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State of Conservation (SOC)

Abu Mena (2007)

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Following the reactive monitoring mission carried out in November 2005, a series of corrective measures were identified and discussed with the State Party. Those measures would allow reaching the benchmarks necessary for the removal of the property from the World Heritage List in Danger which are being proposed in the draft decision below.

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from2001-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 7,000USD

2001   Technical advice on ground water related problems at the World ...   7,000  USD
Missions**

Hydrology expert mission in 2002; World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission in November 2005

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Rise in the water table;

b) Impact on structures due to earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment;

c) Lack of conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc);

d) Need for a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.

Corrective Measures

The corrective measures recommended during the 2005 reactive monitoring mission are proposed in the draft decision below.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

At its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), the Committee took note of the timeframe proposed by the State Party which was of three years. However, at this stage, this seems unrealistic and an additional year is recommended in the draft decision.

Current conservation issues

The State Party supplied a “Technical Report on Abu Mina Monastery Site and Underground Water Problems by Dr. Hassan Fahmy Iman (Consultant to the Supreme Council of Antiquities)”, which was received on 30 January 2007.

It was reported that the proposed conservation plan would concentrate on the protection of surface and below-ground archaeological elements during the lowering of the water table, to monitor the structural stability of all elements.Recent technological developments will be used to assess the structural efficiency of the building materials. An architectural documentation system is to be set up. Furthermore, a deterioration phenomena survey, geotechnical investigations, and structural analysis will be carried out.

The report indicates that a detailed soil investigation was carried out, including monitoring of the ground water level variations, field tests and the production of maps. Based on the data gathered, a proposal is included for the lowering of the water table.

A draft outline for a restoration plan is also included, reiterating the recommendations of the experts’ mission of 2005.

In February 2007, in response to the request formulated within the Retrospective Inventory exercise, the State Party provided the World Heritage Centre with an appropriate map of the property, clearly indicating its boundaries. The next step is to adopt a buffer zone that would protect the area from development pressure, as the one included in the report is not clear enough nor confirmed officially.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

31COM7A.16
Link to the decision

  The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.19, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),
  3. Congratulates the State Party for its efforts in addressing the issue of the rising water table;
  4. Adopts the following, identified by the 2005 reactive monitoring mission, as the desired state of conservation for the property:

a) Consolidated structures;

b)Water table lowered and monitoring system established in and around the property;

c)Management plan implemented;

5.Urges the State Party to implement the necessary corrective measures, by 2010, as follows:

a) Carry out a rapid condition survey of all excavated remains and urgent conservation measures in order to provide protection to structures against earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment;

b) Lower the water table by means of drainage ditches and pipes, inside and around the archaeological area;

c) Establish an efficient system for monitoring the water table in the archaeological site and in the surrounding zones;

d) Prepare a conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc);

e) Undertake consultations with stakeholders with the objective of preparing a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.

6.Requests the State Party to identify a buffer zone surrounding the core area of the property, together with protection regulations and to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 the relevant information and map for consideration by the World Heritage Committee;

7. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

8.Further requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2008, a detailed progress report on the implementation of the above measures, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

9. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

31COM8C.2
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

1.Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-07/31.COM/7A and WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.3),

2.Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 31 COM 7A.20)
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, (Decision 31 COM 7A.21)
  • Azerbaijan, Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Decision 31 COM 7A.26)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 31 COM 7A.29)
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.2)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.3)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Virunga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Garamba National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo Salonga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 31 COM 7A.16)
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.9)
  • Germany, Dresden Elbe Valley (Decision 31 COM 7A.27)
  • India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Decision 31 COM 7A.11)
  • Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 31 COM 7A.22)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 31 COM 7A.17)
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 31 COM 7A.18)
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 31 COM 7A.10)
  • Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 31 COM 7A.24)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 31 COM 7A.30)
  • Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 31 COM 7A.25)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 31 COM 7A.28)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 31 COM 7A.15)
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 31 COM 7A.31)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 31 COM 7A.19)
Draft Decision: 31 COM 7A.16

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.19, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3. Congratulates the State Party for its efforts in addressing the issue of the rising water table;

4. Adopts the benchmarks identified by the 2005 reactive monitoring mission:

a) Consolidated structures;

b) Water table lowered and monitoring system established in and around the property;

c) Management plan implemented;

5. Urges the State Party to implement the necessary corrective measures, by 2010, as follows:

a) Carry out a rapid condition survey of all excavated remains and urgent conservation measures in order to provide protection to structures against earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment;

b) Lower the water table by means of drainage ditches and pipes, inside and around the archaeological area;

c) Establish an efficient system for monitoring the water table in the archaeological site and in the surrounding zones;

d) Prepare a conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc);

e) Undertake consultations with stakeholders with the objective of preparing a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.

6. Requests the State Party to identify a buffer zone surrounding the core area of the property, altogether with protection regulations and to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 the relevant information and map for consideration by the World Heritage Committee;

7. Also requests the State Party to submit, by 1 February 2008, a detailed progress report on the implementation of the above measures, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

8. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Abu Mena
State Party:
Egypt
Date of Inscription: 1979
Nomination records (Year): 1979
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iv)
Danger List: Yes
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports (year)
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
1992
Threats*
  • Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
  • Water
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:
Documents
WHC-07/31.COM/7A
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
SOC ID: 946
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2001
Threats to the Site:

A land-reclamation programme for the agricultural development of the region, funded by the World Bank, has caused in the past ten years a dramatic raise of the water table. The local soil, which is exclusively clay, is hard and capable of supporting buildings when in a dry state, but becomes semi-liquid with excess water. The destruction of numerous cisterns, disseminated around the city, has entailed the collapse of several overlying structures. Huge underground cavities have opened in the north-western region of the town. The risk of collapse is so high that the authorities were forced to fill with sand the bases of some of the most endangered buildings, including the crypt of Abu Mena with the tomb of the Saint, and close them to the public. A large banked road, moreover, was executed to enable movement within the site.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities is trying to counteract this phenomenon by digging trenches, and has enlarged the listed area in the hope of lowering the pressure of the irrigation. These measures, however, have proved to be insufficient, taking into account the scale of the problem and the limited resources available.


* : 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.