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Samarra Archaeological City

Iraq
Factors affecting the property in 2012*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • War
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Weathering and lack of maintenance affecting the fragile structures;

b) State of conflict in the country that does not allow the responsible authorities to assure the protection and management of the property.

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

State of conflict in the country that does not allow the responsible authorities to assure the protection and management of the property.

Corrective Measures for the property

Not yet identified

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2012

Total amount provided to the property: USD 100,000 from the Nordic World Heritage Fund for training and documentation aiming at the preparation of the Nomination File.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2012
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2012**

June 2011: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2012

The State Party did not submit a state of conservation report which was requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011). From 5 to 9 June 2011, a reactive monitoring mission was carried out. The preliminary results of the mission were orally presented at the 35th session but not included in the previous state of conservation report for the property. The mission report is available online at the following web address: https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/35COM/documents/

The mission had the opportunity to verify on the ground the state of conservation of five of the main components of the property and to define priority measures to be implemented. The mission noted several factors that affect the property, including the lack of a permanent management and conservation unit, the limited capacities for implementation of conservation measures, the lack of comprehensive planning tools, including a management and a conservation plan and issues related to permanent control and security. In addition, the mission pinpointed several pathologies which currently affect the stability and physical integrity of the monuments and ruins located at the inscribed property.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that although efforts have been made by the State Party in regard to the conservation and protection of the property, there are still significant issues that have remained unaddressed given the limited resources and capacities that exist for the sustained implementation of conservation and management actions. They urge the international community to financially and technically support the implementation of priority measures to ensure the protection of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2012
36 COM 7A.22
Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) (C 276 rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.   Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A.Add,

2.   Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),

3.   Regrets that the State Party did not submit the report on the state of conservation of the property as requested;

4.   Takes note of the results of the reactive monitoring mission of June 2011, encourages the State Party to implement its recommendations and urges it to prioritize the implementation of the following actions:

a)  Develop baseline documentation, including missing architectural plans and topographic surveys, to carry out a detailed conservation condition survey,

b)  Undertake identified preventive conservation actions to ensure the stability of the built fabric,

c)  Identify regulatory measures to ensure the protection of the property and establish protocols for the approval of public works in the vicinity of the site, including the development of heritage and environmental impact assessments,

d)  Initiate the planning process for the development of the Management Plan for the property, including a comprehensive conservation plan,

e)  Establish a site management unit with adequate staff to implement priority conservation measures as well as maintenance and monitoring actions;

5.   Also notes the limited capacities that currently exist for the implementation of the above, and reiterates its invitation to the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to support the implementation of capacity building endeavors;

6.   Calls upon the international community to financially and technically support the implementation of the above measures, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is sustained;

7.   Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, altogether with a proposed timeframe, and to finalize the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013;

8.   Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, 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 37th session in 2013;

9.  Decides to retain Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

36 COM 8C.2
Establishment of the World Heritage List in Danger (Maintained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.   Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-12/36.COM/7A and WHC-12/36.COM/7A.Add),

2.   Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

    • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 36 COM 7A.25)
    • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 36 COM 7A.26)
    • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 36 COM 7A.15)
    • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.1)
    • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 36 COM 7A.33)
    • Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.16)
    • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.2)
    • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 36 COM 7A.3)
    • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.4)
    • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.5)
    • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.6)
    • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.7)
    • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 36 COM 7A.8)
    • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 36 COM 7A.20)
    • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.9)
    • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 36 COM 7A.30)
    • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 36 COM 7A.31)
    • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 36 COM 7A.17)
    • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 36 COM 7A.13)
    • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 36 COM 7A.21)
    • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 36 COM 7A.22)
    • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 36 COM 7A.27)
    • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 36 COM 7A.23.I)
    • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 36 COM 7A.10)
    • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 36 COM 7A.11)
    • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 36 COM 7A.34)
    • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.12)
    • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 36 COM 7A.32)
    • United Rep. of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 36 COM 7A.19)
    • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 36 COM 7A.18)
    • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 36 COM 7A.14)
    • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 36 COM 7A.35)
    • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 36 COM 7A.24)
Draft Decision: 36 COM 7A.22

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 35 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),

3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit the report on the state of conservation of the property as requested;

4. Takes note of the results of the reactive monitoring mission of June 2011, encourages the State Party to implement its recommendations and urges it to prioritize the implementation of the following actions:

a) Develop baseline documentation, including missing architectural plans and topographic surveys, to carry out a detailed conservation condition survey,

b) Undertake identified preventive conservation actions to ensure the stability of the built fabric,

c) Identify regulatory measures to ensure the protection of the property and establish protocols for the approval of public works in the vicinity of the site, including the development of heritage and environmental impact assessments,

d) Initiate the planning process for the development of the Management Plan for the property, including a comprehensive conservation plan,

e) Establish a site management unit with adequate staff to implement priority conservation measures as well as maintenance and monitoring actions;

5. Also notes the limited capacities that currently exist for the implementation of the above, and reiterates its invitation to the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to support the implementation of capacity building endeavors;

6. Calls upon the international community to financially and technically support the implementation of the above measures, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is sustained;

7. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, a proposal for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, altogether with a proposed timeframe, and to finalize the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013;

8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, 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 37th session in 2013;

9. Decides to retain Samarra Archaeological City (Iraq) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Report year: 2012
Iraq
Date of Inscription: 2007
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2007-present
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 36COM (2012)
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.


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