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State of Conservation Minaret and ... 2016

Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam

Afghanistan
Factors affecting the property in 2016*
  • Civil unrest
  • Illegal activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Inclination of the Minaret

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Political instability
  • Inclination of the Minaret
  • Lack of management plan 
  • Illicit excavations and looting
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Lack of legal protection
  • Lack of an effective monuments protection agency
  • Lack of adequate protection and conservation personnel
  • Lack of a comprehensive management plan
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1286  

Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1286  

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2016

Total amount granted: USD 844,901 (2003-2012) from the Italian Funds-in-Trust; USD 124,300 (2003-2012) from the Swiss Funds-in-Trust.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2016
Requests approved: 2 (from 2002-2015)
Total amount approved : 93,750 USD
2015 Preparatory work for the conservation plan for the ... (Approved)   73,750 USD
2002 Training for national and local authorities in the ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2016**

Several annual UNESCO expert missions took place between 2002 and 2006 in order to implement the operational projects for the property. After a period of three years of inactivity from 2007 to 2009, due to the security situation, UNESCO dispatched a mission in cooperation with an Afghan local NGO in 2010 to resume the on-site operations.

2014 International Experts Mission Report, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, October 2014
2010 ALCO Mission Report, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, May 2010
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2016

On 23 February 2016, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/211/documents. However, the document details a series of the activities that need to be carried out rather than providing an update on work that has been undertaken, and is identical to the one submitted in 2015.

The report indicates that the Afghan Government has identified a range of mitigation measures, including a monitoring system for the Minaret, through regular topographic measurements; capacity building programmes for national experts; topographic and archaeological surveys to redefine core and buffer zones; a damage assessment report; the protection of the site against illicit excavations; consolidation of the minaret structure; and emergency restoration of the surface decoration of the Minaret. The report further states that the South bank of the Hari Rud River should be consolidated through the extension of gabions and the planting of trees upstream of the Minaret.

The report also emphasizes the need to repair the guest houses and the importance of constructing a foot bridge over the Hari Rud, to enable year-round access for inhabitants of nearby villages and for conservation work.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2016

It is deeply regrettable that the State Party has submitted almost identical state of conservation reports for several consecutive years, summarizing only the works which are required.

The need for construction of a footbridge over the Hari Rud River and the repair of the guest house, which was donated by UNESCO in 2003, was already noted in previous state of conservation. It is of concern that the State Party has to date not made any progress with the construction of the footbridge and not repaired the guest house, nor has the State Party provided any justification for the delay or problems encountered. Furthermore, the report provided no information on how the security of the site is being maintained and monitored.

Regarding the need for accurate mapping of the archaeological remains and for the definition of appropriate boundaries and buffer zones for the property, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies would like to draw the attention of the Afghan Government to the detailed topography produced in 2012 as part of the UNESCO/Italy Funds-in-Trust project for Jam and Herat. The comprehensive topography provided detailed boundaries for both the property and the buffer zone, which were elaborated taking into account surrounding archaeological remains. The adoption of the topographic map, as well as new boundaries proposed, by the relevant authorities would constitute an essential step towards developing and implementing an effective conservation strategy for the property. This strategy should include the important ancient settlement, the precise extent and remains of which have yet to be defined. Therefore, it is regrettable that the State Party has not yet proceeded with the adoption of this detailed topography for Jam.

It is noted that a Conservation Action Plan is being elaborated by the UNESCO Office in Kabul, in co-operation with the State Party and the World Heritage Centre, following the approval, in March 2015, of an Emergency International Assistance Request (IAR) under the World Heritage Fund (USD 73,750). It is strongly hoped that, on the basis of the Conservation Action Plan elaborated under the IAR, the State Party will (i) establish a concrete work plan for emergency conservation work as well as a regular monitoring system, (ii) have them approved and an appropriate budget allocated; and (iii) start implementing these actions as soon as possible.

Upon the approval by the Government of the budget necessary to carry out such a work plan, the State Party shall be able to propose a revised timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures identified by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), so as to achieve the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2016
40 COM 7A.27
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) (C 211 rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.38, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
  3. Deeply regrets that neither emergency measures nor conservation work have been undertaken in situ, and that no concrete report has been submitted providing precise and up-to-date information on the state of conservation of the property, including the security situation;
  4. Also regrets that the State Party has neither adopted the detailed topographic map of the property, produced in 2012, nor submitted a proposal for minor boundary modification at this point in time, and requests the State Party to adopt the 2012 topographic map of the property and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, a proposal for a minor boundary modification, in accordance with Paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by ICOMOS;
  5. Strongly urges the State Party to establish, on the basis of the Conservation Action Plan elaborated as part of the Emergency International Assistance granted under the World Heritage Fund, a realistic and concrete emergency and conservation work plan, including measures for site security, and also requests that this plan be approved along with the necessary budget in order to commence its implementation as soon as possible;
  6. Calls upon the international community for technical and financial support, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, for the implementation of abovementioned Action Plan, which will be part of a Strategy to implement the corrective measures identified by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
  7. Further requests the State Party, upon development of the Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to revise the timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017;
  8. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
  9. Decides to retain Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
40 COM 8C.2
Update of the list of World Heritage in Danger (retained sites)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/16/40.COM/7A, WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add and WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add.2),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 40 COM 7A.26)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 40 COM 7A.27)
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 40 COM 7A.32)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 40 COM 7A.1)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.34)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 40 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.35)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 40 COM 7A.36)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.37)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.38)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 40 COM 7A.39)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.40)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.41)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 40 COM 7A.9)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.43)
  • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 40 COM 7A.28)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 40 COM 7A.33)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 40 COM 7A.48)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 40 COM 7A.10)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 40 COM 7A.11)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 40 COM 7A.12)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 40 COM 7A.13)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 40 COM 7A.44)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 40 COM 7A.6)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 40 COM 7A.7)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 40 COM 7A.45)
  • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 40 COM 7A.14)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 40 COM 7A.15)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 40 COM 7A.3)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 40 COM 7A.4)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.46)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 40 COM 7A. 30)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 40 COM 7A.49)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 40 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 40 COM 7A.17)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 40 COM 7A.18)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 40 COM 7A.19)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 40 COM 7A.20)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 40 COM 7A.21)
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 40 COM 7A.8)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 40 COM 7A.31)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 40 COM 7A.47)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 40 COM 7A.50)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 40 COM 7A.5)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 40 COM 7A.23)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 40 COM 7A.24)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 40 COM 7A.25).
Read more
Draft Decision: 40 COM 7A.27

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.38, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
  3. Deeply regrets that neither emergency measures nor conservation work have been undertaken in situ, and that no concrete report has been submitted providing precise and up-to-date information on the state of conservation of the property, including the security situation;
  4. Also regrets that the State Party has neither adopted the detailed topographic map of the property, produced in 2012, nor submitted a proposal for minor boundary modification at this point in time, and requests the State Party to adopt the 2012 topographic map of the property and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, a proposal for a minor boundary modification, in accordance with Paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by ICOMOS;
  5. Strongly urges the State Party to establish, on the basis of the Conservation Action Plan elaborated as part of the Emergency International Assistance granted under the World Heritage Fund, a realistic and concrete emergency and conservation work plan, including measures for site security, and also requests that this plan be approved along with the necessary budget in order to commence its implementation as soon as possible;
  6. Calls upon the international community for technical and financial support, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, for the implementation of abovementioned Action Plan, which will be part of a Strategy to implement the corrective measures identified by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
  7. Further requests the State Party, upon development of the Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to revise the timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017;
  8. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
  9. Decides to retain Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2015 Next 2017
Report year: 2016
Afghanistan
Date of Inscription: 2002
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2002-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2016) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 40COM (2016)
Exports
Previous 2015 Next 2017

* : 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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