Coro and its Port

• Management systems/management plan
• Water (rain/water table)
• Serious deterioration of materials and structures
• Deterioration of the architectural and urban coherence and integrity of the property
• Lack of adequate management, planning and conservation mechanisms
• Absence of detailed and technical information on the state of conservation of the property since 2007
• Flooding and water damage

• Considerable decay of materials and structures resulting from lack of comprehensive conservation and maintenance, and torrential rains in 2004, 2005 and 2010
• Deterioration of architectural and urban coherence compromising the integrity and authenticity of the property
• Lack of adequate and efficient management, planning and conservation mechanisms, and institutional arrangements

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5965 

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5965

Total amount provided: USD 20,000 (Spanish Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage) for the planning, implementation and subsequent publications of participatory workshops and meetings with artisans and civil society in Coro and La Vela

On 1 February 2018, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/658/documents/, and responds to the matters raised by the World Heritage Committee in Decision 41 COM 7A.48, and to the revised corrective measures approved in Decision 38 COM 7A.23. The State Party provides the following information:

• The proposals for redefining the property’s boundaries are still being studied in light of the elaboration of the Management Plan. The State Party notes that the expansion of both components’ buffer zones is desireable in order to incorporate other important buildings of heritage value in adjacent blocks. These areas are more heterogeneous and in a weaker state of conservation, but currently benefit from some conservation and restoration investments. The buffer zone extensions will be submitted at a later stage as a Minor Boundary Modification. A detailed description of the proposed buffer zone extensions is provided for both components;
• Advances in the elaboration of the property’s Management Plan are detailed, which is being led by a Mixed Commission involving the relevant stakeholders, including community councils. The detailed diagnostic phase is almost complete, upon which the Plan’s proposal will be based. A database has been developed to analyze information collected on the state of conservation of approximately 600 buildings in the property’s two components, to aid in identifying vulnerabilities and appropriate actions to undertake. The Management Plan should be finalized and approved by March 2019 according to the basic timeline provided. The Management Plan is conceived of as a global programmatic document to not only strengthen the conservation and management of the property, but also contribute to the social and economic development of the local communities;
• Draft versions of several chapters elaborated in the diagnostic phase of the Management Plan were submitted;
• A Risk Plan for the property is mentioned as being developed with the Civil Defense, National Guard, and Fire Department;
• Regarding the property’s drainage system, some cleaning and dismantling work was undertaken in December 2017. A Master Plan and diagnostic studies were produced in previous years. The substantial budget allocated for the drainage system in late 2017 is currently under review by the State authorities. A basic timeline for the drainage system’s construction from April to December 2018, developed by the Mixed Commission, was presented;
• Basic information is provided on the majority of the corrective measures.

It is recommended that the Committee commend the State Party on its continued commitment to improving the state of conservation and management of the property. It is clear that community councils, and the community at large, are integral actors in these processes, and benefit from a range of awareness-raising and capacity-building initiatives related to cultural heritage.

The redefinition of the property’s boundaries, which is still in the analysis stage, is critical in the framework of the Management Plan’s elaboration, and decision-making for the property’s conservation and management more broadly. It is therefore recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to finalize a clear boundary definition proposal, with the assistance of ICOMOS, and submit a Minor Boundary Modification for the extension of the buffer zones, as a matter of priority.

The progress in the diagnostic phase of the Management Plan, and the draft chapters provided, demonstrate important advances in implementing this corrective measure. The State Party should be requested to finalize the Management Plan and incorporate the necessary strategic plans and actions to address all vulnerabilities in the property and to ensure its long-term sustainability in terms of conservation, management, resource allocation, and relevant socio-economic factors.

Regarding the implementation of an effective drainage system, it is noted that little progress has been achieved in the past year. Recognizing the previous completion of studies for the property’s drainage system, and that the budget for the project is currently under review, it is further recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to begin implementation of the proposed actions, according to a prioritized and costed timeline, and demonstrate that sufficient financial resources have been secured for the project.

While the information provided by the State Party demonstrates satisfactory advances in the implementation of many of the corrective measures, further information and actions are needed to ensure that the key issues previously identified as affecting the property have been adequately addressed. The State Party should also provide a detailed analysis on the progress towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), as adopted in Decision 38 COM 7A.23.

While the basic timelines for completing the Management Plan and constructing the drainage system are appreciated, it is also recommended that the Committee request the State Party to develop an updated and more detailed timeline for their implementation and for any other outstanding corrective measures, given that the additional two years’ timeframe noted in Decision 39 COM 7A.48 lapsed in 2017. The technical advice to be provided by ICOMOS in 2018 will assist in the completion of the remaining corrective measures, especially the elaboration of the Management Plan and the implementation of an effective drainage system.