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Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena

Colombia
Factors affecting the property in 2012*
  • Effects arising from use of transportation infrastructure
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Legal framework
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Marine transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Construction of TRANSCARIBE, a new public transportation system and its impact on the wall;

b) Lack of a regulatory conservation management system for the property;

c) Impact of the harbour public works on the fortifications of Cartagena;

d) Need for urban regulations for the protected area;

e) Lack of a Management Plan.

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2012
Requests approved: 6 (from 1988-1999)
Total amount approved : 108,800 USD
Missions to the property until 2012**

2003: ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission; 2006: joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2012

The State Party submitted a state of conservation report on 30 March 2012 which succinctly responds to the Decisions made by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010).

a) Delimitation of the property

The State Party submitted the demarcation of the group of monuments located within the Historic Centre which follows, as previously reported, the delimitation proposed by the Special Protection and Management Plan (PEMP). This will be reviewed within the framework of the Retrospective Inventory process of the Periodic Reporting Exercise for Latin America and the Caribbean. As for the forts located outside this area, their delimitation continues to be pending, although efforts have been made in the development of management and protection plans.

b) Conservation study and conservation action plan for the ensemble of walls and the fortified city

This report was submitted to the World Heritage Centre in December 2010. The report considers actions to be implemented at part of the property, which include strengthening of residential and touristic activities, including restoration of historic areas for housing, changing inappropriate use of buildings and implementing strategic projects in different areas. Among these, the restoration of several buildings is foreseen as well as the recovery and adaptation of public spaces. There are plans also to improve educational facilities and services, as well as enhancement of touristic infrastructure and services, particularly through the recovery of public spaces. Special actions are foreseen to improve the connection between the Historic Centre and its surroundings.

c) Special Plan for Management and Protection (PEMP)

The State Party reports that the document is under final review by the Ministry of Culture. The financial tools to secure resources for implementation have yet to be finalized but it is expected that the document would be submitted by the end of April 2012 to the World Heritage Centre. The legal approval of the Plan is pending, however the State Party reports that upon obtaining it, the implementation of projects and provisions made will start. No timeframe has been provided on when this is expected to occur.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2012

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that until the delimitation of all component parts of the property is complete, the process cannot be fully considered.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies also note that the development of the Special Protection and Management Plan has been finalized, but however express their concerns that a lengthy approval process will preclude the possibility to systematically implement the provisions made. They finally note that it is critical that the boundaries of all component parts of the property are clearly identified so that the integrity of the property is maintained. 

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2012
36 COM 7B.98
Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena (Colombia) (C 285)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.   Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,

2.   Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.107, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3.   Notes the finalization of the Special Protection and Management Plan for the property, and urges the State Party to finalize its approval process as soon as possible, and to secure the required resources to guarantee the sustained implementation of the provisions made; and requests the State Party to provide copies of this Plan to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for review;

4.   Acknowledges the development of the conservation action plan for the ensemble of walls and the fortified city, and also requests the State Party to begin the implementation of identified priority measures;

5.   Reiterates its request to the State Party finalize the delimitation of the property, including all elements of the fortified system according to the required formats, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for their consideration and review;

6.   Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, 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 38th session in 2014. 

Draft Decision: 36 COM 7B.98

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.107, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),

3. Notes the finalization of the Special Protection and Management Plan for the property, and urges the State Party to finalize its approval process as soon as possible, and to secure the required resources to guarantee the sustained implementation of the provisions made; and requests the State Party to provide copies of this Plan to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for review;

4. Acknowledges the development of the conservation action plan for the ensemble of walls and the fortified city, and also requests the State Party to begin the implementation of identified priority measures;

5. Reiterates its request to the State Party finalize the delimitation of the property, including all elements of the fortified system according to the required formats, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for their consideration and review;

6. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, 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 38th session in 2014. 

Report year: 2012
Colombia
Date of Inscription: 1984
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iv)(vi)
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 36COM (2012)
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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