Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures

• Lack of strategic approach to urban conservation;
• Lack of a proper management plan;
• Detrimental impact of new roads;
• Conservation of urban fabric.

Total amount granted: USD 50,000 from the Spanish Funds-in-Trust

On 1 February 2013, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report detailing the progress made in response to Decision 36 COM 7B.69 and recommendations of the 2007 reactive monitoring mission. In addition, the report also includes the completed Management Plan and draft Traffic Scheme.

a)  Management Plan

The approved Management Plan named “Document on Management Frameworks and Processes for the World Heritage Property of Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures” has been developed and submitted for approval to the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee. This coherent urban conservation and planning policy for the management of the property and the buffer zone, provides clear principles for the preservation and use of the property. It sets out the management frameworks and processes and contains guidelines for conservation and restoration, as well as monitoring and reporting principles.

The conservation principles contained in the Management Plan present a systematic approach to the different conservation and preservation issues at the property. The World Heritage property consists of three morphologically different parts, namely the ancient city of Afrosiab, the Timurid city and the European city. The procedures and methods of conservation and utilization of the monuments, the traditional living environment and the historic urban fabric, vary depending on their location. The main conservation principle for the property is to safeguard all the attributes that directly express or contribute to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). Measures and procedures for the preservation have also been defined for the three monument ensembles that form part of the property, but are separate enclaves within the buffer zone. The conservation of these ensembles requires specific approaches that are determined according to the character of the individual enclave. Procedures for daily maintenance and systematic monitoring of monuments ensure timely removal of possible negative impacts on the property, as well as examining the state of conservation of the monuments.

b)  Draft Traffic Scheme

Upon the request of the local authorities and with the agreement of the Board of Monuments of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, a Master Plan to improve road network and traffic regulation within the property is currently being developed. It addresses the following issues:

·  The rehabilitation of original historic structures of streets to re-establish the streetscape based on historical evidence. The Master Plan is under development and will be submitted to the World Heritage Committee prior to its finalization and adoption;

·  Road improvement and repairs of neighborhood areas to allow occasional transport services to residents (ambulances, delivery of goods, etc). No changes are foreseen to the architectural facades and buildings of the medieval city;

·  Designated parking areas established for residents and tourist services at a suitable distance from monuments. The draft traffic scheme has been submitted with this report;

·  Development of a traffic scheme foreseeing the creation of bypass and ring roads outside of the buffer zone along with dead end approaches to the World Heritage property to be carried out within the next 20 years. The traffic schemes are being developed taking into account the requirements under the World Heritage Convention and the OUV of the property;

·  Repair and reconstruction works are carried out on sections of Dagbitskaya and Pehjikentskaya through demolition of unauthorized constructions not related to the historic environment. The works are coordinated with the Board of Monuments and the regional authorities and they do not affect the OUV of the property. 

The State Party asserts that the World Heritage Committee will be notified of any infrastructure planning projects prior to their approval. The draft traffic scheme will be provided to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for approval.

c)  Conservation projects within the State Programme up to 2015

Works planned in the framework of the “Programme on research, conservation, restoration and adaptation for modern utilisation of cultural heritage property of Samarkand until 2015” shall prioritise the preservation of specific monuments, neighbourhood mosques and historic housing within the traditional centre of Mahalla Guzars and will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies. 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recommend that the Committee commend the State Party for the efforts made in responding to the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee and the 2009 Word Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission and consider that the Management Plan provides coherent and comprehensive planning and conservation principles for the preservation of the property.

The “Document on Management Frameworks and Processes for the World Heritage Property of Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures”, together with the Reference Document containing conservation guidelines, provides a coherent contribution to the management. However, the conservation of traditional houses may need to be elaborated in more detail, e.g. in the “Programme on research, conservation, restoration and adaptation for modern utilisation of cultural heritage property of Samarkand until 2015”, only two houses are listed which are for tourist services. In addition, a scientific monitoring system, as a part of the conservation strategy, should be put in place and site management should be fully operational.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note progress with the development of a draft traffic scheme to provide strategic solutions to the impact of traffic within the property. They note that the traffic scheme has yet to be completed and adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers. As this is a crucial project for the city, they consider that on-going dialogue with the State Party would be desirable as the project evolves further.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies propose that the State Party also takes into consideration the principle recommendations of the 2009 Word Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission, namely technical assistance to the inhabitants for the conservation of the urban fabric; the development of structural restoration projects; and training of technical staff for surface restoration.

In terms of sustainability of the Management Plan and the traffic scheme, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies would appreciate receiving confirmation from the State Party that their implementation is assured through adequate human and financial resources within the responsible government bodies.