Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Lack of a Disaster Preparedness Plan;
- Planned and ongoing development projects which impact the Historic Centre, such as the planned construction of the Chilina Bridge;
- Illegal demolitions involving historic buildings;
- Urban sprawl.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Total amount approved : 75,000 USD
| 2001 | Consolidation and restoration of the Cathedral of ... (Approved) | 75,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2013**
February 2000: ICOMOS Expert Mission; April/May 2008: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013
On 31 January 2013, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property that includes information on the progress made on the recommendations formulated by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012).
a) Risk Preparedness plan for the property
The State Party notes that approximately 80% of the Prevention and Risk Management Plan has been developed at the time when the report was submitted. The draft included in the annexes considers the general assessment of conditions at the territory, as well as hazards, vulnerability and a risk assessment that includes both human and natural factors. Risk scenarios have also been developed in order to prioritise actions to be undertaken in case of disaster risk. Information from the assessments and potential courses of action has been validated through the implementation of technical workshops. The proposed plan is related to the National System for the Management of Risk Disasters (SINAGERD), created on 19 February 2011, and it is expected that the final provisions will be articulated with the new Master Plan for the Historical Centre. The State Party reports that 80% of the activities have been conducted and it expects to conclude the Prevention and Risk Management Plan in March 2013.
b) Delimitation of the property and definition of the buffer zone
The State Party notes that Ordinance 01-2000 “Ordinance for the Historic Centre and the Area of Monuments of Arequipa” defines the perimeter for the Historical Centre and the Area of Monuments. However, it recognises that the boundaries need to be redefined and a buffer zone clearly outlined so that areas of protection are clearly established and there is clarity in terms of regulations currently applicable, given the different denominations that currently exist for the protected area. It is expected this review will also assist in the definition of zoning and land use within the historic centre to better manage potential growth and development. The revised boundaries will also include elements of the setting, as recommended by the World Heritage Committee, that are crucial to sustaining the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. The area of Monuments of Yanahuara has already been gazetted through Supreme Resolution 2900-72-ED as a portion of the Historic Centre. The revised maps, along with the pertinent regulatory measures to ensure protection, have yet to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies. No further information is provided on whether the proposals made to date have been formally approved.
c) Updating of the Master Plan for the property
A new Master Plan for the property is currently being developed. Progress achieved to date includes the updated assessment, the proposed new boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, the proposal for zoning and use, the definition of parameters for intervention, proposal for new treatement of areas, proposal for new usage index and the completion Schedule. The general information presented in the draft document included in the annex seems appropriate and responsive to the existing conditions, particularly in terms of zoning and the definition of projects. No timeframe for the expected completion date has been provided.
d) Chilina Bridge
The State Party submitted, as requested by the World Heritage Committee, the technical evaluation of the Project for the construction of the interconnection trunk road between the districts of Miraflores, Alto Selva Alegre, Yanahuara, Cayama and Cerro Colorado. As has been noted in previous state of conservation reports, the Project approved by the Regional Government of Arequipa through Regional Management Resolution in 2009 encompasses 11 components. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact from the Chilina Bridge and the components pertaining to connection roads that could affect the setting of the property. The submitted technical evaluation focuses on the Chilina bridge and concludes, in general terms that the construction of the bridge will not significantly address traffic problems and will have a negative impact on the landscape of the property. The documentation reviewed in 2012 did not include an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and that the photo montages did not consider the potential bridge in relation to view sheds from the protected area. Therefore, a comprehensive and informed analysis of the potential impact could not be carried out. Requests for this pending information were made in January 2013 and will be made available to the Advisory Bodies for review upon receipt.
As for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the complete Interconnection Trunk Road, the State Party reports that these have been requested for development on December 2012. Once the Provincial Municipality of Arequipa categorizes the type of studies that should be executed for the missing section of the Interconnection Trunk Road, the selection process to appoint the consultant who will conduct the studies will begin. No timeframe for its completion has been provided.
e) Other issues
The State Party includes information in the annexes of the report on the assessment carried out to identify significant heritage buildings at risk, as well as data on the proposed projects for implementation. It also provides documentation of the works implemented at the property, including interventions and additional activities such as training and dissemination, as well as proposals for new municipal ordinances for regulating the use of advertising, for public use, among others.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that limited progress has been made by the State Party in addressing the recommendations made by World Heritage Committee, given that essential planning tools for the property continue to remain at the planning stages and no clear timeframe has been given for their finalisation. Although many heritage buildings have been identified as being at risk and actions have been proposed, these continue to be implemented on an ad hoc basis, without a clear framework for action or articulated within the broader management of the property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7B.101
Historic Centre of the City of Arequipa (Peru) (C 1016)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.104, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Takes note of the information provided by the State Party on the actions taken to implement the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee and reiterates its concern that measures to ensure the conservation and protection of the property continue to be at the planning stages;
4. Reiterates its request to the State Party to finalize the following documents for submission to the World Heritage Centre by 30 November 2013 , for evaluation:
a) Risk Preparedness plan for the property,
b) Delineation of the buffer zone and approval of adequate regulatory measures,
c) Master Plan for the property in three printed copies, in addition to an electronic, for review by the Advisory Bodies,
d) Proposal for a minor boundary modification, according to the procedure established by the Operational Guidelines ;
5. Urges the State Party to finalize the management plan for the property as it has been requested by the World Heritage Committee since 2009 and submit three copies to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies by 1 February 2014 ;
6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment, including Heritage Impact Assessments for the Via Troncal Interconectora project as a whole, including the assessment of potential impacts on the landscape areas of Lari Lari, Los Tucos, Cayma and Yanahuara and the identification of mitigation measures, and submit the assessment study to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, prior to the approval and implementation of the project;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.
Draft Decision: 37 COM 7B.101
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.104, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Takes note of the information provided by the State Party on the actions taken to implement the recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee and reiterates its concern that measures to ensure the conservation and protection of the property continue to be at the planning stages;
4. Reiterates its request to the State Party to finalize the following and to submit them to the World Heritage Centre by 30 November 2013, for evaluation:
a) Risk Preparedness plan for the property,
b) Delineation of the buffer zone and approval of adequate regulatory measures,
c) Master Plan for the property in three printed copies, in addition to an electronic, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies,
d) Proposal for a minor boundary modification, according to the procedure established by the Operational Guidelines;
5. Urges the State Party to finalize the management plan for the property as it has been requested by the World Heritage Committee since 2009 and submit three copies to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies by 1 February 2014;
6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment, including Heritage Impact Assessments for the Via Troncal Interconectora project as a whole, including the assessment of potential impacts on the landscape areas of Lari Lari, Los Tucos, Cayma and Yanahuara and the identification of mitigation measures, and submit the assessment study to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, prior to the approval and implementation of the project;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014.
Peru
* :
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.
