Aphrodisias

Factors identified at the time of inscription:

• Need to revise the Management Plan 
• Lack of legal protection for the entirety of the buffer zone
• Need to integrate the local community into the management system for the property
• Slow implementation of the drainage rehabilitation plan within the walled city
• Lack of a fire response plan 
• Need to expand the patrols by the agricultural guards to include the quarry component and the whole of the buffer zone
• Need to conduct a full 3D inventory of the quarry faces in order to provide a baseline record of their condition
• Need to implement corrective conservation measures within the quarry component

On 6 December 2019, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1519/documents/, and addresses recommendations made at the time of inscription as follows:

• An assessment of the 5-year implementation of the management plan has been completed, as has an evaluation of the plan, legal regulations, the recommendations of the ICOMOS evaluation and the World Heritage Committee decision. A formal decision to revise the Management Plan was taken in March 2019, and relevant technical and legal studies are underway;
• A large part of the buffer zone is owned by the Treasury and protected under Forestry Law. For privately-owned land, development control is provided by the municipality development plan. Approaches to the conservation of these areas could be defined within the revised management plan;
• Local people are legally obliged to participate in the management system through representatives. All decisions in relation to work under the management plan are taken with such representatives;
• The excavation team have formulated and implemented monitoring indicators for the quarry component;
• Measures taken within the scope of the drainage rehabilitation plan to address rising ground water within the city are described. The key issue, however, is the removal of run-off from the hills to the northeast before it reaches the property. Sewerage and infrastructure works have been carried out to control water flow, and further work may be planned;
• Fire response plans and training are conducted by the excavation team and the Museum Directorate. Museum security cameras cover the property and are permanently monitored. The property is kept clear of tall grass and vegetation. There are fire extinguishers and fire cabinets in the museum and the excavation house, and two mobile water tanks on site;
• Patrolling of the property has been expanded. The gendarmerie carry out patrols in and around the city as well as around the quarries and the buffer zone;
• The excavation team has carried out a full 3D inventory of the quarry faces to provide a baseline record of their condition;
• In response to the Committee’s recommendation to implement remedial conservation measures within the quarry component, it is reported that this is in a good state of preservation, broadly the same condition as in ancient times, and requires protection rather than conservation.

Progress has made in relation to some of the Committee’s recommendations and useful clarification is provided, for example, on the involvement of the local community in the management system and the police patrolling of the property. However, there are elements which have not been addressed and require further work. In particular, it is concerning that the formal revision of the management plan is apparently still at a preliminary stage. The previous plan covered the period 2014-2018 and subsequently requires updating, not least to reflect revised boundaries and protection measures. For example, it is not clear from the map provided that the quarry component is a 1^st Degree Archaeological Conservation Zone. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit the management plan as a priority to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its adoption.

The Committee’s request to the State Party to provide legal protection for the entirety of the buffer zone should be reiterated. In this regard, it would be appropriate to extend the 3^rd Degree Archaeological Conservation Zone to cover the entire buffer zone. This would also assist with development control under the municipal plan.

Regarding the quarry component, the State Party should be commended for conducting a full 3D inventory of the quarry faces to provide a baseline survey of their condition. However, it is unclear how this 3D survey is used in the monitoring of the quarries. The ICOMOS evaluation detailed some past and current uses and intrusions that require attention and noted that there was no conservation programme for the quarries. In this context, it is recommended that the Committee seek clarification regarding the monitoring programme and reiterate its recommendation that the State Party implement remedial conservation measures within the quarry component.

The progress undertaken within the scope of the drainage rehabilitation plan to address the issue of rising ground water inside the city is noted, including the detailed study of the hydrology of the property. The State Party should provide an update on this work and its results. Sewerage and infrastructure works have been implemented in Dortyol neighbourhood to mitigate the major issue of rainwater run-off from the hills to the northeast of the city. It should be noted that Dortyol neighbourhood is within the buffer zone and, at least partially, within the area currently protected as a 3^rd Degree Conservation Zone. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to clarify whether this is regarded as ‘compulsory infrastructure’, whether an impact study was carried out prior to this work, and how the State Party formally assesses the impacts of such infrastructure.

While the progress made in relation to facilities and training to mitigate the risk of fire should be recognised and commended, it is clear that there is a need for a detailed and coordinated fire response plan for the property, as has been developed for the excavation house. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit a full fire prevention plan, including provision for a permanent fire suppression system, to the World Heritage Centre.