Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa

a) Frequent seismic activity in the region and flooding during the rainy season;

b) Demolition of houses in the Historical Centre and the restoration of the San Agustin Church;

c) Material decay and abandonment of buildings, as well as the effect of heavy traffic on historic buildings.

At its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008), the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to redefine the limits of the buffer zone, tackle demolition issues, progress in the disaster preparedness plan, documentation and inventory, support community participation and draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value in the light of the recommendations submitted by the reactive monitoring mission report in 2008.

On 3 February 2009, the State Party’s provided a report on the state of conservation, detailing progress made on implementing the decisions made by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008).

a) Redefinition of the buffer zone

The Municipality of Arequipa started work to delimit and declare the Chilina Valley as an environmental reserve and as national cultural heritage to deter further urban development. To enlarge the buffer zone towards the valley, the Technical Office of the Historic Centre is preparing documentation to develop regulatory measures to guarantee the protection of the area at the municipal level.

b) Planning and management system

Authorities at the Municipal level have revised existing arrangements to consolidate Municipal Superintendence for the historic centre and zone of monuments at Arequipa. It is expected that the entity will coordinate modifications to existing instruments, including the Master Plan and Strategic Plan for the city, to meet criteria and regulations set forth in the World Heritage Convention. This review process will be carried out in collaboration with the national and local authorities for culture (National Institute for Culture-INC).

c) Demolitions

The Municipality is working closely with the INC to deter illegal demolitions at the city and to apply sanctions when applicable. The new management arrangements have improved communication among different entities involved at the local level to address this issue. No specific information on the application of the technical and administrative regulations process related to demolitions has been provided. The State Party also reports that the INC initiated 27 sanction processes although no details are provided on the specificity of the infringements.

d) Disaster Preparedness Plan

State Party reports that the completion of the plan is foreseen in 2009. Regulations have already been emitted by the Municipality to decrease air pollution and risk prevention and mitigation within the Historic Centre while the plan is being concluded.

e) Inventory

A new programme was started between the INC and the Municipal superintendence to declare buildings as historic monuments, 150 buildings have been identified but full recording has yet to be started.

f) Community participation

Evaluations have been carried out and initial coordination has been established with civil associations working at the Historic Centre. The INC is also preparing an outreach programme to enhance valorisation of heritage. State Party reports that technical assistance will be requested to the World Heritage Fund to create a broad scale participatory programme for the Historic Centre.

The State Party also responded to the following recommendations

a) Pollution of natural water systems

Although no progress is reported pertaining to the recommendation, it is foreseen that it will be included in the environmental reserve.

b) Pollution and traffic congestion

Existing proposal is considered an alternative to mitigate the number of taxis in the city and provide more efficient transportation means. Recommendations will be considered as part of the on-going evaluation to address this issue.

c) Restoration and Reconstruction Techniques and Materials, including Training

Two specialization programmes for professionals in conservation interventions have been developed and the Spanish Cooperation Agency has opened an Escuela Taller for technicians. The State Party reports that technical assistance will be requested to the World Heritage Fund for a capacity building initiative to address conservation problems to increase the number of specialized personnel and create facilities.

The report included proposals at four streets for their eventual transformation into pedestrian areas, which include underground cable systems, rainwater drainages, lightning systems, replacement of pavements and panels with heritage information at significant buildings. A similar project is foreseen as a collaborative endeavour between the Municipality and the Spanish Cooperation Agency, which will also include interventions at the facades. Night illumination projects have been implemented and are also planned for particularly significant buildings.

The World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS remain concerned about the conservation and management efficacy at the historic centre and in the enforcement of legal and regulatory measures. Although the new management structure should assist in addressing overlapping functions, technical capacity is still insufficient to attend to the number of interventions proposed for the historic centre, which range from conservation of historic buildings to new transportation systems. Implementation of recommendations is still in many cases at a planning stage that does not translate to application in practice.No Statement of Outstanding Universal Value has been received.