Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco

Urban Pressure; Tourism Pressure; Agriculture Pressure; Lack of management mechanism (including legislation); Lack of monitoring system; Lack of human or financial resources; Lack of institution coordination; Civil unrest. 

On 2 February 2004 the Secretariat received a progress report on the “Project for the Participatory Identification of an Integral Rehabilitation Plan for the Cultural Heritage of Xochimilco,” which was prepared by the UNESCO Mexico Office for the Delegation of Xochimilco.

In September 2003, the UNESCO Office in Mexico signed an agreement with the Delegation of Xochimilco concerning the realisation of a Study in Preparation of the Participatory Elaboration of an Integral Management Plan for the Heritage of Xochimilco. As stipulated by the agreement, the government of Xochimilco financed this project with US$175,000 for the first year. A working group, made up of experts on social issues as well as on natural and cultural heritage, had started to outline the steps leading to a management plan and was assessing their political and social viability. The aim of the project is to generate a participatory working methodology that would fit the circumstances of Xochimilco and that will produce a consensual definition of values as well as a vision for the future of the site. The first phase of the project was concluded on 19 January 2004 with the elaboration of a review of the actual situation, based on the available documentation, and an outline of further steps. A document containing this information was submitted to the Delegation of Xochimilco on 23 January 2004.

ICOMOS commented on the report that this document was described as the first phase of the preparation of the Master Plan. Its starting points were the recommendations of the November 2002 ICOMOS mission and subsequent seminar. The Project adopts a realistic approach to the management and conservation challenges confronting this part of the World Heritage property, which involved seeking solutions to a complex interacting network of grave social, political, administrative, and conservation management problems. It sets out a programme of consultations and research designed to produce solutions that will conform to the requirements of the World Heritage Committee.

ICOMOS fully supports the Project, which needs to be implemented with the minimum of delay and the utmost diligence, so as to avoid further deterioration of a unique and severely degraded cultural landscape. Consideration should be given to the dispatch of further ICOMOS missions in the coming years in order to provide the Committee with an independent professional evaluation of the implementation and efficacy of the Rehabilitation Plan and the eventual Master Plan.