jump to the content
Advanced search

State of Conservation (SOC)

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (2007)

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

Proposed in the draft Decision.

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds

Total amount provided to the property: USD 3,337,027 (2003-2007) through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the project “Safeguarding of the Bamiyan site”, Phases I and II.

International Assistance granted to the property

Requests Approved: 0 (from2002-2002)
Total Amount Ap proved: 30,000USD

2002 Training for national and local authorities in the implementation ...   30,000  USD
Missions**

No reactive monitoring mission as such, but UNESCO expert missions sent every year since 2002 in order to implement the operational project for the property.

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Fragile state of the cliffs and niches;

b) Absence of a site management plan and monitoring system;

c) Presence of anti-personnel mines in the area.

Corrective Measures

Proposed in the draft Decision.

 

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

A timeframe of four years has currently been identified as necessary to meet the benchmarks.

Current conservation issues

The State Party submitted a progress report on the state of conservation to the World Heritage Centre on 8 February 2007. It described recent archaeological findings and mentioned that almost all the fragments of the Giant Buddha statueswere salvaged from the two large niches and then sorted, documented, and stored in temporary shelters. Scaffolding was installed inside the Eastern Giant Buddha niche to prepare for conservation works in 2007.

In order to avoid the imminent collapse of the cliffs affected by the 2001 explosion, the two Giant Buddha niches were subject to emergency consolidation. This operation, which began in 2003 under the UNESCO-Japan Funds-in-Trust project, was successfully completed in 2006. The project also continued to document the numerous Buddhist caves and conserve the mural paintings inside prioritized caves. A monitoring system was installed to measure the impact of climatic conditions and to identify the best measures to protect the mural paintings.  

The State Party is in the process of finalising the Management Plan for the property, following review of the draft that was completed in December 2006.The Governor of Bamiyan officially established the Bamiyan Cultural Landscape Coordination Committee (BCLCC) in 2006, to protect the Cultural Landscape of the Bamiyan Valley. This intersectoral body will implement the protective zoning plan (Cultural Master Plan), approved by the Ministry of Urban Planning in March 2006.

Looting, illicit traffic and illegal excavations of cultural heritage assets are being addressed by the initial site-management and monitoring system. However, due to the situation of the country, it remains extremely difficult to ensure effective governance of the site. Though the military is no longer active in the heritage areas of the Bamiyan Valley, anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordinances remain unidentified and uncleared in certain areas of the property, and no archaeological studies or conservation works can be carried out in these areas prior to demining. In 2006, UNMACA (United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan) demined the area of the Giant Buddha niches, but the demining needs continuation in other areas of the site.

During an Expert Working Group for the property in December 2006, the relevant Afghan authorities together with ICOMOS and UNESCO held discussions to define the benchmarks for eventual removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, in response to the request of the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006). Given that a number of on-site expert mission reports in 2006 provided sufficient information on the state of conservation and necessary future actions, they agreed that no reactive monitoring mission was necessary to reassess the state of conservation of the property or to set the benchmarks, which had now been collectively agreed to by ICOMOS, UNESCO and the State Party.

Afghanistan continues to be confronted by a post-conflict situation: a highly unstable security situation, lack of technical and institutional capacity-development, and extreme poverty. Proposed benchmarks taking into account this reality, have been identified and are proposed in the draft Decision, altogether with possible corrective measures.

As for the targeted timeframe, a minimum of four years has been identified as necessary to address the benchmarks and mitigate the threats to the state of conservation of the property. Recommendations of the Expert Working Group for the Preservation of the Bamiyan Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/events/354) can be referred to as a detailed action plan, which complements the identified corrective measures in order to meet the proposed benchmarks.

Conclusion
Decision

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision

31COM7A.21
Link to the decision
 

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2.       Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.23, adopted at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006),

3.       Notes with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of the State Party and the international community for the safeguarding of this property;

4.       Adopts the following as the desired state of conservation for the property in view of its future removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger:

a)      ensured site security,

b)      ensured long-term stability of the Giant Buddha niches,

c)      adequate state of conservation of archaeological remains and mural paintings, and

d)      implemented Management Plan and Cultural Master Plan (the protective zoning plan);

5.       Encourages the State Party to implement corrective measures for:

a)      ensured site security by

(i)      exerting strict control of illicit excavations and looting through hiring of adequate number of trained site guards, and

(ii)      clearing unexploded ordinances and anti-personnel mines from the property;

b)      ensured long-term stability of the Giant Buddha niches by installing a permanent monitoring system;

c)      adequate state of conservation of archaeological remains and mural paintings by

(i)      completing the conservation of the fragments of the Giant Buddha statues and

(ii)      completing the conservation of the mural paintings in the prioritized buddhist caves;

d)      the Management Plan and the Cultural Master Plan (the protective zoning plan) both implemented by developing institutional capacity, notably for the Ministry of Culture and the intersectoral Bamiyan Cultural Landscape Coordination Committee (BCLCC);

6.       Invites the international community to continue its technical and financial support, in particular to achieve the above indicated desired state of conservation;

7.       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.       Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 the Management Plan and a progress report on the implementation of corrective measures, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008; and

9.       Decides to retain the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) 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.21

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Recalling Decision 30 COM 7A.23, adopted at its 30thsession (Vilnius, 2006),

3. Notes with satisfaction the efforts and commitment of the State Party and the international community for the safeguarding of this property;

4. Adopts the following benchmarks for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger as follows:

a) ensured site security,

b) ensured long-term stability of the Giant Buddha niches,

c) adequate state of conservation of archaeological remains and mural paintings, and

d) implemented Management Plan and Cultural Master Plan (the protective zoning plan);

5. Encourages the State Party to implement corrective measures for:

a) ensured site security by

(i) exerting strict control of illicit excavations and looting through hiring of adequate number of trained site guards, and

(ii) clearing unexploded ordinances and anti-personnel mines from the property;

b) ensured long-term stability of the Giant Buddha niches by installing a permanent monitoring system;

c) adequate state of conservation of archaeological remains and mural paintings by

(i) completing the conservation of the fragments of the Giant Buddha statues and

(ii) completing the conservation of the mural paintings in the prioritized buddhist caves;

d) the Management Plan and the Cultural Master Plan (the protective zoning plan) both implemented by developing institutional capacity, notably for the Ministry of Culture and the intersectoral Bamiyan Cultural Landscape Coordination Committee (BCLCC);

6. Invites the international community to continue its technical and financial support, in particular to meet the above benchmarks;

7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2008 the Management Plan and a progress reporton the implementation of corrective measures, for examination by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008; and

8. Decides to retain the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley
State Party:
Afghanistan
Date of Inscription: 2003
Nomination records (Year): 1982, 2003
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)
Danger List: Yes
Documents
Original Documents
WHC-07/31.COM/7A
Other Documents
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...
Exports
Word File
SOC Reports
SOC Reports by year
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Detailed List of SOC reports
Threats*
Civil unrest
Other Threats:
a) Fragile state of the cliffs and nicheb) Presence of anti-personnel mines in the area.
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 2003
Threats to the Site:

The Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at the 27th session of the World Heritage Committee simultaneously with its inscription on the World Heritage List. The property is in a fragile state of conservation considering that it has suffered from abandonment, military action and dynamite explosions. The major dangers include: risk of imminent collapse of the Buddha niches with the remaining fragments of the statues, further deterioration of still existing mural paintings in the caves, looting and illicit excavation. Parts of the site are inaccessible due to the presence of antipersonnel mines.


* : 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.