A.11)
  • Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen (Decision 28 COM 15A.20)

Draft Decision:28 COM 15A.22

The World Heritage Committee,

1.     Commends the State Party for its dedication to the safeguarding of this property;

2.     Requests the State Party with assistance from the World Heritage Centre, UNESCO Kabul and the Division of Cultural Heritage, to submit a report on the State of Conservation of this property by 1 February 2005 for examination by the Committee at its 29th session in 2005;

3.     Thanks the Governments of Japan, Germany and Switzerland for their generous contributions towards the conservation of this property;

4.     Reasserts the need for the International Community and various organizations involved in the protection of this property to continue their co-operation and assistance to the Afghan authorities;

5.     Reiterates its concern over the significant and persisting danger posed by anti-personnel mines in various areas of the Bamiyan Valley and supports the request from the Afghan authorities that all cultural projects include funds for de-mining;

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

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
State Party:
Afghanistan
Date of Inscription: 2003
Nomination records (Year): 1982, 2003
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Threats*
  • Civil unrest
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
    a) Consolidation of the cliffs and niches; b) Lack of a long-term on-site monitoring system
Documents
WHC-04/28.COM/15A.Rev
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 1383
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2003
Threats to the Site:

The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee simultaneously with its inscription on the World Heritage List. The property is in a fragile state of conservation considering that it has suffered from abandonment, military action and dynamite explosions. The major dangers include: risk of imminent collapse of the Buddha niches with the remaining fragments of the statues, further deterioration of still existing mural paintings in the caves, looting and illicit excavation. Parts of the site are inaccessible due to the presence of antipersonnel mines.


* : 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.