Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab)

• Absence of coordination mechanisms
• Degradation of the mural paintings and buildings
• Financial resources: Lack of resources for the management structure
• Housing
• Illegal activities: Illegal constructions and urban encroachments
• Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
• Land conversion
• Legal framework: Absence of legislative framework
• Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
• Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure: Uncontrolled tourist development and absence of visitor management
• Management systems/ management plan: Absence of a comprehensive management plan

Total amount granted: USD 500,000 from the Italian funds-in-Trust for the rehabilitation and valorization of the Qadisha Valley

On 23 December 2022, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, a summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/850/documents. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented as follows:

• A new architect specializing in the restoration of historic monuments has been appointed by the Management Committee. He is responsible for planning projects in collaboration with the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA) and other partners, for monitoring interventions to safeguard the site, for assisting the inhabitants in drawing up restoration requests, and for collaborating with the Federation of Municiplaities of Bcharreh District in the maintenance and cleaning of the paths;
• The process of revising the boundaries of the property and the buffer zone has been delayed due to the financial constraints faced by the State Party;
• The "Rehabilitation and Enhancement of Ouadi Qadisha" project, financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, has improved access to the valley by building three paths (from Mazraat el-Nahr to Wadi Qannoubine, from Hadshit to the monastery of Deir el-Salib and from Hasroun to the monastery of Mar Asia), as well as consolidating structures and restoring frescoes at the monasteries of Deir el-Salib and Mar Asia, where excavations have also been carried out;
• The restoration of four traditional houses in Qannoubine, according to established criteria, is planned;
• As for the project to improve access to the Hadshit cemetery, the DGA's alternative solution, positively assessed by ICOMOS-Lebanon, has been implemented.

According to the UNESCO Office in Beirut, the road project linking the village of Hadath el Jebbeh to the village of Qannoubine, which is not mentioned in the report, has been suspended due to a lack of available funding.

The progress made in implementing the action plan should be welcomed, particularly through the "Rehabilitation and Valorization of Ouadi Qadisha" project implemented by the UNESCO Office in Beirut in collaboration with the DGA, which has improved accessibility in the valley, as well as conservation and presentation at Mar Assia and Deir el-Salib. The monasteries are accessible via two of the three paths that have been developed. The restoration of the frescoes has also enabled the training of two young local experts.

It is also appreciated that the UNESCO Office in Beirut has planned to organize similar activities in order to provide support with appropriate solutions for the sustainable development of the valley, improving the livelihoods of the people, while contributing to the promotion of responsible tourism, as recommended by the 2012 mission.

The proposed alternative for access to the Hadshit cemetery, preserves the authenticity of the property, and confirms the importance of establishing a management and coordination mechanism that involves all stakeholders, including the DGA, which is responsible for ensuring the preservation of the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property.

It is noted that the revision of the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, already delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been delayed due to the difficult context the country is experiencing and the resulting financial and social constraints. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to continue this process in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS when the situation permits, and to submit a proposal t for Minor Boundary Modification, in accordance with paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines, for examination by the Advisory Bodies. A request for international assistance could be submitted for this purpose.