State of Conservation (SOC)

31COM7A.31
Link to the decision

The World Heritage Committee,

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

2. Recalling Decisions 29 COM 7B.92 and 30 COM 7A.33 adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) and 30th (Vilnius, 2006) sessions respectively,

3. Requests the State Party to verify whether the materials used for restoration works are compatible with accepted intervention techniques;

4. Requests the State Party to invite a World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS joint reactive monitoring mission to assess the progress made in improving the state of conservation of the property, and accordingly define the corrective measures and the desired state of conservation that will enable the Committee to define a timeframe for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, that could include:

a) Presidential signature of the PLINCODE (Integral Plan for the Conservation and Development of Coro, La Vela and its areas of influence), submitted to the authorities on August 2006;

b) Effective functioning of the management structure and institutional arrangements foreseen in the PLINCODE, with sufficient allocated resources;

c) Comprehensive drainage systems completed as well as underground networks, public spaces, sidewalks and streets in the historical area rehabilitated;

d) Prioritized implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan;

5. Encourages the State Party to continue implementing the following corrective measures:

a) Obtain the official approval of the PLINCODE;

b) Reinforce the Framework Agreement for Emergency Intervention in the area of Coro and La Vela that the IPC signed with the mayors of the municipalities of Miranda and the regional government on 14 February 2006;

c) Create a Council to assist the Technical Office (OTAE) to plan the investment of resources, formulate and revise intervention projects on infrastructure, buildings and public spaces in the property;

d) Formulate and prioritize a comprehensive conservation plan to complement the existing PLINCODE, by defining a precise course of action with intervention criteria and monitoring mechanisms to assess its effective and adequate implementation;

e) Strengthen capacity building for conservation and restoration through the existing available opportunities in workshops with the schools of conservation in La Vela and in Coro;

f) Create awareness in the local community through exhibitions and community involvement;

6. 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 Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;

7. Also requests the State Party to submit a progress report by 1 February 2008 for review by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008 that should include the time-bound plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002, 2005 and 2006 missions and the progress made in their implementation;

8.  Decides to retain Coro and its Port (Venezuela) 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)