Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz
Factors affecting the property in 2003*
- Flooding
- Marine transport infrastructure
- Surface water pollution
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2003
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2003**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2003
During the flood disaster of August 2002, toxic water affected the natural balance of the Park’s lakes and canals. Detailed information on the site’s condition has not been provided to the Centre. The Director-General of UNESCO indicated in his message of 16 August 2002 that UNESCO is readily available to provide technical and emergency assistance to safeguard the heritage sites. Concerning the “Elbe Waterway Improvement Project”, construction works at the Elbe near the World Heritage site were foreseen, which could impact the integrity of the site and the dynamics of the existing wetland and its water levels. By letter of 1 April 2003, the German Permanent Delegation reported that the "Elbe Waterway Improvement Project " had been suspended. The resumption of the planning process cannot be predicted. Before the suspension of the “Elbe Waterway Project”, IUCN pointed out the lack of an overall evaluation (Environmental Impact Assessment) of the construction work on the River Elbe. This assessment remains valid in case of resumption of the project.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2003
27 COM 7B.66
Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (Germany)
The World Heritage Committee [41],
1. Expresses its appreciation to the State Party for the information provided on the Elbe Waterway Project;
2. Expresses concern for the degradation of the natural environment and the buildings of the Garden Kingdom due to the flooding;
3. Requests the State Party to provide information to the World Heritage Centre should the authorities of Saxony-Anhalt take any steps towards continuing the Elbe construction project.
4. Further requests the State Party to provide information to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2004 on the current conditions and the rehabilitation works on the World Heritage property in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 28th session in 2004.
[41] Decision adopted without discussion.
Draft Decision: 27 COM 7 (b) 66
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Thanks the State Party for the information provided on the Elbe Waterway Project,
2. Expresses concern for the degradation of the natural environment and the buildings of the Garden Kingdom due to the flooding,
3. Requests the State Party to provide information on the current conditions and the rehabilitation works on the World Heritage site to the Centre,
4. Further requests the State Party to provide information to the Centre in case the authorities of Saxony-Anhalt take any steps towards continuing the Elbe construction project.
Germany
* :
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.
