Decision 42 COM 7A.17

Abu Mena (Egypt) (C 90)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.32, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Continues to express great concern regarding the state of conservation of the property and the low level of implementation of the recommended corrective measures;
4. Notes that a scientific committee to study the threats to the property arising from the rise of the groundwater level and elaborate a project to address them, has been established, and urgently requests the State Party to:
   1. Devise an action plan to address the rise of the groundwater level,
   2. Establish an efficient system for monitoring the water table in the archaeological site and in the surrounding zones,
   3. Devise mitigation measures for the archaeological remains, during the process of lowering and stabilizing the water table;
5. Also notes that, with the agreement of the State Party, an Advisory mission involving UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is to visit the property to provide advice on appropriate irrigation and water management technologies;
6. Also requests the State Party to submit, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, details for all on-going or planned restoration interventions at the property, particularly at the Great Basilica, the reburial strategy, and initiatives arising from the project for restoration and rehabilitation of the property, or any new envisaged constructions such as a visitors’ centre, for review prior to implementation, noting that a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) should be prepared for rehabilitation and construction projects in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties;
7. Urges the State Party to proceed with comprehensive implementation of the corrective measures, to protect and conserve the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, with particular attention to the following issues:
   1. Preparation of a comprehensive Integrated Management Plan,
   2. Preparation of a conservation plan, which includes a condition survey and the identification of priority interventions to ensure stabilization of archaeological remains,
   3. Removal of inadequate new constructions, and the creation of facilities to allow for religious uses in areas outside the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, if need be;
8. Further requests the State Party to finalize the minor boundary modification request in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, and in line with Paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019;
10. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.