Bahla Fort
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Commercial development
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Degradation of the structures
- Lack of capacity in conservation techniques (use of recent construction materials (cement, etc.))
- Need for a management plan
- Urban Pressure
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
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 2003**
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; May 2001: World Heritage Centre mission; November-December 2001: World Heritage Centre experts mission; September 2002: World Heritage Centre mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
WHC:
A mission was sent by the Centre to the site from 17 to 19 September 2002. At that time, the site was still without proper technical supervision. The mission examined the ongoing conservation works, and set the priority for future action calling again for a quick appointment of a Chief Site Conservator. It appeared, moreover, that during the rainy season no maintenance works had been conducted. The mission also discussed the progress on the preparation of the Management Plan with all the concerned parties. This revised version of the first phase of the Management Plan was considered to be technically sound, and an adequate basis for the development of the full document. However, the need to involve all local stakeholders in the two foreseen consultative workshops was reiterated by the Centre’s mission. The Oman authorities have officially established a Steering Committee, including all Ministries concerned, as well as the police. To this day, it would seem that this Steering Committee has never met to review the Management Plan. Concerning the project for a new market, the Centre’s expert was able to meet with the Company entrusted with the design, and to sensitize it on the importance of preserving the traditional character of the local architecture. According to the proposal presented to the mission, the project for the new market would include the diversion of the truck traffic from the road currently adjacent to the Fort, thus considerably reducing pollution and acoustic impact. Furthermore, by letter of 22 October 2002, the Oman authorities informed the Centre that the Ministry of Heritage and Culture is co-ordinating with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to review the terms of reference for the project, taking into account the recommendations of the Centre’s expert. By letter of 11 March 2003, the Oman authorities informed the Centre that a Chief Conservator for the site has been re-appointed. Lastly, the Regional Training Seminar on the Conservation of Earthen Structures, organized by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture with the Centre and CRATerre and due to take place in March 2003, was postponed until the autumn 2003 due to the prevailing situation in the region.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7A.19
Bahla Fort (Oman)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Commends the Oman authorities for the progress achieved in the preparation of the management plan and for having re-appointed a Chief Site Conservator;
2. Encourages the State Party to continue supporting the elaboration of the management plan, as well as the development of national capacity towards the establishment of a permanent management structure that will be responsible for the daily implementation of the Plan;
3. Invites the State Party to hold the first of the two workshops foreseen for the reviewing and development of the management plan, and to involve all concerned stakeholders, including representatives from the local population;
4. Reiterates the importance of ensuring that the project for the new market be developed in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Management Plan Team, and takes into account the character of the local vernacular architecture, including its traditional materials and construction techniques;
5. Requests ICOMOS to conduct an overall evaluation of the project for the new market and, as soon as available, of the final management plan, and to submit a report on the matter to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 for examination by the Committee at its 28th session in 2004;
6. Decides to consider the possibility of removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 28th session in 2004 having taken into account all ICOMOS recommendations and whether or not the management plan is completed and adopted by the Oman authorities;
7. Decides to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
27 COM 8B.2
Properties maintained on the List of World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Following examination of state of conservation reports of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-03/27.COM/7A),;
2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam, Afghanistan (27 COM 7A.21)
- Butrint, Albania (27 COM 7A.26 )
- Tipasa, Algeria (27 COM 7A.17)
- Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin (27 COM 7A.15)
- Angkor, Cambodia (27 COM 7A.22)
- Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park, Central African Republic (27 COM 7A.12 )
- Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve, Côte d'Ivoire/Guinea (27 COM 7A.4)
- Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (27 COM 7A.2)
- Sangay National Park, Ecuador (27 COM 7A.13)
- Abu Mena, Egypt (27 COM 7A.18)
- Simien National Park, Ethiopia (27 COM 7A.3)
- Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Honduras (27 COM 7A.14)
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, India (27 COM 7A.9)
- Group of Monuments at Hampi, India (27 COM 7A.23)
- Old City of Jerusalem & its Walls (27COM7A.29)
- Timbuktu, Mali (27 COM 7A.16)
- Air & Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger (27 COM 7A.5)
- Bahla Fort, Oman (27 COM 7A.19)
- Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan (27 COM 7A.242)
- Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, Peru (27 COM 7A.28)
- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Philippines (27 COM 7A.25)
- Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, Senegal (27 COM 7A.6)
- Ichkeul National Park, Tunisia (27 COM 7A.8)
- Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda (27 COM 7A.7)
- Everglades National Park, United States of America (27 COM 7A.11)
- Historic Town of Zabid, Yemen (27 COM 7A.20)
Draft 27 COM 7 (a) 19
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Commends the Oman authorities for the progress achieved in the preparation of the Management Plan and for having re-appointed a Chief Site Conservator;
2. Encourages the State Party to continue supporting the elaboration of the Management Plan, as well as the development of national capacity towards the establishment of a permanent management structure that will be responsible for the daily implementation of the Plan;
3. Invites the State Party to hold the first of the two workshops foreseen for the reviewing and development of the Management Plan, and to involve all concerned stakeholders, including representatives from the local population;
4. Reiterates the importance of ensuring that the project for the new market be developed in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Management Plan Team, and takes into account the character of the local vernacular architecture, including its traditional materials;
5. Decides to retain the site 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.
