Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara

• Lack of approved boundaries for the property and buffer zones linked to the land-use plans and appropriate protection
• Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric
• Sea wave erosion
• Theft of stone from ruins for use as building material
• Lack of functioning local consultative committee
• Lack of implementation of the conservation and management plans
• Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation (lack of tourism development plan)

Deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed 

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586

Total amount granted: USD 201,390 from the Norwegian Funds-in-Trust for UNESCO rehabilitation project

On 6 December 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/144/documents/ and responds to previous Committee Decisions as follows:

• The State Party acknowledges the Committee’s recommendation to consider a longer implementation timeframe for the revised Integrated Management Plan (IMP) (2016-2019);
• The revised IMP will include both a detailed Land Use Plan and a Tourism Development Plan as well as a new regulatory framework for dealing with matters related to the establishment of the boundaries and buffer zone. These documents will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre in 2021;
• The State Party has entrusted the stewardship of the property to the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) in accordance with the Antiquity Act Cap 333 (revised edition 2002);
• The conservation work to construct the protective sea wall (riprap wall) and to strengthen the lower base of the north-eastern tower of the Gereza Fort (referred to as the Portuguese Tower or Fort) has been completed. The State Party intends to undertake similar work on the western side of the Gereza Fort, along the Malindi Seafront, at Husuni Kubwa and at Makutani. It also plans to improve tourist facilities and amenities by constructing a jetty and recreation centres at Songo Mnara and Kilwa Kisiwani and by improving the existing jetty and other visitor facilities in Kilwa Kisiwani as foreseen in the IMP.

In response to the significant threats the property faces related to the deterioration of the architectural fabric, sea wave erosion, weak management system and lack of management plan, the Committee decided to inscribe the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004 in order to mobilise both, technical and financial support from local and international donors. This decision led to a marked improvement in the management and state of conservation of the property. As a result of substantial progress, it was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2014 (Decision 38 COM 7A.27). With the support of UNESCO International Assistance approved in 2015, important conservation works were undertaken to strengthen the coastal sea wall to the west of Malindi mosque and the attached cemetery down to the Gereza Fort in Kilwa Kisiwani to protect these structures from destructive tidal wave action. In 2016, the IMP was approved. Its implementation plan contains 18 targets to support effective management of the property, enhance its governance, and steer activities related to income generation for poor families. The plan also proposed to establish a participatory management system to engage communities and stakeholders, to improve visitor management, to develop a maintenance plan and to consolidate all monuments by 2019.

Although the IMP covered the essential issues and challenges the property is facing, the implementation timeframe of 4 years (2016-2019) was too short to implement all the recommendations proposed by the 2013 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, and to put into practice all targets and activities developed within the implementation plan. The State Party has taken note of this challenge and is considering proposing a longer implementation timeframe for the revised IMP, but has provided no new timeframes.

For the revision of the IMP, it is therefore important for the State Party not only to consider a broader discussion and engagement with local communities, stakeholders, and partners, but also to address the following aspects:

• Create an overview of all outstanding Committee requests expressed in past Decisions and develop a work-plan to address these issues, including repeated Committee requests going back to 2007 (Decision 31 COM 7A.15), in relation to the preparation of the Land Use Plan for the property, the formulation of the Sustainable Tourism Development Plan, and clarification of boundaries;
• Finalize the 18 targets of the IMP, notably the elaboration of the mechanism related to the governance of the property so as to engage communities and stakeholders in the implementation of the revised IMP;
• Develop further projects for conservation works, notably the completion of conservation work at Gereza Fort, Malindi Sea Front, Husuni Kubwa and Makutani;
• Consider how the boundaries might be extended to cover Sanje ya Kati island and Kilwa Kivinje, and how an appropriate buffer zone for the property might be defined;
• For large conservation projects and any projects to improve tourist facilities and enhance tourism development in Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, these should be submitted in outline for review with appropriate and detailed documentation on archaeological and Heritage and Environmental Impact Assessments before any commitment is made.

Finally, for the sustainable development of the property, the State Party should also ensure that these interventions be related to each other to create a synergy that supports and promotes the efforts to safeguard the OUV of the property.