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State of Conservation (SOC)

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata (2012)

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0
Total Amount Ap proved: 0USD

Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

heavy rainfall

Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues

 On 22 April 2012, the World Heritage Centre was informed that a red-frescoed wall had collapsed in the World Heritage property Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata. This most recent collapse is the fourth in a series of structural collapses at the property. Following heavy rainfall, there were two collapses in November 2010 that substantially affected the House of Gladiators and the House of the Moralist, and in December 2011, a courtyard column of the House of Loreius Tiburtinus – also known as the House of Octavius Quartio – collapsed.

Despite funds from different sources, including 105 million euros from the European Union, which have been provided for the conservation of the property, the recent series of collapses shows that previous efforts have not been sufficient to prevent the continued deterioration of the property and that a more effective approach to the problem needs to be found urgently.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

36COM7C
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1.   Having examined document WHC-12/36.COM/7C,

2.   Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7C and 35 COM 12E adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),

 

Significant factors negatively impacting the Outstanding Universal Value

3.   Takes note of the statistical analysis and encourages the World Heritage Centre to continue with the production of such informative data, including regional analyses;

 

Recurrent conservation issues

4.   Also takes note of the completion of the independent review process on extractive industries and World Heritage properties as a contribution to the Policy Guidelines development and invites the World Heritage Centre to disseminate this review as widely as possible;

 

Disaster risk reduction

5.   Requests States Parties to make every endeavor to take into consideration disaster risks, including from human-induced hazards, in the management plans and systems for the World Heritage properties located in their territories;  

6.   Also requests the World Heritage Centre, with the support of the Advisory Bodies, to continue working with global and regional institutions involved in disaster risk management, with an aim to mainstream a concern for heritage within their policies and programmes as well as in UN-led processes such as the Post-Disaster-Needs-Assessment (PDNA);

 

Follow-up to decisions 35 COM 7C and 35 COM 12E

7.   Further takes note of the information provided regarding the recognition for the protectors of World Heritage properties in conflict and post-conflict zones, including through the use of blue/green berets or other appropriate insignia;

8.   Takes note furthermore of the correspondence process in place to increase dialogue between the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies regarding conservation issues at World Heritage properties;

9.   Thanks the Government of Flanders for its support to the establishment of a “state of conservation information system” hosted on the World Heritage Centre’s website and further requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report on the database and its access online, during the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2013;

 

Other conservation issues not reported on at the 36th session under Items 7A and 7B

10.  Expresses its concern with regard to the state of conservation of World Heritage property of “Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annuziata” and urges the State Party of Italy to intensify its efforts towards implementing the Committee’s decision taken at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011);

11.  Extends its sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in northern Italy; also encourages the State Party of Italy to continue its important efforts for the assessment of the damage occurred and for the planning and implementation of the necessary remedial measures, including with a view to strengthening the overall resilience of the three properties in the future against all possible hazards; and requests furthermore the State Party of Italy to provide to the World Heritage Centre updated information on the situation and to coordinate with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies possible initiatives for the recovery and restoration of the three affected properties;

12.   Finally requests the State Party of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to halt the proposed development of a golf resort at the World Heritage property “Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast” until its potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property has been assessed.

Draft Decision: 36 COM 7C

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7C,

2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7C and 35 COM 12E adopted at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011),

 

Significant factors negatively impacting the Outstanding Universal Value

3. Takes note of the statistical analysis and encourages the World Heritage Centre to continue with the production of such informative data, including regional analyses ;

 

Recurrent conservation issues

4. Also takes note of the independent review on extractive industries and World Heritage properties and welcomes this contribution to the Policy Guidelines development process;

 

Disaster risk reduction

5. Reiterates its request to States Parties to ensure that disaster risks, including from human-induced hazards such as conflicts and political unrest, are given appropriate consideration in the management plans and systems for the World Heritage properties located in their territories;  

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre, with the support of the Advisory Bodies, to continue working with global and regional institutions involved in disaster risk management, with an aim to mainstream a concern for heritage within their policies and programmes as well as in UN-led processes such as the Post-Disaster-Needs-Assessment (PDNA);

 

Follow-up to decisions 35 COM 7C and 35 COM 12E

7. Further takes note of the information provided regarding the recognition for the protectors of World Heritage properties in conflict and post conflict zones, including through the use of blue/green berets or other appropriate insignia;

8. Takes note furthermore of the correspondence process in place to increase dialogue between the States Parties, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies regarding conservation issues at World Heritage properties;

9. Thanks the Flanders Government for its support to the establishment of a “state of conservation information system” hosted on the World Heritage Centre’s website and also requests the World Heritage Centre to present a progress report on the database and its access online,during the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2013;

 

Other conservation issues not reported on at the 36th session under Items 7A and 7B

10. Expresses its concern with regard to the state of conservation of World Heritage property of “Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annuziata” and urges the State Party of Italy to intensify its efforts towards implementing the Committee’s decision taken at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011);

11. Extends its sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in northern Italy; also encourages the State Party of Italy to continue its important efforts for the assessment of the damage occurred and for the planning and implementation of the necessary remedial measures, including with a view to strengthening the overall resilience of the three properties in the future against all possible hazards; and further requests the State Party of Italy to provide to the World Heritage Centre updated information on the situation and to coordinate with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies possible initiatives for the recovery and restoration of the three affected properties;

12. Requests furthermore the State Party of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to halt the proposed development of a golf resort at the World Heritage property “Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast” until its potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage property has been assessed.

 

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata
State Party:
Italy
Date of Inscription: 1997
Nomination records (Year): 1996
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)(v)
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
Threats*
  • Storms
  • Other Threats:
    collapse of walls
Documents
WHC-12/36.COM/7C
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 625

* : 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.