Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Human resources
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Vandalism
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2013**
January 2011: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013
The State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property on 28 March 2013. It recalls that the protection of the property’s rock art sites has always been weak, even before the 2011 conflict, and that the Department of Antiquities has been alerted of an increased risk of vandalism at the site. The State Party also explains that due to the conflict, the implementation of the action plan and the recommendations made by the 2011 reactive monitoring mission has not been possible.
In the framework of the Programme for the Protection and promotion of Cultural Heritage in Libya elaborated and implemented in collaboration with UNESCO and funded by the Government of Italy, a centre should be established at Ghat or Uweynat to train the staff in charge of the protection and management of the property and to host a museum which is expected to play an important in terms of awareness raising. A workshop on the possible creation of a heritage police and the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property took place from 27 to 30 April 2013 and was to address the issue of the necessary staffing to ensure the effective protection of the property. A technical mission should be carried out early May 2013 in order to further develop this initiative and assess, if security conditions permit, the state of conservation of the property. This mission is expected to serve as a basis to the International Assistance request which the State Party has been encouraged to submit for the implementation of priority measures and for the development of a conservation and management strategy for the property.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies wish to note the progress made in the implementation of measures aiming at ensuring the protection of the property, thanks to the project elaborated in collaboration with UNESCO and funded by the Government of Italy. They nevertheless wish to recommend to the World Heritage Committee to express again its concern about the lack of information on the current state of conservation of the property, as well as the urgent need to launch the conservation and recovery measures of the sites vandalised in 2009, as soon as the security conditions are favourable. Considering the substantial financial resources needed to implement long-term conservation and management actions, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also wish to recommend to the World Heritage Committee to thank the Government of Italy for its support and to call upon the international community to provide additional and sustained support to the State Party towards the implementation of the comprehensive strategy for the property, based on the recommendations of the 2011 reactive monitoring mission.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7B.54
Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (C 287)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.55 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Takes note of the on-going actions taken to implement the recommendations made by the 2011 reactive monitoring mission, but expresses its concern about the lack of information on the current state of conservation of the property;
4. Urges the State Party to launch the conservation and recovery measures of the sites vandalised in 2009, as identified in the 2011 reactive monitoring mission, as soon as the security conditions permit;
5. Reiterates its recommendation to the State Party to consider submitting an International Assistance request for the implementation of priority measures and for the development of a conservation and management strategy for the property;
6. Thanks the Government of Italy for its contribution towards the safeguarding of Libya’s cultural heritage and calls upon the international community to provide additional and sustained support to the State Party for the implementation of a long-term conservation and management plan for the property;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
Draft Decision: 37 COM 7B.54
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.55, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Takes note of the on-going actions taken to implement the recommendations made by the 2011 reactive monitoring mission, but expresses its concern about the lack of information on the current state of conservation of the property;
4. Urges the State Party to launch the conservation and recovery measures of the sites vandalised in 2009, as identified in the 2011 reactive monitoring mission, as soon as the security conditions permit;
5. Reiterates its recommendation to the State Party to consider submitting an International Assistance request for the implementation of priority measures and for the development of a conservation and management strategy for the property;
6. Thanks the Government of Italy for its contribution towards the safeguarding of Libya’s cultural heritage and calls upon the international community to provide additional and sustained support to the State Party for the implementation of a long-term conservation and management plan for the property;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.
Libya
Exports
* :
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.
