Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata
Factors affecting the property in 2010*
- Financial resources
- Human resources
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Legal framework
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other climate change impacts
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Socio-economic and climatic changes;
b) Gradual abandonment of the towns;
c) Transformations made to houses affecting their authenticity;
d) Tourism pressure;
e) No technical conservation capacities;
f) No management mechanism (including legal);
g) Lack of human and financial resources;
h) Weak institutional coordination.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2010
Total amount provided to the property: USD 44,166 in the framework of the France-UNESCO Convention; USD 40,860 for the supervision of the World Bank - Mauritanian Government-UNESCO tripartite project (USD 1,245.000).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2010
Total amount approved : 139,632 USD
| 2010 | Sauvegarde urgente du Ksar de Tichitt (anciens Ksour de ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 2001 |
Realisation of preliminary Management plans for the ...
(Approved)
Reapproval: 29 Jun, 2002 (n°1501 - 20,000 USD)
|
20,000 USD |
| 2001 | Installation of Plaques and Publication of Leaflets to ... (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
| 2000 | Restoration of the site of Tichitt (Approved) | 6,000 USD |
| 2000 | Architectural models of the ancient cities in ... (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
| 1999 | Stabilitation of the sands surrounding the site of ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1998 | Conservation of the Minaret of the Oasis of Ouadane (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
| 1995 | Preparation of tentative list and of the nomination ... (Approved) | 13,632 USD |
Missions to the property until 2010**
April 2001: World Heritage Centre; 2002-2004: six World Heritage Centre missions in the framework of the World Bank project; December 2006: France-UNESCO mission and joint ICOMOS-World Heritage Centre reactive monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2010
On 24 January 2010, the State Party submitted a very full and detailed report on the state of conservation of each ksar. This report indicates that in general the ksour have not undergone any change greatly affecting the state of conservation of the property and that in the opinion of the State Party, the state of conservation is satisfactory. Information is provided hereunder for each ksar evoking also certain specific problems to be monitored regularly.
a) At Chinguetti, a problem of silting;
b) At Ouadane, use of cement, paint and installation of ventilation windows, visible water pipes, as well as the reinstallation of the Mauritel antenna in an open area, are all new phenomena having a visual impact on the town;
c) At Tichitt, the introduction of power lines and the development of gas kitchens, as well as the problem of the conservation of the minaret of the mosque;
d) At Oualata, the proliferation of power lines, the installation of parabolic antennas and decaying rubbish.
The report stipulated that several measures aimed at strengthening the conservation of the ksour have been undertaken by the State Party, notably:
a) Reinforcing the action of the National Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Ancient Towns (FNSVA) through the establishment of a Public Fund to finance different conservation operations and the enhancement of the ksour;
b) Training for the local conservation services in treatment techniques for manuscripts;
c) Preparation of the Management Plan for the ksour;
d) Preparation of the restoration of the minaret and of the Tichitt Mosque. The report indicates that the formalities and the tender for the execution of the work are nearing completion.
Moreover, the State Party recommends the implementation of several actions for the increased reinforcement of the property’s conservation, such as:
e) An awareness raising campaign targeted at local populations;
f) Training of personnel from the local conservation services on conservation techniques for the built environment;
g) Strengthening of the sub-regional exchanges initiated during the Periodic Report;
h) Development and implementation of the Management Plan for the property.
Concerning the implementation of Decision 31 COM 7B.64, the report notes in particular:
i) Decree N° 2009-246 of 16 December 2009, defining the organizational, management and operational regulations of the Fund for the urban and built rehabilitation of the Ancient Towns. This Fund aims at financing all the safeguarding and conservation activities for the property. In particular, it will serve for the implementation of the Management Plan.
j) A law for the protection of the different types of cultural heritage is under preparation. Its main objective is to fill the gaps and/or imprecisions noted in Law 46-2005, concerning the protection of cultural heritage.
k) Local conservation services have been established in the different ksour and the Management Plan is under preparation and shall be submitted to UNESCO for support and approval very shortly.
l) A training programme for the personnel of the local conservation services has been approved: it will be submitted to UNESCO for support and approval.
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note with satisfaction the progress achieved by the State Party in the implementation of the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee. They recall the importance of developing the Management Plan to coordinate all the projects in the property and guarantee the implementation of existing regulations. It is also essential to ensure the financial, human and technical resources for an operational management system for the property. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also recall the possibility for the State Party to submit an International Assistance Request to facilitate the pursuit of the work already begun.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2010
34 COM 7B.60
Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata (Mauritania) (C 750)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 33 COM 7B.59, adopted at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009),
3. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved by the State Party in the implementation of some of the recommendations of Decision 31 COM 7B.64, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
4. Requests the State Party to implement all its recommendations, in particular those concerning the establishment of legal protection, and the consolidation of appropriate local management mechanisms;
5. Urges the State Party to accelerate the preparation of the Management Plan for the property;
6. Also requests the State Party to transmit the technical dossier for the restoration of the Tichitt Mosque for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies before works begin;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, a report on the progress accomplished in the implementation of the recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.
34 COM 8E
Adoption of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/8E,
2. Adopts the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, as presented in the Annex I of Documents WHC-10/34.COM/8E, WHC-10/34.COM/8E.Add and WHC-10/34.COM/8E.Add.2 for the following World Heritage properties:
- Algeria: Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad; M'Zab Valley; Djémila; Tipasa; Tassili n'Ajjer; Timgad; Kasbah of Algiers;
- Austria: Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg; Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn; Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape;
- Bulgaria: Boyana Church; Madara Rider; Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak; Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo; Rila Monastery; Ancient City of Nessebar; Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari;
- Côte d'Ivoire: Comoé National Park;
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: Okapi Wildlife Reserve;
- Denmark: Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church; Roskilde Cathedral;
- Ethiopia: SimienNational Park;
- Israel: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba;
- Jordan: Petra; Quseir Amra; Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a);
- Lebanon: Anjar; Byblos; Baalbek; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz-el-Rab);
- Malawi: Lake Malawi National Park;
- Mauritania: Banc d'Arguin National Park; Ancient Ksour of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt and Oualata;
- Morocco: Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida);
- Niger: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves; W National Park of Niger;
- Oman: Bahla Fort;
- Portugal: Laurisilva of Madeira;
- Senegal: Island of Gorée; Niokolo-Koba National Park;
- Seychelles: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve;
- South Africa: Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs.
- Spain: Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville ;
- Sudan: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region;
- Syrian Arab Republic: Ancient City of Bosra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din; City of Damascus; Site of Palmyra;
- Tunisia: Archaeological Site of Carthage; Amphitheatre of El Jem; Ichkeul National Park; Medina of Sousse; Kairouan; Medina of Tunis; Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis; Dougga / Thugga;
- Uganda: Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi;
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Saltaire; Dorset and East Devon Coast; Derwent Valley Mills; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Liverpool - Maritime Mercantile City; Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.
- United Republic of Tanzania: Selous Game Reserve; Kilimanjaro National Park;
- Yemen: Historic Town of Zabid;
3. Decides that retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties in Danger will be reviewed in priority;
4. Further decides that, considering the high number of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value to be examined, the order in which they will be reviewed will follow the Second Cycle of Periodic Reporting, namely:
- World Heritage properties in the Arab States;
- World Heritage properties in Africa;
- World Heritage properties in Asia and the Pacific;
- World Heritage properties in Latin America and the Caribbean;
- World Heritage properties in Europe and North America.
Draft Decision: 34 COM 7B.60
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-10/34.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 33 COM 7B.59, adopted at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009),
3. Notes with satisfaction the progress achieved by the State Party in the implementation of some of the recommendations of Decision 31 COM 7B.64, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
4. Requests the State Party to implement all its recommendations, in particular those concerning the establishment of legal protection, and the consolidation of appropriate local management mechanisms;
5. Urges the State Party to accelerate the preparation of the Management Plan for the property;
6. Also requests the State Party to transmit the technical dossier for the restoration of the Tichitt Mosque for examination by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies before works begin;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2012, a report on the progress accomplished in the implementation of the recommendations for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 36th session in 2012.
MauritaniaExports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
