Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Conservation of urban fabric
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Lack of strategic approach to urban conservation
- Lack of implementation of the management plan
- Impact of urban landscaping programme on the authenticity and integrity of the property
- Large-scale development projects such as road building
- Conservation of urban fabric
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2015
Total amount granted: USD 50,000 from the Spanish Funds-in-Trust
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Total amount approved : 44,800 USD
| 2011 | Development of a management/conservation plan for World ... (Approved) | 29,800 USD |
| 1999 | Training Workshop in the Preparation of World Heritage ... (Approved) | 15,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2015**
April 2005: UNESCO Tashkent Office/ICOMOS expert mission; March 2006: UNESCO Tashkent Office/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; October 2006: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission; December 2007: Word Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; March 2009: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015
On 16 February 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/603/documents/. The report contains information addressing the conservation and management issues raised by the Committee in Decision 37 COM 7B.69 (Phnom Penh, 2013), as follows:
- Management Plan: The management framework and conservation principles for restoration and conservation presented in the Management Plan have guided the activities of the Samarkand Regional State Inspection. Two additional decrees were passed in March and July 2014, further strengthening the management and protection system for the World Heritage property. The state of conservation report mentions that the Management Plan has been included in the annual finance plan, but no further details concerning the human and financial resources were provided.
- Draft Traffic Scheme: While no further information was made available concerning the Draft Traffic Scheme, the State Party reports that an Expert Council consisting of representatives of the regional and municipal governance on architecture, the Samarkand Architecture and Construction Institute and the Samarkand Regional State Inspection consider discuss, and consent to projects on restoration and urban construction planning.
- Other conservation projects and restoration plan: In the framework of the ‘Programme on research, conservation, restoration and adaptation for modern utilisation of cultural heritage property of Samarkand until 2015’, works planned for the preservation of specific monuments, mosques and historic buildings will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for review.
The inventory and monitoring of cultural heritage objects is being carried out and a number of properties needing emergency restoration have been included in the restoration plan of the Board of Monuments. In this regard, the State Party reports that 22 cultural heritage objects have been included in the restoration plan 2011 to 2015.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015
It is recommended that the Committee take note of the efforts made by the State Party in responding to the previous recommendations.
The progress made with regard to the implementation of the ‘Document on Management Frameworks and Processes for the World Heritage Property of Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures’ should be noted, as well as the joint work carried out by all the relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure the adequate preservation of cultural heritage objects, and control and guide urban planning projects.
In terms of sustainability of the Management Plan, the State Party should confirm that its implementation is assured through adequate human and financial resources within the responsible government bodies.
As concerns the Draft Traffic Scheme, it should be noted that no further details have been provided. As this is a crucial planning tool for the city, they consider that on-going dialogue with the State Party would be desirable as the document is developed.
It is considered that the UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL, 2011) could be a useful tool to help develop approaches for managing the rapid urbanization and development of Samarkand.
It is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party that construction and infrastructure projects should be anticipated within the framework of the Traffic Scheme and the Management Plan and that the World Heritage Committee shall be notified prior to any major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in accordance to the Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7B.73
Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (Uzbekistan) (C 603rev)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.69, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Notes the progress made with the implementation of the Management Plan and efforts of the State Party to strengthen the protection of the property;
- Takes note that no further information was provided regarding the development of the Draft Traffic Scheme, which is a crucial planning tool for Samarkand, and recommends further dialogue between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies as this is developed;
- Invites the State Party to provide confirmation that the implementation of the Management Plan is assured through adequate human and financial resources within the responsible government bodies;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party that construction and infrastructure projects should be anticipated within the framework of the Traffic Scheme and the Management Plan and that the World Heritage Committee shall be notified prior to any major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with the Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Encourages the State Party to apply the UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL, 2011), as a useful tool to help manage the rapid urbanization and development of the property;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 review by the Advisory Bodies.
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.73
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.69, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Notes the progress made with the implementation of the Management Plan and efforts of the State Party to strengthen the protection of the property;
- Takes note that no further information was provided regarding the development of the Draft Traffic Scheme, which is a crucial planning tool for Samarkand, and recommends further dialogue between the State Party, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies as this is developed;
- Invites the State Party to provide confirmation that the implementation of the Management Plan is assured through adequate human and financial resources within the responsible government bodies;
- Reiterates its request to the State Party that construction and infrastructure projects should be anticipated within the framework of the Traffic Scheme and the Management Plan and that the World Heritage Committee shall be notified prior to any major restorations or new constructions which may affect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with the Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Encourages the State Party to apply the UNESCO Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape (HUL, 2011), as a useful tool to help manage the rapid urbanization and development of the property;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 review by the Advisory Bodies.
UzbekistanDocuments examined by the Committee
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.
