Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara

• Lack of approved boundaries for core and buffer zones linked to the land-use plans and appropriate protection
• Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric
• Sea wave erosion
• Theft of stone from ruins for use as building material
• Lack of functioning local consultative committee
• Lack of implementation of the conservation and management plans

Deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archaeological structures for which the property was inscribed 

The desired state of conservation was adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008). See Decision 32 COM 7A.14, https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586/

The following corrective measures were adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008):

a) Implement urgent measures to halt sea-wave action;

b) Survey and demarcate the boundaries of the property including extension;

c) Improve and implement the management and conservation plans;

d) Provide for on-site management staff;

e) Halt the vegetation growth within and around monuments;

f) Halt of illegal removal of monuments’ stone for private constructions.

Total amount provided to the property: The Norwegian Funds-in-Trust provided support for UNESCO rehabilitation project (USD 201,390).

On 2 February 2011, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, providing responses to the decisions of the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010).

a) Measures to halt sea-wave action

The State Party reports that a sea wall, built of coral blocks embedded in traditional mortar, at a depth of 1.5 meters and a length of 150 meters has been constructed in front of the Malindi sea front which is considered to be effective. There are plans to construct a second wall at the southwest corner of Makutani Palace in the near future.

b) Survey and demarcation of the boundaries of the property including extension

The State Party reports that consultations are underway with the Survey and Mapping Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism for demarcating the boundaries and buffer zone and mapping them. The work will be carried out in April 2011. The defined boundaries will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre in 2011 and the proposed buffer zone will be submitted to the World Heritage Committee in time for its 36th session in 2012. There is no mention, however, about the possibility of an extension of the property as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session.

c) Management and conservation plans

The report indicates that a three year strategic plan has been developed based on the corrective measures suggested by ICOMOS experts. The State Party also reports that they have prepared, in collaboration with a number of partners, a proposal for an overall conservation project for the property and for a comprehensive management plan for Songo Mnara. The State Party further reports that a workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 27 – 28 January 2011, entitled “Planning Meeting to Develop a Comprehensive Management Plan for Songo Mnara, Tanzania; Conservation, Archaeology, tourism and Community Involvement”. The State Party will submit the results of this meeting to the World Heritage Centre. 

d) On-site management staff

The State Party reports that they are continuing to try to improve on-site management and recruit more staff. In particular, they report that two Japanese volunteers with backgrounds in architecture and museums will be assigned to the property as of August 2011.

e) Vegetation growth within and around monuments

The State Party reports that vegetation has been removed at Malindi, Gereza, and the Makutani Palace. Work will continue on the Makutani area, the Sultan’s tombs, and the Forty Sheikhs monuments, with work foreseen for completion by July of 2011. However, the report acknowledges that there is a need to carry out more careful conservation studies of some monuments before removing vegetation that is embedded within their walls, in order to avoid damage to the structures. The State Party further reports that a group of village youths is being engaged in part of the vegetation control process. They also report plans to carry out an inventory of trees at the property. 

f) Conservation of architectural structures

The State Party reports conservation work being carried out on a number of monuments within the property. These include the Malindi Mosque and Cemetery, and the Gereza Fort. Emergency conservation works were also carried out at the Makutani Palace. Works include cleaning of the site and removal of rubble and vegetation, repair or replacement of decaying mangrove and of lime mortar where necessary, and repair of cracks. Additional work still needs to be carried out including the replacement of some doors, and the placement of stones at the base of the monuments to help protect them from sea erosion. Work has been carried out with assistance from the World Monuments Fund and the United Nations Joint Programme. 

g) Cattle grazing

The State Party reports that efforts have been made to limit or stop cattle grazing at both Songo Mnara and Kilwa Kisiwani. In regard to the former, the site manager has worked with the village administration and the Ruins Committee to ensure that grazing has stopped. In regard to the latter, the site manager has worked with the Kilwa Masoko township authority to declare all grazing illegal in unauthorized areas. Meetings have also been held with cattle owners. 

h) Timeframe for carrying out corrective measures

The State Party reports progress on many of the corrective measures, but states that the success of the corrective measures will depend on the availability of funding. For this reason, the State Party states that it proposes to request funding from UNESCO and other sources. As a result, the State Party would like to request a reconsideration of the timetable for carrying out the corrective measures to ensure that it takes into account the availability of funding. 

The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies note the progress made by the State Party on a number of the corrective measures. In particular, the construction of the sea wall, the removal of vegetation, the efforts to control grazing, and the conservation work carried out at some of the important monuments. They note, however, that a great deal of work still needs to be carried out both in the area of limiting sea erosion and on the conservation of structures at the property. In addition, they emphasize the need for a monitoring regime to be put in place both to monitor the ongoing effects of sea erosion, the state of conservation of the monuments, and vegetation growth, which should lead to a maintenance strategy to deal with these problems in the long term. 

Further, there is a need for the boundaries and buffer zones to be defined. The work on the boundaries and buffer zone was already scheduled to be completed according to the corrective measures, but as the State Party points out, some of these measures are being carried out at a slower pace than anticipated. In regard to planning mechanisms, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the progress made by the State Party but would request more information on the proposed conservation plan and the comprehensive management plan for Songo Mnara and how this will be linked to the plan for the main island. They further note the desire of the State Party to re-examine the timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures and would be happy to support a proposal to work with the State Party as necessary to redefine this timeframe. Further, they would suggest that the State Party makes a request for International Assistance, if necessary, for the implementation of some of the corrective measures as mentioned by the State Party.