Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Legal framework
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Lack of legal framework (legislation LB392 not yet passed and implementated)
- Management system not extended enough
- Lack of a risk preparedness strategy as well as of a comprehensive tourism strategy into the management plan
- Need to remove silt from the waterways without jeopardizing possible cultural layers on the sea floor
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Management system/Management Plan
- Management activities (Overgrowth of vegetation, Stonework collapse)
- Storms (Effects of storm surge)
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
Corrective Measures for the property
In progress
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
In progress
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2018
Total amount provided: USD 120,000 for the preparation of a nomination file and the management plan for Nan Madol by the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust. USD 26,232 for Technical Support to Nan Madol, Micronesia (Danger list) by the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
| 2017 | Initial non-invasive clearing of vegetation overgrowth ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2018**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018
A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission visited the property on 15-25 January 2018. On 30 January 2018, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1503/documentsthe following:
- To strengthen legal protection, a final draft of a revised Law LB 392 has been completed and will be presented to Pohnpei State Legislature in May 2018;
- A Designated Property Manager will be appointed with cultural heritage management training, who will assist in preparing the Conservation Plan, extending the current maintenance regimes, and developing short and long term strategies for the conservation and development of the property based on the outcomes of the 2018 Reactive Monitoring mission;
- With support from UNESCO, an expert has been appointed to develop a Conservation Plan;
- Work on removing vegetation from stone structures will commence in February 2018.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018
Plans to appoint a Designated Property Manager are welcomed and should greatly help the development of a coordinated approach to the conservation and development of the property.
It is noted that progress is being made with the strengthening of legal protection, and a revised law is expected to be approved in 2018.
The Reactive Monitoring mission to the property was undertaken by an inter-disciplinary team, consisting of an archaeologist, a stone expert, a structural engineer and a project management specialist, together with a staff member of the World Heritage Centre.
At the time of drafting this report, the report of the joint World Heritage/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission has not been finalized. The report will be available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1503/documents/ before the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee and its results shared in advance with the Committee.
The main aims of the mission were to identify the specific challenges facing the property including stone decay, water erosion, engineering problems related to scale of basalt pillars and coral blocks, and damage caused by vegetation and wave erosion; to discuss and agree with the State Party the main parameters of an overall conservation strategy/master plan to address these challenges that sets out short, medium and long term projects; to define a management approach for delivering the projects and a strategy for attracting international assistance; and to collaborate with the State Party on the drafting of a Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) based on the conservation strategy/master plan.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
42 COM 7A.3
Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia, Federated States of) (C 1503)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add2,
- Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.56, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
- Welcomes the commitment to appoint a Designated Property Manager by the State Party;
- Notes that progress is being made to strengthen the legal protection of the property and that a revised Law is expected to be approved in 2018;
- Also notes that a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property has been carried out and requests the State Party to implement all of the mission’s recommendations;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019;
- Decides to retain Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia (Federated States of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
42 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/18/42.COM/7A, WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add and WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.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 42 COM 7A.1)
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 42 COM 7A.2)
- Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 42 COM 7A.5)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 42 COM 7A.8)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.45)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 42 COM 7A.9)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.46)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.47)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.48)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.49)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.50)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.51)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 42 COM 7A.17)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.44)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 42 COM 7A.40)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 42 COM 7A.18)
- Iraq, Hatra (Decision 42 COM 7A.19)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 42 COM 7A.20)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 42 COM 7A.21)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 42 COM 7A.22)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 42 COM 7A.23)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 42 COM 7A.24)
- Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 42 COM 7A.25)
- Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 42 COM 7A.26)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 42 COM 7A.53)
- Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 42 COM 7A.13)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 42 COM 7A.14)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 42 COM 7A.15)
- Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 42 COM 7A.3)
- Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 42 COM 7A.54)
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 42 COM 7A.27)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 42 COM 7A.29)
- Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 42 COM 7A.28)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 42 COM 7A.10)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 42 COM 7A.11)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.55)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 42 COM 7A.6)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 42 COM 7A.41)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 42 COM 7A.30)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 42 COM 7A.31)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 42 COM 7A.32)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 42 COM 7A.33)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 42 COM 7A.34)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 42 COM 7A.35)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 42 COM 7A.16)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 42 COM 7A.7)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 42 COM 7A.56)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 42 COM 7A.42)
- Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 42 COM 7A.4)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 42 COM 7A.12)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 42 COM 7A.37)
- Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 42 COM 7A.38)
- Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 42 COM 7A.39)
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7A.3
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.56, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
- Welcomes the commitment to appoint a Designated Property Manager by the State Party;
- Notes that progress is being made to strengthen the legal protection of the property and that a revised Law is expected to be approved in 2018;
- Also notes that a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property has been carried out and requests the State Party to implement all of the mission’s recommendations;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019;
- Decides to retain Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia (Federated States of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Documents examined by the Committee
42COM (2018)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.
