Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
- Civil unrest
- Erosion and siltation/ deposition
- Flooding
- Illegal activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Inclination of the Minaret
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Political instability
- Inclination of the Minaret
- Lack of management plan;
- Illicit excavations and looting
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
-
Lack of legal protection;
-
Lack of an effective monuments protection agency;
-
Lack of adequate protection and conservation personnel;
-
Lack of a comprehensive management plan.
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/1286
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/211/documents
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2015
Total amount granted: USD 844,901 (2003-2012) from the Italian Funds-in-Trust; USD 124,300 (2003-2012) from the Swiss Funds-in-Trust.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Total amount approved : 93,750 USD
| 2015 | Preparatory work for the conservation plan for the ... (Approved) | 73,750 USD |
| 2002 | Training for national and local authorities in the ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2015**
Several annual UNESCO expert missions took place between 2002 and 2006 in order to implement the operational projects for the property. After a period of three years of inactivity from 2007 to 2009, due to the security situation, UNESCO dispatched a mission in cooperation with an Afghan local NGO in 2010 to resume the on-site operations.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015
On 3 April 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/211/documents. Apart from the repair work of the gabion and the mission undertaken to the property in October 2014, the submitted document details a series of the activities to be carried out rather than activities that have been carried out, as follows:
- Conservation and management: A mission was undertaken by a group of Afghan experts and international professionals in October 2014 in order to assess the condition of the Minaret and measure its inclination. An inclindation of 28mm at 54 m relative height between 2006 and 2014 was observed through the topographical measurement. However, whether this inclination between 2006 and 2014 is caused by the 2007 flood and is stopped by now, or is an on-going process, cannot be confirmed by the mission. In light of this, it has become the top priority to install a high precision monitoring system as soon as possible. In November 2014, the State Party submitted an emergency assistance request “Preparatory work for the conservation plan for the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam” (USD 73,750). The project aims to ensure the long-term stability and conservation of the property, and the government will undertake activities to mitigate the existing threats. The request was approved in March 2015.
- River Defense Protection: As reported in 2014, the temporary gabion, constructed on the bank of the Jam river with the financial aid from the US military funding, was removed in September 2014. The Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC), in co-operation with the UNESCO Office in Kabul, constructed a strong retaining wall constructed on the bank of the Jam river in October 2014. At the same time, flood breakers in several points of the Jam Rud river have been implemented to reduce the power of the floods. The report says that the retaining walls on the Hari Rud river are still in good condition. The report recognizes further hydgologic research, as requested by the International Assistance under emergency category 2014.
Furthermore, the MoIC, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, has deployed a team of police officers for the security of the site, in particular to address looting and illicit traffic. The report also underlines the need to contruct a food bridge over the Hari Rud river to enable year-round access for inhabitants of nearby villages and for future conservation works, as well as a repair and rehabilitation of the guest house built by UNESCO in 2003.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015
The State Party’s efforts in the implementation of corrective measures, in particular for site security, as well as for the protection of the property against floods and river erosion, are recognized.
In relation to the need of accurate mapping of the archaeological traces and built heritage, as well as of the definition of appropriate boundary and buffer zones for the property, the attention of the Afghan experts should be drawn to the detailed topography produced in 2012 within the ‘UNESCO/Italy Funds in Trust for Jam and Herat’ project. The detailed topography, not only took into account the surrounding archaeological remains, but also provided detailed boundary of the property and buffer zones. The completion of the topographic and archaeological survey of Jam is an essential step to properly plan for, and implement, an effective conservation strategy for the property. This strategy should include the important ancient settlement, the precise extent and remains of which have yet to be defined. However, it is regrettable that the State Party has not adopted this detailed topography for Jam yet, and not submitted a minor boundary modification proposal to the World Heritage Centre for review by ICOMOS.
Furthermore, the formulation of a long-term conservation policy and action plan should be undertaken by using a multidisciplinary approach to address all the relevant issues in a holistic way. It is recommended that a multidisciplinary team of international experts such as hydrological engineers and architects, as well as archaeologists, assist the government of Afghanistan in these efforts. In this respect, the approved emergency assistance request (USD 73,750) under the World Heritage Fund can provide a good basis to form a multidisciplinary team of international experts that can carry out preparatory work to establish a long–term strategy to ensure the stability of the property.
Upon establishing a long-term conservation policy, the government of Afghanistan shall be able to propose a revised time frame for implementing the corrective measures identified by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), so as to achieve the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7A.38
Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) (C 211 rev)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM7A.14, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to adopt the detailed topographic map of the property produced in 2012, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, a proposal for the minor boundary modification, in accordance to paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by ICOMOS;
- Encourages the implementation of the emergency assistance project for the property, which will allow the State Party to conduct a full survey and assessment of the Minaret, as well as its archaeologic remains, on the basis of which a long-term strategy can be established;
- Calls upon the international community to continue its technical and financial support, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in the implementation of corrective measures and in the implementation of the long term conservation strategy, to be established upon the implementation of the International Assistance Request;
- Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to revise the timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures upon development of the conservation strategy and action plan, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2016;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, 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 40th session in 2016;
- Decides to retain the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
39 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of the World Heritage in Danger
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-15/39.COM/7A and WHC-15/39.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 39 COM 7A.38)
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 39 COM 7A.39)
- Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 39 COM 7A.18)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosi (Decision 39 COM 7A.44)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.1)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 39 COM 7A.45)
- Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.2)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.3)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.4)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.5)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.6)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.7)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.8)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 39 COM 7A.24)
- Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.10)
- Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 39 COM 7A.40)
- Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 39 COM 7A.41)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.20)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 39 COM 7A.15)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 39 COM 7A.25)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 39 COM 7A.26)
- Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 39 COM 7A.27)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 39 COM 7A.11)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 39 COM 7A.21)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 39 COM 7A.22)
- Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 39 COM 7A.12)
- Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 39 COM 7A.28)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 39 COM 7A.29)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 39 COM 7A.46)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 39 COM 7A.47)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.13)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 39 COM 7A.42)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 39 COM 7A.16)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 39 COM 7A.30)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 39 COM 7A.31)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 39 COM 7A.32)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 39 COM 7A.33)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 39 COM 7A.34)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 39 COM 7A.35)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 39 COM 7A.23)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 39 COM 7A.43)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 39 COM 7A.14)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 39 COM 7A.17)
- Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 39 COM 7A.48)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 39 COM 7A.37)
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7A.38
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add,
- Recalling Decision 38 COM7A.14, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
- Reiterates its request to the State Party to adopt the detailed topographic map of the property produced in 2012, and to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, a proposal for the minor boundary modification, in accordance to paragraphs 163-165 of the Operational Guidelines, for review by ICOMOS;
- Encourages the implementation of the emergency assistance project for the property, which will allow the State Party to conduct a full survey and assessment of the Minaret, as well as its archaeologic remains, on the basis of which a long-term strategy can be established;
- Calls upon the international community to continue its technical and financial support, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, in the implementation of corrective measures and in the implementation of the long term conservation strategy, to be established upon the implementation of the International Assistance Request;
- Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to revise the timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures upon development of the conservation strategy and action plan, and submit it to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2016;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, 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 40th session in 2016;
- Decides to retain the Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Afghanistan) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Afghanistan
Documents examined by the Committee
39COM (2015)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.
