City of Potosí

• Potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain
• Instability and risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico
• Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
• Inefficient enforcement of protective legislation
• Environmental impacts on the hydraulic complex which in turn affects historic fabric and local population

• Instability and imminent risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico’s summit
• Lack of conservation policy of integral character which considers all the components of the property
• Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
• Potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain
• Inefficient enforcement of protective legislation
• Threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors

In progress

In progress

Total amount granted: USD 10,000 for a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS technical mission in 2005 financed by the Spanish Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage.

On 23 February 2016, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/420/documents, and presents progress as follows:

• The Bolivian government is currently developing an Inter-ministerial Resolution for the “Creation of a Management Committee for Cerro Rico of Potosí”, along with its operational regulations, in coordination with the Ministries of Mining and Metallurgy, Environment and Water and Cultures and Tourism;
• Regarding the works for the stabilization of Cerro Rico, the Autonomous Government of the Department of Potosí identified financial resources for the application of dry filler. However, the State Party emphasizes the impossibility to implement any stabilization measures as long as the mining activities at the mountain are not halted and the social issues solved;
• A number of actions were launched in view of the adoption of a new legislation, which will take into account the relocation of miners and the reinforcement of the moratorium. These actions, still under negotiation process, include the inventory and analysis of mining cooperatives above 4,400m, the inspection of the mines located in risk areas and relocation of miners. It is expected that the new Management Committee will bring them forward in an integral manner;
• Regarding the Management Plan, the Emergency Committee has proposed a set of rules for the creation of a Supra Organic Management Body who will have as immediate objective the development of an Integral Management Plan for the property, including Cerro Rico, the Historic Centre, the Ingenios Valley, lakes and cultural landscape;
• A civil strike between July and August of 2015 prevented the implementation of the International Assistance granted for the elaboration of the Management Plan and the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). The definition of the buffer zone to visually protect sensitive areas around the property is conditioned by the development of a land use regulation for these areas. These two actions are considered as a priority by the State Party;
• In December 2014, the State Party formalized into law the former Municipal Regulations for the Preservation of Historic zones of City of Potosí (Municipal Law 055/2014). Within this framework, in 2015, the Municipality of Potosi restored many churches located at the Historic Centre and has also planned studies for the restoration of other churches in 2016.

The efforts made by the State Party to develop coordinated actions for the conservation of Cerro Rico of Potosí, in particular by the creation of a Management Committee for Cerro Rico of Potosí along with its operational regulations are welcomed. However, it should also be noted that the creation of this Committee should be harmonized with the initiative to create a Management Body that cover all the components of the inscribed property in order to ensure the integral protection of its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

There are some encouraging initiatives regarding the management of the Cerro Rico and the  stabilization of its summit, such as: the identification of financial resources for the stabilization works at the sinking areas of Cerro Rico by the Autonomous Government of the Department of Potosí ,  the process to develop a New Legislation to solve the issues regarding the relocation of miners and the moratorium for all exploration between altitudes 4,400m and 4,700m, and the implementation of  several actions such as the inventory and analysis of mining cooperatives above 4,400m, the inspection of mines located in risk areas and the relocation of miners. However, the report lacks specific information on the results and impact of all these actions, and the fact that the current situation of the stabilization of the summit of Cerro Rico remains unresolved should be noted with extreme regret.

The Integrated Management Plan for the property, as well as the DSOCR and a set of corrective measures, need to be elaborated as a matter of urgency. Therefore, it is regrettable that the State Party was not able to develop these essential tools with the International Assistance granted for this purpose.

The proposal of a set of rules for the creation of a Supra Organic Management Body for the development and implementation of an Integral Management Plan which includes all attributes and components of the property (Cerro Rico, the Historic Centre, the Ingenios Valley, lakes and the cultural landscape) is considered as an essential progress to be achieved to ensure an effective management system for the property. The land use regulation for the property and its surrounding areas and its socialization with the communities before the establishment of the buffer zone for the property is of upmost importance.

The approval of the Law for the Preservation of Historic zones of City of Potosí (Municipal Law 055/2014) is welcomed. In this sense, the restoration works implemented in many of the churches located in City of Potosí in 2015 and the initiative to further develop studies for the restoration of other churches in 2016 is noted, though it would be advisable to develop an integral conservation strategy before further works are implemented.