Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
Factors affecting the property in 2014*
- Management systems/ management plan
- Wind
- Other Threats:
a) Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings that were constructed using local materials such as timber for frames, corrugated iron sheets for roofs and some walls, in addition to stucco and lightweight construction; b) Lack of maintenance over the past 40 years; c) Corrosion of metal cladding and dismantlement of some of the structural elements. A few buildings such as the Leaching House are liable to structural collapse if no support is given; d) Very little conservation work carried out
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings that were constructed using local materials such as timber for frames, corrugated iron sheets for roofs and some walls, in addition to stucco and lightweight construction;
- Lack of maintenance over the past 40 years as well as vandalism at the property;
- Corrosion of metal cladding and dismantlement of some of the structural elements. A few buildings such as the Leaching House are liable to structural collapse if no support is given;
- Very little conservation work carried out;
- Damage caused by the wind.
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
-
Extremely fragile nature of the industrial buildings;
-
Lack of maintenance for 40 years;
-
Vandalism due to looting of re-usable materials;
-
Damage caused by the wind.
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5014
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, See page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5014
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2014
Total amount approved : 60,000 USD
| 2012 | International Expert Meeting - Conservation of Wood ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 2007 | Protection and consolidation of the Humberstone and ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2014**
October 2004: ICOMOS evaluation mission; May 2007: World Heritage Centre site visit; April 2010: Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2014
The State Party submitted a state of conservation report on 3 February 2014 and notes progress on the following:
- Comprehensive conservation plan: The plan will be completed by 2015. Results from previous interventions as well as the recommendations from the expert meeting will be integrated.
- Priority interventions programme: Work will continue throughout 2014 with potential resources from the Regional Government. Several interventions were completed, including the rehabilitation of Humberstone’s General Store as an Interpretation Centre on the Saltpetre Era. No indication on the rate of progress is included.
- Management Plan and management arrangements: The updating process is at a review stage and will be finalized in 2014 and the finalised document will be submitted for review. A team that has been involved in the property since 2012 will largely lead its implementation. Additional required resources will be identified and provisions will be made to ensure that the system is adequately staffed. A World Heritage Commission has been created at the national level to enhance coordination among different agencies to improve the implementation of the Convention.
- Security and protection at the property: Surveillance has continued with a total of eight guards and a system of surveillance cameras; no thefts or burglaries were reported in 2013. A risk assessment template was developed and capacity building activities were carried out for risk mitigation. Public awareness on safety measures was also implemented.
- Visitor strategy and interpretation plan: A project was concluded in 2013 and several visitation circuits, with necessary measures for interpretation, have been carried out including signage and use of new technologies, to provide information.
- Buffer zone and regulatory measures: The buffer zone will be formally protected as a Typical Zone, which will allow for the implementation of protection measures. It will encompass other heritage sectors where saltpetre works are located. Measures were identified to mitigate impacts from the new layout of Route A-16.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2014
The State Party has implemented significant and sustained efforts in the past years to address factors that threaten the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The adoption of the Desired state of conservation and the corrective measures has constituted a clear roadmap for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Considerable progress has been achieved in regard to the definition of a conservation strategy for the property, which presents unique conservation challenges due to the nature of its fabric and location. Of particular interest will be the definition of the overarching policy for interventions and the balance between conservation needs, the conditions of authenticity and of integrity of the property. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies remain ready to continue to assist the State Party in these efforts by providing additional expertise for technical discussions. Finally, additional efforts to ensure the sustainability of management arrangements should be underscored, such as the formal adoption of the buffer zone with strong regulatory and protection measures and the creation of the World Heritage Commission, a welcomed approach to strengthening the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Chile.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2014
38 COM 7A.21
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) (C 1178)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A;
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.37 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Commends the State Party for efforts made in the implementation of the corrective measures for the property and encourages it to sustain these efforts to ensure that the Desired state of conservation for the property is met within the established timeframe;
- Urges the State Party to conclude the planning process for the formulation of the management plan and the comprehensive conservation plan and requests it to provide an electronic and three printed copies of the finalised draft management plan for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
- Decides to retain Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
38 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (retained sites)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-14/38.COM/7A and WHC-14/38.COM/7A.Add),
- Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 38 COM 7A.14)
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 38 COM 7A.15)
- Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 38 COM 7A.31)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.34)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 38 COM 7A.21)
- Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.32)
- Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.35)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.36)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.37)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.38)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.39)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.40)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.41)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 38 COM 7A.1)
- Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.43)
- Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 38 COM 7A.16)
- Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 38 COM 7A.17)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 38 COM 7A.33)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 38 COM 7A.28)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 38 COM 7A.2)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 38 COM 7A.3)
- Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 38 COM 7A.4)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 38 COM 7A.44)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 38 COM 7A.24)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 38 COM 7A.25)
- Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 38 COM 7A.45)
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 38 COM 7A.5)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 38 COM 7A.20)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 38 COM 7A.22)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.46)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 38 COM 7A.18)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 38 COM 7A.29)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 38 COM 7A.12)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 38 COM 7A.26)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 38 COM 7A.19)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 38 COM 7A.30)
- Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 38 COM 7A.23)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 38 COM 7A.13)
Draft Decision: 38 COM 7A.21
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7A;
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7A.37 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Commends the State Party for efforts made in the implementation of the corrective measures for the property and encourages it to sustain these efforts to ensure that the Desired state of conservation for the property is met within the established timeframe;
4. Urges the State Party to conclude the planning process for the formulation of the management plan and the comprehensive conservation plan and requests it to provide an electronic and three printed copies of the finalised draft management plan for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015;
6. Decides to retain Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Chile) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Chile
Documents examined by the Committee
38COM (2014)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.
