Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz

Lack of a comprehensive conservation and management plan 

In October 2014, the World Heritage Centre received information about renovation works, construction of new buildings being undertaken at the property, and requested the authorities to provide further information on the issue. On 18 March 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/885/documents/. It provides information on the programme of construction and reconstruction measures adopted by Decree in February 2014, as follow:

• Programme for complex measures for development and reconstruction of Shakhrisyabz City: The State Party reports that a comprehensive programme has been adopted for the period 2014 – 2016, which aims at improving the transportation and engineering infrastructure, conservation and reconstruction of cultural sites, urban landscape improvements, as well as hotel and residential developments. A number of cultural heritage monuments have been included in the conservation and restoration programme, among them the Ak-Saray Palace, the Dorus-Saodat Complex and the Chor-su bazaar and the medieval baths. A working committee headed by the First Deputy Prime Minister approves and monitors all the required activities. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and other relevant ministries ensure the implementation of works for the preservation of cultural heritage buildings of Shakhrisabz.
• Urban development: The programme also foresees improvements to the urban landscape by demolishing arbitrarily built residential buildings near the fortification walls and the monuments. Other projects include the construction of individual and low residential buildings with trade and craft shops as well as modern hotels.
• Infrastructural improvement: The issue of rising ground water is addressed by the improvement of soil and hydro-geological conditions and the installation of drainage systems. Monitoring of ground water is also envisaged. The State Party will arrange environmentally friendly means of transportation in response to the issue of air pollution connecting the routes between the complexes.

Noting the willingness of the State Party to enhance the cultural heritage of Shakhrisyabz not only through the envisaged architectural and infrastructural improvements, but also by creating favorable conditions for tourism, the complexity of works envisaged and the limited timeframe are a cause for great concern.

While some plans have been provided, the overall impact of the projects on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and the extent of urban transformation which could undermine the integrity and authenticity of Shakhrisyabz, have not been subject to Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs).

It is recommended that the Committee ask the State Party to provide, as a matter of urgency, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, detailed plans and documentation of all works envisaged, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines and to carry out HIAs, in conformity with the ICOMOS Guidelines on Heritage Impact Assessments for World Heritage cultural properties.

It is also recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to halt or not to commence any works until the above assessments and reviews have been carried out. 

Furthermore, in view of the potential threats and lack of a comprehensive conservation and management plan for the property, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to review the proposed development and reconstruction programme at the property, to assess the general state of conservation, and to review its current management and planning system as well as to advise the authorities on the issues identified above.