Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
Factors affecting the property in 2005*
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Legal framework
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
- Collapsing monuments- No participation of communit
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Ruins damaged by sea erosion; collapsing monuments;
- lack of clear boundary of property and buffer zone; population pressure;
- no participation of community;
- unclear management systems leading to inactivity; old legal framework.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005
Total amount approved : 41,370 USD
| 2001 | Preparation of the Management Plan for the Ruins of ... (Approved) | 24,320 USD |
| 1996 | Preparatory assistance for tentative list about Ruins ... (Approved) | 10,550 USD |
| 1983 | Preparation of a conservation and management plan for ... (Approved) | 6,500 USD |
Missions to the property until 2005**
ICOMOS mission, 23 to 27 February 2004.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005
The World Heritage Centre received in October 2004 from the French NGO Chantiers Histoire & Architectures Médiévales (CHAM), a report on their three-year semi permanent work programme at the Kilwa Kisiwani property. The programme for the restoration and enhancement of the property, with a view to develop tourism in the region, started in 2002, upon the request of the Tanzanian Ministry for Tourism and Natural Resources through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ’Priority Solidarity Fund’ (FSP). The programme is part of the joint partnership of Tanzania, Japan, France and UNESCO for the development of the Kilwa Kisiwani World Heritage property started in 2001 and amounting to US$ 1,438,000.
The World Heritage Centre noted that besides the work-training project, the programme activities for the development of the property and of tourism include: the establishment of a visitor centre and museum; the construction of boat jetties; conservation awareness events for the local population; reinforcing legislation to protect the monument; training site guides and a research programme.
The World Heritage Centre further noted that the global aims for the property’s development are: to stimulate sustainable development in the region through promoting tourism leading to job creation, improvements in services and infrastructures and a rise of local living standards; to preserve and present the archaeological, architectural and historic material; to improve visitor facilities, site interpretation and educational tools on the site and to increase and ensure wide-ranging diffusion of knowledge and research about the sites’ history. CHAM further aims to transmit technical know-how in the preservation and maintenance of historic monuments among the local population; to train the site manager and work supervisor (district officers), in technical, administrative and financial aspects for site management so that they can continue the work effectively after the termination of the project; to consolidate the most threatened architectural features and control the deterioration of the remains of the monuments through restoration work and to make the property more accessible and understandable to visitors.
The World Heritage Centre received in March 2005 for its comments drafts of the Management Plan, the Tourism Master Plan including draft promotional materials, as well as a report on the intangible aspects and the proposed extension to include Kilwa Kivinje. These reports will be submitted by the State Party in their final form at the time of the 29th session of the Committee in 2005.
The World Heritage Centre notes that the State Party is putting many efforts in establishing plans for the conservation, proper management and sustainable development of the site involving the local community as well as the international donor community. The final documents could facilitate the involvement of interested donors in the continued need for support for the urgent conservation works at the property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2005
29 COM 7A.15
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,
2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.41, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),
3. Commends the State Party of United Republic of Tanzania for the efforts undertaken to establish a management and conservation plan and a Tourism Master Plan for the property, and invites the State Party to submit the final documents;
4. Notes with appreciation the continued support provided by the Governments of France and Japan to address some of the problems facing this property;
5. Encourages the State Party to implement the management plan and tourism master plan for the protection, conservation and development of the property;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2006, a report on the state of conservation of the property including follow up action on the recommendations of the ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission of 2004, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);
7. Decides to retain Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
29 COM 8C.2
New World Heritage List in Danger
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined the of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-05/29.COM/7A and WHC-05/29.COM/7A.Add),
2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan)(Decision 29 COM 7A.20)
- Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan)(Decision 29 COM 7A.21)
- Tipasa (Algeria) (Decision 29 COM 7A.16)
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan) (Decision 29 COM 7A.28)
- Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin) (Decision 29 COM 7A.13)
- Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Central African Republic)(Decision 29 COM 7A.1)
- Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) (Decision 29 COM 7A.2)
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea) (Decision 29 COM 7A.3)
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
- Virunga National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
- Garamba National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
- Salonga National Park (Democratic Rep. of the Congo) (Decision 29 COM 7A.5)
- Abu Mena (Egypt) (Decision 29 COM 7A.17)
- Simien National Park (Ethiopia) (Decision 29 COM 7A.4)
- Cologne Cathedral (Germany) (Decision 28 COM 7A.29)
- Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) (Decision 29 COM 7A.12)
- Group of Monuments at Hampi (India) (Decision 29 COM 7A.22)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (India) (Decision 29 COM 7A.9)
- Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Islamic Republic of Iran) (Decision 29 COM 7A.23)
- Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Iraq) (Decision 29 COM 7A.18)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Jerusalem) (Decision 29 COM 7A.31)
- Kathmandu Valley (Nepal ) (Decision 29 COM 7A.24)
- Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (Decision 29 COM 7A.6)
- Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan) (Decision 29 COM 7A.25)
- Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) (Decision 29 COM 7A.30)
- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Philippines) (Decision 29 COM 7A.26)
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Senegal) (Decision 29 COM 7A.7)
- Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia) (Decision 29 COM 7A.8)
- Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) (Decision 28 COM 7A.15)
- Everglades National Park (United States of America) (Decision 29 COM 7A.10)
- Historic Town of Zabid (Yemen) (Decision 29 COM 7A.19)
Draft Decision: 29 COM 7A.15
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,
2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.41, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),
3. Commends the State Party for the efforts undertaken to establish a Management and Conservation Plan and a Tourism Master Plan for the site, and invites the State Party to submit the final documents;
4. Notes with appreciation the continued support provided by the Governments of France and Japan to address some of the problems facing this property;
5. Encourages the State Party to implement the Management Plan and Tourism Master Plan for the protection, conservation and development of the site;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2006, a report on the state of conservation of the property including follow up action on the recommendations of the ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission of 2004, for examination by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006;
7. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
United Republic of Tanzania
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.
