Old Towns of Djenné

• No management and conservation plan;
• Pressure from urban development;
• Deterioration of dwellings;
• Waste disposal problems;
• Encroachment of the archaeological sites.

Total amount granted: USD 110,000 (Italian Funds-in-Trust); USD 23,100 (Croisi Europe); USD 86,900 (European Commission), USD 53,000 (Netherland Funds-in-Trust)

A joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission visited the property from 10 to 15 March 2014. Subsequently, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report on 24 March 2014. Both reports are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/116/documents/.

The State Party report highlights a number of conservation issues that have been exacerbated after the crisis in Mali. The lack of resources has hindered institutional capacities to address conditions currently affecting the property, including maintenance of the building stock, sanitation issues, development pressures, etc. Also, cultural tourism, a considerable source of revenue for the local communities and municipality, has practically ceased. Notwithstanding, efforts have been made to carry-out a condition survey to identify a priority action plan, to evaluate the management plan and to identify required updates to make the system more operational and adequate in response to emerging conditions. Work was also undertaken for the adoption of urban regulations and for the establishment of a management committee that would bring together stakeholders from the administrative, political, and religious and community arenas. The State Party also reports that, in spite of difficulties being faced, the Djenné community organised the annual maintenance of the mosque specially focused on the re-rendering of earthen architecture. Other measures were implemented at the archaeological sites to prevent further physical erosion of the remains.

The reactive monitoring mission to the property evaluated the state of conservation of the property and verified that current conditions at all component parts of the property need to be urgently addressed. It underscored that if action is not taken, the attributes that convey Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), as well as the conditions of authenticity and integrity would be significantly threatened. The mission, however, noted the willingness of different stakeholders at the national and local level to coordinate efforts to ensure that pressing conservation and management issues are tackled. A twelve month costed priority action plan has been developed and it is expected that implementation could commence upon securing necessary resources.

The State Party has made a number of efforts, notwithstanding the difficult conditions, to implement the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee. However, urgent action is needed at the property so that its OUV is not irreversibly compromised. The crisis in Mali has exacerbated issues in relation to the progressive deterioration of the urban fabric of the property, the lack of effective implementation of regulatory measures to control encroachment and other impacts at the archaeological component parts, to regulate interventions at the historic town and to address new informal construction. Issues such as solid waste management, sewage and general sanitation continue to be far from resolved constituting a considerable threat to the local communities. The nature of earthen architecture construction makes it particularly vulnerable and strong efforts are needed to actively maintain and sustain the different attributes.

The findings of the mission are noted and the proposed priority action plan is considered as an important step for the conservation of the property as it includes comprehensive measures that could feasibly be implemented at the local level if the necessary financial resources, approximately USD 120,000, were secured. Interventions such as finalising delimitation of the archaeological sites, reinforcing anti-erosion measures, the update of the management plan and the adoption of urban regulations are essential to improve conservation of the property the short term. The current will at the political, administrative and community level to address pressing concerns is an important opportunity to make fully functional management arrangements that could sustain efforts in the long term.

Finally, if no substantial progress is achieved in the upcoming year, it is recommended that the World Heritage Committee consider inscribing the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger, as a call for action to garner the necessary and sustained support for the implementation of conservation, protection and management measures.