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Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

Chile
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Wind
  • Other Threats:

    Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings that were constructed using local materials such as timber for frames, corrugated iron sheets for roofs and some walls, in addition to stucco and lightweight construction; Lack of maintenance over the past 40 years; Corrosion of metal cladding and dismantlement of some of the structural elements. A few buildings such as the Leaching House are liable to structural collapse if no support is given; Very little conservation work carried out

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings that were constructed using local materials such as timber for frames, corrugated iron sheets for roofs and some walls, in addition to stucco and lightweight construction
  • Lack of maintenance over the past 40 years as well as vandalism at the property
  • Corrosion of metal cladding and dismantlement of some of the structural elements
  • A few buildings such as the Leaching  House are liable to structural collapse if no support is given
  • Damage caused by earthquakes and the wind
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings;
  • Lack of maintenance for 40 years;
  • Vandalism due to looting of re-usable materials;
  • Damage caused by the wind.
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Corrective Measures for the property
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Requests approved: 3 (from 2007-2015)
Total amount approved : 135,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2015**

October 2004: ICOMOS evaluation mission; May 2007: World Heritage Centre site visit; April 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015

On 9 February 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178/documents/, together with extensive supporting material in Spanish on the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session.

The updated Management Plan for the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (HSLSW) was approved by the National Monuments Council in November 2014 and copies were submitted with the State Party report. The State Party has made estimations on the human and material resources that are required for its implementation. Progress is expected in the identification of mechanisms that would enable to dispose permanently with the necessary resources.

The Conservation Plan is being developed since 2014. The process is coordinated by the National Monuments Council and the recommendations of the 2012 International Meeting of Experts will be the main inputs for the plan, which will consider costs and a timeframe of actions. Once developed, it will be inserted in the Management Plan, updating some of its aspects if necessary.

The Priority Interventions Programme (PIP) had to be adapted following the two earthquakes in April 2014. Adequate measures were taken to ensure the security of visitors and to assess the damages within the property. A report, named “Proposal of intervention in buildings of the Saltpeter Work Humberstone and Santa Laura damaged by the earthquake of April 2014”, defined a new list of Priority Interventions.

During 2014, day and night surveillance at the site was maintained, with a total of eight guards. This will be maintained in 2015. No thefts were reported in 2014.

The same team that implemented the INNOVA-CORFO Project named “Designing and generating innovative conditions to promote specialized tourism and visits to HSLSW” will continue to be in charge of the property’s management. The INNOVA-CORFO Project has been completed, and the Saltpeter Museum Corporation has been able to maintain and project the strengthening of its staff.

In accordance with the Risk Prevention Plan, the Internal Regulation for Order, Hygiene and Security was approved in 2014 by the “Security Mutual”. The 2014 State Party report informed about the staff-training programme dealing with risks and control measures, the set-up of a system of surveillance cameras, the set-up of signs about hazard areas within the property, and the implementation of a public awareness campaign on safety/security measures at the site.

The bidding process “Modification of the Local Regulatory Plan of the Pozo Almonte district and the establishment of a Section Plan for La Tirana”, allotted to the Habitierra Ltda., was considered as a form to explore the possible ways of legal protection of the Site’s Buffer Zone, based on the requirements for territorial protection of the HSLSW. This initiative is part of the efforts led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in order to make progress in the field of territorial planning and regulation, in accordance with the new National Urban Development Policy, approved in March 2014.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015

The report of the State Party addresses in a very systematic and concise manner all issues mentioned in the decision adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014), as well as the corrective measures and timeframe adopted at the time of the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Considerable efforts have been made by the State Party to advance in the implementation of the corrective measures in a situation in which major attention needed to be given to the damages and impact caused by the earthquakes of April 2014. The State Party adequately responded to this emergency situation by adapting the Priority Interventions Programme (PIP) and taking measures to ensure the security to visitors. The finalization of the review and subsequent approval of the Management Plan is a crucial step forward and it is hoped that the Conservation Plan will be finalized by the end of 2015. Measures for visitor security and visitor interpretation have been taken or designed. The matter of the definition and protection of the buffer zone will require special attention, particularly if this needs to be addressed in the context of the National Urban Development Policy adopted in 2014. The approval of the international emergency assistance provided by the World Heritage Fund to reinforce the measures to effectively ensure the consolidation of buildings and strengthen national capacities should contribute to the efforts made by the national authorities in charge of the property to ensure the sustainable conservation of the property.

The State Party report demonstrates that important progress has been made on the implementation of the corrective measures according to the established timeframe and there is confidence that the State Party will be able to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, as adopted by the World Heritage Committee.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7A.45
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) (C 1178bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
  3. Commends the State Party for the measures taken in response to the earthquakes that occurred in April 2014 by adapting the Priority Interventions Programme (PIP) and taking measures to ensure the security to visitors;
  4. Recognizes the efforts made by the State Party to define regulatory measures to ensure an adequate protection of the buffer zone of the property through the Regulatory Plans, and invites it to submit, according to paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, a proposal of minor boundary modification;
  5. Appreciates the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures that will contribute to achieve the adopted Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and also invites it to pursue its efforts in this regard;
  6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016;
  7. Decides to retain the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
39 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of the World Heritage in Danger

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-15/39.COM/7A and WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 39 COM 7A.38)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 39 COM 7A.39)
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 39 COM 7A.18)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosi (Decision 39 COM 7A.44)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 39 COM 7A.45)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 39 COM 7A.24)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.10)
  • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 39 COM 7A.40)
  • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 39 COM 7A.41)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.20)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 39 COM 7A.15)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 39 COM 7A.25)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 39 COM 7A.26)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 39 COM 7A.27)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 39 COM 7A.11)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 39 COM 7A.21)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 39 COM 7A.22)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 39 COM 7A.12)
  • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 39 COM 7A.28)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 39 COM 7A.29)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 39 COM 7A.46)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 39 COM 7A.47)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.13)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 39 COM 7A.42)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 39 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 39 COM 7A.30)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 39 COM 7A.31)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 39 COM 7A.32)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 39 COM 7A.33)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 39 COM 7A.34)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 39 COM 7A.35)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 39 COM 7A.23)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 39 COM 7A.43)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.14)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.17)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 39 COM 7A.48)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 39 COM 7A.37)
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7A.45

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.21, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
  3. Commends the State Party for the measures taken in response to the earthquakes that occurred in April 2014 by adapting the Priority Interventions Programme (PIP) and taking measures to ensure the security to visitors;
  4. Recognizes the efforts made by the State Party to define regulatory measures to ensure an aquequate protection of the buffer zone of the property through the Regulatory Plans, and invites it to submit, according to paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, a proposal of minor boundary modification;
  5. Appreciates the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures that will contribute to achieve the adopted Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, and also invites it to pursue its efforts in this regard;
  6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016;
  7. Decides to retain the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Report year: 2015
Chile
Date of Inscription: 2005
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2005-2019
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2015) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 39COM (2015)
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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