Bahla Fort
Factors affecting the property in 2000*
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Degradation of the structures
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Degradation of the structures;
- Use of recent construction materials (cement, etc.)
- Need for a management plan
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2000
Total amount approved : 57,000 USD
| 1988 | Financial contribution to works and training for the ... (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
| 1988 | Mission to evaluate the threats to the integrity of ... (Approved) | 7,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2000**
October 1988: ICOMOS mission; March 1994: UNESCO World Heritage Centre mission; December 1994: ICOMOS expert mission; May-June 1995; September 1996; October 1997; September-October 1998: expert missions
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2000
Summary of previous deliberations
Twenty-third session of the Committee – paragraph number – X.16.
Twenty-third ordinary session of the Bureau – IV.13.
New information: The Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre will report on the results of his mission to Oman, foreseen in the first-half of May 2000, at the time of the Bureau session.
Action Required
The Bureau may wish to examine information that will be provided at the time of its session and take the appropriate decision thereupon.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2000
Following the recommendation of the twenty-fourth ordinary session of the Bureau, two consultants prepared "Guidelines for the establishment of a Management Plan for Bahla Fort and Oasis, a World Heritage site". A mission was scheduled to the site for September 2000 to discuss the management plan; this mission had to be rescheduled.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2000
24 BUR IV.A.19
Bahla Fort (Oman)
Following the presentation of the state of conservation of the site and reports on the regular missions of specialists from CRATerre and the World Heritage Centre, a discussion took place concerning the techniques used for the restoration of the Fort. The Delegates of Greece and Finland questioned whether it was a reconstruction of the site rather than a restoration. After discussions that mainly related to the restoration of the earthen buildings, it was suggested that an international seminar, with the participation of ICCROM and ICOMOS, be convened in Oman on earth construction and restoration. This would provide an opportunity to learn about the efforts being made by the Sultanate of Oman for its heritage and provide an exchange of experiences. The Representative of ICCROM welcomed the idea of a seminar and suggested that his Organization participate with a view to initiating a training strategy. This proposal was accepted by the Observer of the Sultanate of Oman.
The Bureau commended the Omani authorities for the work undertaken and encouraged them to elaborate a management plan of the Fort and the Bahla Oasis and to provide it to the World Heritage Centre for submission to the Bureau at its twenty-fifth session. The Bureau thanked the Omani authorities for having accepted to host an international seminar on the earthen constructions in 2001. The Bureau expressed its wish that at its next session it could recommend to the Committee the removal of this site from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
24 COM VIII.19
Bahla Fort (Oman)
VIII.19 Bahla Fort (Oman)
The Secretariat informed the Committee that following the recommendations of the twenty-fourth ordinary session of the Bureau, two consultants prepared "Guidelines for the establishment of a Management Plan for Bahla Fort and Oasis, a World Heritage Site". A mission was scheduled to visit the site in September 2000 to discuss the management plan, but the mission has been rescheduled to December 2000. A report will be provided to the Bureau for examination at its twenty-fifth session.
The Committee encouraged the State Parties to proceed with the preparation of the management plan and furnish a progress report by 15 April 2001. It decided to retain the property in the List of World Heritage in Danger.
The Committee may wish to adopt the following:
“The Committee encourages the authorities to proceed with the preparation of the management plan and to report on the progress made by 15 April 2001. The Committee decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
OmanExports
* :
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.
