State of Conservation (SOC)

Total amount provided to the property: USD 9,564 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust.

Requests Approved: 0 (from1989-2001)
Total Amount Ap proved: 75,900USD

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

a) Natural degradation caused by littoral erosion, marine salt and vegetation covering part of the inscribed sectors;

b) Deterioration of the remains due to vandalism, theft and uncontrolled visitation causing accumulation of rubbish;

c) Urbanisation on the outskirts of the property where,;

d) Lack of capacities for site conservation, unsuitable restoration techniques, and poor conservation conditions for the archaeological remains;

e) Proposed port development.

On 25 February 2011, the State Party submitted a report including a detailed study of the development of the port of Tipasa and a copy of the final draft of the Permanent Plan for the Enhancement and Safeguarding of the site (PPEAS). This detailed and well-illustrated document also identifies and evaluates the heritage resources, the urban growth scenario, the normative framework, the various public utility easements, and the demographic and socio-economic impacts. It also analyses the vulnerable components of the site and establishes emergency measures to be implemented for its protection and enhancement. A series of maps complete the document as well as specifications of technical requirements for urban planning and architecture, and specifications of technical standards (Handbook on conservation, development and management of the archaeological sites of Tipasa), and easement regulations for the protected area.

a) PPEAS

The final version of the Plan for the Protection and Enhancement of the Archaeological Sites of Tipasa was adopted on 13 December 2010 by the Popular Assembly of the Wilaya of Tipasa. It is based on the property boundaries as adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009) in the framework of the Retrospective Inventory (Decision 33 COM 8D).

b) Project for the development of recreational spaces of the Port of Tipasa

The Directorate of Public Works of the Wilaya of Tipasa entrusted the study for this project to the Laboratory for Maritime Studies. The detailed and illustrated report presents the first two phases of development works: the preliminary study and summary pilot project. Two development scenarios, a grid plan and an open spiral plan were studied and presented. The project management retained the grid plan. This plan, the implementation of which is estimated at more than USD 6 million, defines six components: the marina, the fishing port, the landscaped park, the ancient garden which is the extension of Tipasa Museum, the esplanade of the port, and the cliff garden. The landscaping provides a link between the two historic sites. In the context of this study a diagnosis and a summary pilot project for the protection of the cliff were produced and attached to the report. Several variants of protective works were considered, but the solution retained is not specified.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies take note of the completion of the Plan for the Protection and Enhancement of the property, and will carefully study the documents provided.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also take note of the punctual dispatch of the summary pilot project for the development of the port of Tipasa. They would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the proposals with the State Party on the ground. This would allow a proper assessment giving the significant impact the works could have on the property. To this end, the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies recommend that the State Party invites an advisory mission.