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Tipasa

Algeria
Factors affecting the property in 2013*
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Housing
  • Human resources
  • Illegal activities
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Management activities
  • Marine transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Natural degradation caused by littoral erosion, marine salt and vegetation covering part of the inscribed sectors;
  • Deterioration of the remains due to vandalism, theft and uncontrolled visitation causing accumulation of rubbish;
  • Urbanisation on the outskirts of the property where, in the absence of a defined buffer zone, illegal construction provokes land disputes;
  • Lack of capacities for site conservation, unsuitable restoration techniques, and poor conservation conditions for the archaeological remains;
  • Proposed port development.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2013

Total amount granted: USD 9,564 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013
Requests approved: 6 (from 1989-2001)
Total amount approved : 75,900 USD
Missions to the property until 2013**

2002: World Heritage Centre and experts missions; March 2006: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013

Current conservation issues

On 31 January 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property was submitted by the State Party. The report, prepared in response to Decision 33 COM 7B.51 (Seville, 2009), provides a brief overview of progress made in implementing the two recommendations made in that Decision and reiterated in Decision 35 COM 7B.46 (UNESCO, 2011). The report concludes with a notification that the State Party intends to invite an advisory mission to be sent to the property.

a)  Progress made on implementing the protection and enhancement plan for the archaeological sites of Tipasa and its protection zone (PPMVSA)

In its report, the State Party advises that the PPMVSA (Plan de protection et de mise en valeur des sites archéologiques de Tipasa et de sa zone de protection) was adopted on 13 December 2010 by the Popular Assembly of the Wilaya Province of Tipasa. The Plan was subsequently approved by Executive Decree of 25 March 2012 and published in the official gazette of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. The State Party further advises that the Plan is being implemented by the Department of Culture of the Wilaya of Tipasa.

The report notes that the Directorate of Culture has launched a limited consultation on a project for development and enhancement of the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Kbor er Roumia); the emergency protective work and temporary shoring-up of unstable structures in both East and West archaeological parks. It also includes repair of the enclosures and establishment of monitoring, security, fire protection, and lighting systems in both East and West archaeological parks. This project must be validated by the Ministry of Culture’s Direction de la conservation et de la restauration des biens culturels. Some security work for the property was initiated during 2012. The State Party also reports that reinforced measures for securing these three archaeological units have been taken, following a major recruitment of guards trained for this purpose.

b)  Assessment of the impact of the proposed enhancement of Tipasa’s port

 

The 2011 preliminary study for the proposed enhancement of Tipasa’s port includes six components: marina, fishing port, landscaped park, ancient garden, port esplanade, and cliff garden. A summary pilot project for the protection of the cliff is also included. In its report, the State Party notes that the detailed draft project design for the enhancement of the port’s embankments has not yet started. According to the State Party, questions related to administrative and financial authority did not allow progress to be made on this part of the project. The State Party announces that the Ministry of Culture will invite an advisory mission. The World Heritage Centre received such an invitation on 21 March 2013 and is studying with the Advisory Bodies the feasibility of undertaking the mission by September 2013.Concerning the study of the proposed protection of the port’s cliff, the Ministry of Culture has asked the Public Works Department of the Wilaya to suspend all procedures for approval of the study, pending an evaluation of the project by the above-mentioned mission. A heritage impact assessment of the proposed port enhancement, requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 33rd (Seville, 2009) and 35th (UNESCO, 2011) sessions, was not submitted.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies take note of the progress being made in implementing the Protection and enhancement plan for the property. They would also appreciate the opportunity to discuss the Plan’s progress during the advisory mission and the proposed port enhancement with the State Party and the concerned parties on the ground, as proposed by the Ministry of Culture, in order to allow a proper assessment before detailed project designs are prepared. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013
37 COM 7B.45
Tipasa (Algeria) (C 193)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,

2.  Recalling Decisions 33 COM 7B.51 and 35 COM 7B.46 , adopted at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009) and 35th (UNESCO, 2011) sessions respectively,

3.  Takes note of the progress made by the State Party in implementing the plan for the protection and enhancement of the property and its protected area;

4.  Also takes note of the State Party’s invitation of an advisory mission to the property and reiterates its request to submit to the World Heritage Centre an Heritage impact assessment of the proposed enhancement of Tipasa’s port, before the advisory mission and prior to any commitment being made;

5.  Requests the State Party to submit further details on the protection and enhancement works foreseen at the property;

6.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015 , an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.

Draft Decision:  37 COM 7B.45

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,

2.  Recalling Decisions 33 COM 7B.51 and 35 COM 7B.46, adopted at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009) and 35th (UNESCO, 2011) sessions respectively,

3.  Takes note of the progress made by the State Party in implementing the plan for the protection and enhancement of the property and its protected area;

4.  Also takes note of the State Party’s invitation of an advisory mission to the property and reiterates its request to submit to the World Heritage Centre an Heritage impact assessment of the proposed enhancement of Tipasa’s port, before the advisory mission and prior to any commitment being made;

5.  Requests the State Party to submit further details on the protection and enhancement works foreseen at the property;

6.  Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.

 

Report year: 2013
Algeria
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2002-2006
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 37COM (2013)
Exports

* : 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.