Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- 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 1996
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 1996**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
As requested by the Committee at its nineteenth session, the Secretariat took appropriate measures to accelerate the implementation of the technical assistance, that is the purchase and installation of dehumidifying equipment.In addition to the assistance provided by the World Heritage Fund, funding is provided by the Marie Curie Foundation; the U.S. National Park Service/Department of the Interior is also contributing.
As soon as the final technical and managerial problems are solved, World Heritage funding will be forwarded to Poland, in accordance with UNESCO contractual procedures.
Action Required
The Bureau commended the Polish authorities for their efforts at Wieliczka and requested the Secretariat to continue its support to the State Party in order to reach a prompt conclusion of this assistance.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
At its eighteenth session, in Phuket, December 1994, the Committee "approved [a] request for US$ 100,000 to purchase the dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures of this World Heritage site in Danger".
This World Heritage Fund technical cooperation is but a part of a larger engineering work estimated at US$ 256.000. The rest of the project cost is born by the Polish Government and the US-based Marie Sklodowska-Curie Foundation. The detailed engineering studies are now completed, and the project ready to be, implemented.
A contract to this effect has been negotiated and signed between the Culture Sector of UNESCO and the Polish permanent Delegation. The project is to be completed before the end of 1997.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
The Bureau requested the Polish authorities to undertake the appropriate measures for the prompt implementation of the conservation project which involves the installation of dehumidifying equipment and requested to be kept informed of the progress made in this respect.
20 COM VII.C.28
SOC: Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
VII.28 Wieliczka Salt Mines (Poland)
At its eighteenth session in 1994, the Committee approved an amount of US$ 100,000 to purchase the dehumidifying equipment required for the preservation of the salt sculptures of this World Heritage site in Danger.
A contract to this effect was negotiated and signed between the Culture Sector of UNESCO and the Polish Permanent Delegation. The project is to be completed before the end of 1997.
The Committee commended the Polish authorities and the Marie Curie Foundation for their efforts in order to preserve the precious salt sculptures at Wieliczka, and requested to be kept informed about the outcome and results of the preservation project.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
"The Committee commends the Polish authorities and the Marie Curie Foundation for their efforts in order to preserve the precious salt sculptures at Wieliczka, and requests to be kept informed about the outcome and results of the preservation project."
PolandExports
* :
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.
