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Tipasa

Algeria
Factors affecting the property in 2005*
  • Deliberate destruction of heritage
  • Erosion and siltation/ deposition
  • Housing
  • Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
  • Illegal activities
  • Major linear utilities
  • Management activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Solid waste
  • Wind
  • Other Threats:

    vegetation with roots seriously affecting archaeological remains

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

· Natural degradation due to sea salt, shore line and wind erosion, and to vegetation with roots seriously affecting archaeological remains;

· Deterioration of the archaeological vestiges following serious acts of vandalism (destruction, theft, waste dumping, etc);

· Increasing and uncontrolled urbanisation on the outskirts of the site and the buffer zone, anarchic constructions, constant land disputes with owners or public and private operators;

· Unsuitable restoration techniques;

· Open drains of the colonial city crossing the site to the sea;

· Weak service capacities in charge of the conservation of the site. 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005
Requests approved: 6 (from 1989-2001)
Total amount approved : 75,900 USD
Missions to the property until 2005**

September 2002

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005

In January 2005, referring to the decisions made by the Committee at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004), the State Party sent a report to the World Heritage Centre on the progress achieved in carrying out the recommendations made following the inscription of the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2002. This report contained the following information and documents:

1. A copy of the cadastral map of the commune of Tipasa. ICOMOS pointed out that the photocopy transmitted was of too poor quality to judge whether it responds to the Committee’s requirements concerning the «buffer zone», or the presence on the site of any buildings.

2. A census of the ownership of the occupied spaces in the Saint Salsa Necropolis to the east, and in the Alexandria Necropolis to the west, was carried out, thanks to the cadastral map. Of a total of 74 families identified, 48 are owners and 26 are illegal occupants. Action will be undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and the Wilaya within the framework of legislation and regulations in force concerning the relocation, expropriation, evacuation or acquisition of real estate buildings by the State.

3. A copy of the registration form of a technical study to set up a Plan for the Protection and Presentation of the Archaeological site of Tipasa and its Protection Zone (PPSMVA), launched by the Agence Nationale d’Archéologie de Protection des Sites et Monuments Historiques (ANAPSMH) in the framework of regulations for public market. This study should provide the required basis for the elaboration of yearly management plans for the site. This technical sheet mentions that the elaboration of the PPSMVA of Tipasa, in conformity with the Executive Decree No. 03-323 of 5 October 2003 containing modalities for the development of the PPSMVA, will cost 3,950,000 Algerian Dinars, and the temporary and permanent work in the framework of the project for the implementation of emergency measures and development for the site are estimated at 10,000,000 AD. The Council of Wilaya has attributed an additional 2,150,000 AD for sanitation work and repair of the tourist itineraries of the site. As stated by ICOMOS in its evaluation of the report, there is no mention of the adoption of a legal text on “the protection and presentation of the archaeological sites and their buffer zones”, and the establishment, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre, of a plan governing the construction, urbanisation and land use of the site of Tipasa.

4. A copy of a document testifying to the attribution of 2,843,843.28 AD for the recruitment of 23 prevention and security agents for the archaeological site, the Museum and the Royal Mausoleum of Mauritania.

5. A copy of a document attesting to the attribution of 2,510,741.90 AD for the restoration of the Museum at Tipasa and the installation of a security and electronic surveillance system.

6. A copy of the document attesting to the creation, jointly with the Hydraulic Authorities, of a project entitled « Underground evacuation system in the protected zone of the archaeological site of Tipasa». This project aims to divert the passage of the hybrid network (sanitation and rain water) outside of the listed site.

The report also mentioned that the ANAPSMH is a public establishment of an administrative nature without administrative and financial autonomy. It is organised in 15 archaeological districts divided amongst the 43 Wilayas. Its operating budget amounts to 200,000,000 AD.

The final report of a training workshop for preventive conservation of the mosaics of Tipasa, organised in December 2004 by the Cultural Heritage Directorate in collaboration with the Central Institute for Restoration in Rome (CIR), funded under the World Heritage Fund, was received by the World Heritage Centre. Eight Algerian participants were able to benefit from this training.

In its report, the State Party requested the assistance of the World Heritage Centre in designating an expert to participate with the working group set up by the Ministry of Culture, in the examination of all the phases of the studies for the plan for the protection and presentation of the site of Tipasa. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2005
29 COM 7A.16
Tipasa (Algeria)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.16, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Congratulates the State Party of Algeria on the steps taken to improve the protection of the property, but considers, nonetheless, that additional and ongoing actions are necessary to ensure total protection of the property;

4. Urges the State Party to pursue its efforts for the protection of Tipasa by implementing the measures still required for the application of all of the recommendations of its Decision 28 COM 15A.16;

5. Requests the State Party to invite a joint mission of the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS (or IUCN) to Tipasa in order to consider the possibility of removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

6. Invites the State Party to submit a request for international assistance in the required format, for an expert to be made available to the Ministry of Culture to participate in the examination of all phases of the plan for the protection and presentation of the property of Tipasa;

7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by l February 2006, a report on progress achieved in the implementation of the above recommendations for examination by the Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

8. Decides to maintain Tipasa (Algeria) 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.16

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 28 COM 15A.16, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Congratulates the State Party on the steps taken to improve the protection of the site, but considers, nonetheless, that additional and ongoing actions are necessary to ensure total protection of the site;

4. Urges the State Party to pursue its efforts for the protection of Tipasa by implementing the measures still required for the application of all of the recommendations of Decision 28 COM 15A.16, in order to enable the Committee to consider the possible removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

5. Invites the State Party to submit a request for international assistance in the required format, for an expert to be made available to the Ministry of Culture to participate in the examination of all phases of the plan for the protection and presentation of the site of Tipasa;

6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by l February 2006, a report on progress achieved in the implementation of the above recommendations for study by the Committee at its 30th session in 2006 ;

7. Decides to maintain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger. 

Report year: 2005
Algeria
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)(iv)
Danger List (dates): 2002-2006
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 29COM (2005)
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.


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