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Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás

Brazil
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
  • Flooding
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

Flooding

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Requests approved: 2 (from 2002-2002)
Total amount approved : 57,288 USD
Missions to the property until 2003**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003

WHC:

The Secretariat received reports from the UNESCO Brasilia Office and the Permanent Delegation, on 10 and 27 March 2003 respectively, stating that eleven damaged houses around the town's centre were restored with the funds provided by UNESCO, comprising around 3% of the total of US$ 1.7 million raised for the reconstruction of the Historic Town Centre of Goias. This restoration work set standards for the further restoration of the remaining eighty damaged houses. Priority was given to the restoration of houses of the poorer and more elderly people left homeless by the heavy rains. Difficulties encountered concerned the limited financial resources, knowledge of traditional construction techniques and the provision of sufficient quantities of wood, being an expensive construction material.

As a result, an important co-operation was established between the UNESCO Brasilia Office, IPHAN (Instituto do Patrimonio Historico e Artistico Nacional), the city's community, represented by the non-governmental organization Social Works of the Diocese of Goias, and the Brazilian Government's Institute for Environment (IBAMA), who donated wood for the restoration of the houses. The contribution by the World Heritage Fund was acknowledged during the works and received a fair amount of attention from the media. It was established that damages during the flood were caused to a great extent by obstacles lying on the riverbed and embankments and rubbish, due to urban expansion extending to the originally open areas of the banks of the Rio Vermelho. In order to protect the city centre in the future from intense rainfall, an integrated treatment of the preservation of the urban area and environmental protection is under implementation.

This scheme, however, has raised concerns with ICOMOS-Brazil and the Direction of IPHAN, stated in a fax received by the Secretariat on 20 March 2003, since it foresees major new constructions, among which an avenue along one of the river banks, which could affect the coherence and World Heritage values of Goias. Information received by the Secretariat on 23 April 2003 concerned a lawsuit of the Federal District against the Mayor of Goias for the building of new constructions, which are considered illegal.

ICOMOS

ICOMOS was informed that the Municipality of Goias had begun work on redeveloping the Avenue Rio Vermelho in order to facilitate the circulation between the historic centre and the Rio Vermelho Quarter, from the Rue Padre Luiz Gonzaga to the Rue Araguari. This project foresees the construction of two bridges that will span the Rio Vermelho at two points.  Some photographs of the work and a map of the city show the proposed trace of the street (originals sent by mail).  ICOMOS suggests that the World Heritage Committee request the State Party for information on the project for the development of the Avenue Rio Vermelho and on the impact that the project will have on the environment as well as on the built and archaeological heritage.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.86
Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (Brazil)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Taking note of the report transmitted by the State Party,;

2. Commending the Brazilian authorities for their concerted effort in restoring the damage caused by the floods,;

3. Recognizing the need for integrated urban and environmental protection of the city centre of Goias to mitigate future impact of heavy rains,;

4. Requests, however, more detailed information, in particular concerning the construction of the road;

5. Further requests that a monitoring mission be carried out by ICOMOS to assess results of the restoration works carried out and impact of the integrated treatment, among which the road construction, under implementation;

6. Also requests the State Party to submit a detailed report to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 on the state of conservation of the property in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.

Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 86

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Takes note of the report transmitted by the State Party,

2. Commends the Brazilian authorities for their concerted effort in restoring the damage caused by the floods,

3. Recognizes the need for an integrated urban and environmental protection of the city centre of Goias to mitigate future impact of heavy rains,

4. Requests, however, more detailed information, in particular concerning the construction of the road,

5. Invites the State Party to request that a monitoring mission be carried out by ICOMOS to assess results of the restoration works carried out and impact of the integrated treatment, among which the road construction, under implementation,

6. Requests the State Party to submit a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property, by 1 February 2004, for review at its 28th session. 

Report year: 2003
Brazil
Date of Inscription: 2001
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iv)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 27COM (2003)
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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