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State of Conservation (SOC)

Timbuktu (1994)

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 (from1981-1994)
Total Amount Ap proved: 74,115USD

1994 Safeguarding of 3 mosques in Timbuktu (Sankore, Djingareyber and ...   15,500  USD
1990 Timbuktu: consolidation of the Djingareiber mosque and ...   45,138  USD
1989 Mission for the preparation of a proposal for putting Timbuktu on ...   5,500  USD
1981 Provision of one expert and financial assistance for the ...   7,977  USD
Missions**

June-July 1990: expert missions; early 1994: UNESCO mission

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Sand encroachment ;
  • Vulnerability of the mosques; 
  • Lack of financial resources;
  • Deterioration of the rainwater drainage system;
  • Aeolian erosion;
  • Need for appropriate laws
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

The three mosques of Djingareiber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia were placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1990. These properties are threatened by obvious, precise and imminent dangers:

a)       serious alteration of the mud construction materials

b)       serious alteration of the structures

c)       the climatic factor of desertification.

 

A UNESCO mission was undertaken earlier this year. The report of the mission recommends a method of intervention involving the local population which, since the construction of the mosques, has been responsible for their upkeep, thus perpetuating a living religious culture. This method foresees the organization of a pilot work site in a restricted zone of each mosque, to be implemented in three stages:

1)        preparation of a documented study recording all the stages of the annual maintenance work, so as to clearly determine the organization of the voluntary work sites;

2)      identification, together with specialists, of the appropriate additives and stabilizers for the "banco" of Timbuktu;

3)      organization of a pilot work site which should be entrusted to a Mali architect assisted by municipal technicians. The architect would also have the responsibility for defining a long-term conservation programme taking account of the local realities, whilst respecting and improving traditional techniques.

 

Having examined the state of conservation report, the Bureau requested the World Heritage Centre to ask the Mali authorities to prepare a report to be submitted to the eighteenth session of the Committee, concerning follow-up action with regard to the report of the UNESCO mission. Since then, the Minister of Culture has given his full backing and support to the recommendations made by the UNESCO mission. The Chief of the "Mission culturelle de Tombouctou" informed the Secretariat of the World Heritage Centre that he had already commissioned a documented study recording all stages of the maintenance work which is conducted annually in July. He furthermore attended an international course in the preservation of "Earth Architecture", in Grenoble, 19 September to 7 October 1994 organized by CRATerre-EAG and ICCROM-ARC. The World Heritage Centre was able to award a financial grant under the Regular Programme to cover the fees and per diem which allowed the Chief of the "Mission culturelle de Tombouctou" to attend the above-mentioned course.

Conclusion

The Committee is recommended to endorse the three-step action plan mentioned above and to support the State Party, if and when requested, in its implementation. It is recommended that this site be retained on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

18COMIX
Link to the decision

Timbuktu (Mali)

The Committee was informed that the Government of Mali had fully endorsed the recommendations of a UNESCO mission that was undertaken in early 1994 and which recommended a method of intervention involving the local population which, since the construction of the mosques, had been responsible for their upkeep, thus perpetuating a living religious cultural tradition. The Committee also endorsed this proposal and decided that it would support its implementation, if and when requested by the State Party. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

The Committee was informed that the Government of Mali had fully endorsed the recommendations of a UNESCO mission that was undertaken in early 1994 and which recommended a method of intervention involving the local population which, since the construction of the mosques, had been responsible for their upkeep, thus perpetuating a living religious cultural tradition. The Committee also endorsed this proposal and decided that it would support its implementation, if and when requested by the State Party. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Timbuktu
State Party:
Mali
Date of Inscription: 1988
Nomination records (Year): 1979, 1987
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)(v)
Danger List: Yes
Documents
Original Documents
WHC.94/CONF.001/03B Add.4
WHC.94/CONF.003/06 Add
WHC.94/CONF.003/06
Other Documents
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports
SOC Reports by year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1994
1990
Detailed List of SOC reports
Threats*
Desertification
Financial resources
Legal framework
Water (rain/water table)
Wind
Other Threats:
Vulnerability of the mosques
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2012
Threats to the Site:

Situation of armed conflict in the northern region of Mali and seriousness of threats to the World Heritage properties following the degradation of the Timbuktu tombs  

Year: 1990 -2005
Threats to the Site:

At its 14th session, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the City on the List of the World Heritage in Danger due to the threat of encroachment by desert sands. A programme was set up to safeguard the site. The most pressing dangers called for the consolidation of the Djingareyber Mosque and improvement of the city's terrace rainwater drainage systems.

 


* : 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.