Royal Palaces of Abomey
Factors affecting the property in 1998*
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Storm in 1984 (issue resolved)
- Need for a management and conservation plan for the site
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1998
Total amount approved : 113,000 USD
| 1997 | Royal Palaces of Abomey (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1995 | ICCROM/Abomey Palace: analysis of architectural ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1994 | ICCROM/CRATerre: Training for a professional team and a ... (Approved) | 33,000 USD |
| 1989 | Financial contribution to the restoration works on the ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
| 1985 | Financial contribution to restoration works concerning ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 1998**
April 1985: UNESCO mission; July 1995: experts mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1998
This property constitutes an important tangible witness to the Danxome history and civilization dating from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century. It comprises a group of buildings, open areas and extremely high walls and covers an area of about 44 hectares.
At the request of the World Heritage Committee, the Benin authorities have prepared a conservation plan, partly financed by the World Heritage Fund. This conservation plan was developed as an instrument for co-operation and partnership to coordinate and ensure the coherence of actions carried out at the site, and to guarantee the:
- continuing process of conservation of its outstanding values for future generations,
- expression of traditional Abome culture,
- integration of the site in the process of evolution and social and economic development of the city.
The Ministry of Culture and Communications, responsible for the site, has prepared this plan in consultation with the Royal families from which it receives a right of use and the bodies responsible for the development of the city of Abomey, which have subscribed to the following objectives:
- the establishment of partnerships at the local, national and international level,
- the increase of resources for the museum and the establishment of dynamic management and strengthening of capacities of the museum team, and the creation of a data base on the site,
- the creation of a management advisory body and establishment of a monitoring
and evaluation system,
- the strengthening of legal protection,
- improved promotion, in line with the increased knowledge of the site and its components,
- the removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, after an initial programme of action of five years.
These proposals for the safeguarding and enhancement of the site and its integration in the local development process have encouraged the Government of Benin to agree to a 50% increase in the subsidy it grants to the site, for the coming five years.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1998
22 COM VII.15
SOC: Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
VII.15 Royal Palaces of Abomey (Benin)
At the request of the World Heritage Committee, the Benin authorities prepared a conservation plan, partly financed by the World Heritage Fund. This conservation plan was developed as an instrument for co-operation and partnership to coordinate and ensure the coherence of actions carried out at the site. The Benin Government has allocated additional funding for the implementation of this plan.
Among the objectives set for the coming five years are:
- the establishment of partnerships at the local, national and international level,
- the increase of resources for the museum and the establishment of dynamic management and strengthening of capacities of the museum team, and the creation of a data base on the site,
- the creation of a management advisory body and establishment of a monitoring and evaluation system,
- the strengthening of legal protection,
- improved promotion, in line with the increased knowledge of the site and its components,
- the removal of the site from the List of World Heritage in Danger, after an initial programme of action of five years.
The Committee congratulated the Benin authorities for their efforts in preparing the conservation plan, and the allocation of additional resources for this site. The Committee requested the Benin authorities to report to the Committee at its twenty-fourth session concerning the progress made in the implementation of this plan.
The Committee decided to retain the Royal Palaces of Abomey on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
“The Committee congratulates the Benin authorities for their efforts in preparing the conservation plan, and the allocation of additional resources for this site;
The Committee requests the Benin authorities to report to the Committee at its twenty-fourth session concerning the progress made in the implementation of this plan.
The Committee decides to retain the Royal Palaces of Abomey on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
Benin
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.
