Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Fire (widlfires)
- Illegal activities
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of monitoring system; Fire
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
In accordance with Decision 27 COM 7B.44 adopted by the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee, the State Party submitted a progress report on 21 January 2004. According to the report, the following actions addressing disaster and fire prevention have been taken: the governments of Hubei Province, Shiyan City and Wudang Mountains Special Area invested funds for fire-fighting facilities and the protection and management of the Wudang Mountains Complex of Ancient Buildings, and helped set up the Wudang Fire Station and Fire Squad of the Wudang Mountains Special Area. The Yunlong Mobile Fire Squad has been created for inspections and forest fire prevention. An isolation belt has been set up between the complex of ancient buildings and forests. The Wudang Mountains Special Area authorities have elaborated a plan for water supply for fire prevention, to be implemented in three phases, involving the construction of 27 cisterns, which will be completed by 2005.
A network for effective protection of cultural relics through assignment of responsibilities within each management zone has been set up and efforts made to eliminate problems concerning the safety of endangered cultural relics. These include a total ban on unlawful utilization of ancient buildings, the relocation of people living in ancient buildings, electricity management inside ancient buildings, increased management of personnel, assignment of responsible persons for temples and convents and the establishment of systems for the protection and management of cultural relics.
The Government of the Wudang Mountains Special Area controls construction and has banned all building in the central and buffer zones. Buildings within the boundary without planning permission have been demolished and residents relocated. Tilled land in the zone has been returned to forest. A number of special regulations and protection plans have been formulated to promote the healthy development and protection of this World Heritage property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
28 COM 15B.62
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined the state of conservation of this property,
2. Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for the measures taken to enhance the state of conservation of the property;
3. Requests the State Party to strengthen co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to mobilise technical assistance for enhancing preventative conservation mechanisms for timber architectural heritage.
Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.62
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined the state of conservation of this property,
2. Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for the measures taken to enhance the state of conservation of the property;
3. Requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to strengthen co-operation with the State Party to mobilise technical assistance for enhancing preventative conservation mechanisms for timber architectural heritage.
China
* :
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.
