Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Factors affecting the property in 1995*
- Relative humidity
- Water (rain/water table)
- Other Threats:
Gradual degradation
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Cave-ins;
- Subsidence;
- Water seepage;
- Harmful atmospheric elements
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1995
Total amount approved : 157,350 USD
| 1994 | Purchase of the dehumidifying equipment for Wieliczka ... (Approved) | 100,000 USD |
| 1993 | Financial contribution to the organization of a seminar ... (Approved) | 12,350 USD |
| 1989 | Equipment and technical assistance needed for ... (Approved) | 45,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1995**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1995
The site was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1989. A detailed report on the actions that had been undertaken to safeguard the mines was examined by the Committee at its eighteenth session. At that same session, the Committee approved an amount of US$ 100,000 for the purchase of dehumidification equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures in the Mine. The relevant technical information submitted by the Polish National Commission for UNESCO having been examined by the UNESCO services, a call to tender to sixteen specialized companies was sent out at the beginning of this year. Three quotations have been received and transmitted to the Polish authorities. The equipment will be purchased upon receiving their decision.
Action Required
The Bureau requests the Secretariat to monitor the implementation of the technical assistance and the impact of the equipment on the conditions of this site and to keep the Committee informed of the results. The Bureau recommends the Committee to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until the results and a report of the impact of technical assistance on the project is known.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1995
The Bureau, at its nineteenth session, took note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the action taken to implement the technical cooperation project that was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its eighteenth session. Specifically, the approved action was to provide a US$ 100,000 financial assistance in order to help procure dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures in the Wieliczka Salt Mines.
To purchase this equipment, a call for tender was sent to 16 specialized companies; three quotations were received from companies in France, the U.S.A. and Germany. An analysis of these quotations was made by UNESCO (CLT/CH) and sent to the Polish authorities.
Moreover, the Bureau recommended to the Committee to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until the results and a report of the impact of Technical Assistance on the project are known.
As requested by the Bureau, the Secretariat is monitoring this project. As no further information was available at the time when this working document was being finalized, it is proposed that complementary information be given orally to the Committee at its nineteenth session.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1995
19 BUR VI.21
Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Bureau took note of the information provided by the Secretariat on the actions taken to implement the technical cooperation project that was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its eighteenth session. The Bureau requested the Secretariat to monitor the implementation of the technical assistance and the impact of the equipment on the conditions of this site and to keep the Committee informed of the results. The Bureau recommended the Committee to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until the results and a report of the impact of technical assistance on the project are known.
19 COM VII.C.1.31
SOC: Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
VII.31 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Committee took note of the information provided by the Secretariat that UNESCO had taken all the necessary measures for the implementation of the technical cooperation project that was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its eighteenth session but that it had not received to date the consent of the Polish authorities as to UNESCO's proposals regarding the purchase of the equipment. In the absence of any further clarification from the State Party concerned, the Delegate of the United States of America informed the Committee that the Polish authorities had just recently communicated to his country that they had received additional funds from the Marie Curie Fund and that the purchase of the equipment would soon be forthcoming. The Committee thereupon requested the Secretariat to take the necessary measures for the prompt implementation of the assistance and to keep the committee informed of its results. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until the results and a report of the impact of the equipment on the conditions of the site are known.
The Secretariat recommends the Committee to take note of the written information provided by the Secretariat and to adopt the following:
"The Committee took note of information provided by the Secretariat that UNESCO had taken all the necessary measures for the implementation of the technical cooperation project that was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its eighteenth session but that it had not received to date the consent of the Polish authorities as to UNESCO's proposals regarding the purchase of the equipment. The Committee requested the Secretariat to take the necessary measures for the prompt implementation of the assistance and to keep the Committee informed of its results. The Committee decided to retain the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger until the results and a report of the impact of the equipment on the conditions of the site are known."
PolandDocuments examined by the Committee
19COM (1995)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.
