State of Conservation (SOC)

The following desired state of conservation was adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City , 2008):

a) Rehabilitation of at least 70% of the heritage monuments;

b) Surveyed and demarcated boundaries as well as the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje Ya Kati;

c) Established proper land-use plan;

d) Demonstrated progress in the implementation of the management and the conservation plan;

e) Fully established on-site administrative structures;

f) Halted sea-wave action.

Total amount provided to the property: The Norwegian Funds-in-Trust provided support for UNESCO rehabilitation project (USD 201,390).

Requests Approved: 0 (from1983-2009)
Total Amount Ap proved: 56,053USD

February 2004: ICOMOS mission; June 2008 and March 2009: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions.

a) Lack of approved boundaries for core and buffer zones linked to the land-use plans and appropriate protection;

b) Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric;

c) Sea wave erosion;

d) Theft of stone from ruins for use as building material;

e) Lack of functioning local consultative committee;

f) Lack of implementation of the conservation and management plans. 

The following timeframe was adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008):

a) Implement urgent measures to halt sea-wave action;

b) Survey and demarcate the boundaries of the property including extension;

c) Improve and implement the management and conservation plans;

d) Provide for on-site management staff;

e) Halt the vegetation growth within and around monuments;

f) Halt of illegal removal of monuments’ stone for private constructions.

Timeframe for the implementation of corrective measures

The following corrective measures were adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008):

a) Changes within two years:

Delineation of the boundaries of the property and buffer zones. This should also include the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje Ya Kati, the boundaries and the extension to be submitted for consideration by the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee;

b) Changes within three years:

(i) Implementation of the management plan should be advanced, and there should be signs of rehabilitation of architectural heritage;

(ii) Management structures should be well established in each serial site with an operational office and staff;

(iii) Establishment of a proper land-use plan to protect sites integrity and resolve future land conflicts;

c) Changes within five years:

Recovery of most of the architectural heritage should be completed (though full recovery will take much longer and will require sustained effort for over a decade).

On 25 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara was submitted by the State Party. The report directly addressed the issues outlined in the Decision 33 COM 7A.14 of the World Heritage Committee at its 33rdsession in Seville, 2009.

The State Party’s report indicates that, by means of an experts workshop in July 2009 supported by the African World Heritage Fund, it has developed a Three Year Strategic Plan to implement the corrective measures. Progress to date includes:

a) Staff numbers at the site have been increased to nine by the addition of two senior conservation technicians;

b) The Government of Japan through the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers has been requested to provide two volunteers to assist the site manager with fund raising, land use planning, and strategies to alleviate coastal erosion. It is expected that the latter will involve environment protection programs to be implemented at district, village and site levels;

c) Regular meetings at district and site levels to create awareness of the required measures.

The State Party also reports on ongoing conservation works at the Gereza (Fort), the Malindi mosque and cemetery at Kilwa Kisiwani thanks to financial assistance from the World Monuments Fund and the United Nations Joint Fund Programme 1. These include stabilisation and consolidation works at the Gereza and sea wall, and restoration of the arched gateway. Reconstruction of the collapsed wall protecting the Royal burial places at Songo Mnara was funded by the State Party and the World Heritage Fund through an International Assistance.

In addition, the State Party announced its plan to construct a site museum and staff offices at Kilwa Kisiwani. It is proposed to locate the building away from the monuments to avoid visual intrusion or adverse impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. Architectural and other information on the proposal will be provided to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for comments and advice before implementation.

However, no information has been provided by the State Party on demarcation of the boundaries, percentage of the conserved structures or control of vegetation growth on the monuments.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies acknowledge the progress made with some of the required corrective measures and commends the State Party on the development of a three year strategy for the implementation of the corrective measures. They consider that it would be helpful for this plan, together with resource implications and the management structure associated with it, to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies. 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that visitor centres are proposed for Kilwa Kisiwani, Songo Mnara and Kilwa Kivinje in the Management Plan in line with the proposed interpretation of the property, as well as the information centre originally planned at Kilwa Masoko, however consider that the State Party should give the utmost priority to the implementation of the corrective measures in order to achieve the Desired state of conservation.