Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works

• 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
• Damage caused by earthquakes and the wind (damages due to the 2014 earthquake addressed)

• 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

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5014

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/5014

On 30 January 2017, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1178/documents/, in which the State Party confirms that the corrective measures are expected to be completed by December 2018 and informs the following:

• The Management Plan 2013-2018 is fully operational;
• Financing was obtained for executing 11 of the 15 interventions that are still to be completed in the Priority Intervention Programme;
• Four infrastructural works have been completed (water, electricity and fences around the Humberstone and Santa Laura components);
• The International Assistance project “Post-Earthquake 2014 Emergency Assistance for Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, Chile” was concluded. In total, a survey was conducted on 39 properties and a general plan was prepared for the maintenance, safety, shoring up and reinforcement of structures. 6 proposals for intervention were designed and 2 were executed;
• Considerable progress was made with the Conservation Plan, especially regarding a cooperation agreement initiated with Mexico aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of institutions linked to World Heritage in both countries and development of conservation and monitoring plans;
• Safety measures and surveillance were maintained and the site is now completely fenced off with only one entrance to both saltpeter works;
• Drainage works in Humberstone were built;
• A Dissemination Campaign is being executed with seminars, workshops, exhibitions and special newspapers.

Regarding the definition and protection of the property and the buffer zone, studies on the Zoning Plan of the Municipality Pozo Almonte (the administrative territory where the site is located) showed that this protection cannot be achieved under the Urban Development and Construction Act. Alternative legal models will have to be identified.

As to the creation of the Ministry of Culture, this was approved by the Lower House in August 2016. It is expected that the Senate will give its approval this year.

Finally, in 2016 the “National Center for World Heritage Sites” (NCWHS) began to function within the recently created Assistant National Board for Managing Heritage of the Board of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DIBAM). This NCWHS is to encourage a coordinated management, conservation and dissemination of the World Heritage Sites, in close cooperation with the National Monuments Council (NMC). It currently has five professionals of different disciplines with  wide experience dealing with heritage and its management (including a specialist on management devoted to the Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works).

The report of the State Party is very encouraging and the information that is given confirms that the 10 corrective measures, adopted in 2013 to be implemented within five years, may indeed be concluded by the end of 2018:
i) Priority Intervention Programme: Of the 28 interventions, 13 have been completed, 11 are under execution and are pending. The infrastructural works have been completed;
ii) Conservation Plan: Progress is underway as planned; 
iii) Security and Protection: All measures have been taken and are under continuous implementation. Permanent security staff and the fencing of the property and access control through one single entrance should be recognized as important steps;
iv) Management Plan and Management System: The plan for 2014-2018 is under full implementation and a qualified management team is in place that consists of 30 persons, including managers, specialized personnel, security staff, etc.;
v) Management Plan articulated with local and regional planning instruments: Coordination with local authorities is established, but more detailed information on this matter would be welcomed;
vi) and vii) Sustained human, material and financial resources and stable contribution by the State: A national programme for Chilean World Heritage sites has been initiated that will provide continuity in the government´s policy towards the conservation and management of the sites and will ensure a permanent programme of investments; 
viii) Visitor Security Measures: Several measures were reported in earlier reports. A Risk Management Plan is now under preparation in cooperation with the Federico Santa Maria University;
viii) Visitor Strategy and Interpretation Plan: An interpretation plan was developed in 2012-2013 and in addition audio-guided tours are now available for visitors. An assessment of interpretation and presentation was commissioned late 2016 and its results will become available in 2017;
ix) Site’s facilities and activities contribute to the conservation and protection: The Saltpeter Museum Corporation generates its own funds from donations, ticket sales etc. for an amount of USD 540,000 in 2016; 
(x) Buffer zone: New legal models need to be explored for the protection of the buffer zones. This remains one of the main pending issues to be resolved.

It is recommended that the Committee acknowledge the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures and that it request the State Party to continue their implementation with a particular attention to the matter of the definition and protection of the buffer zone.

It is also recommended that the Committee request the State Party to structure its next report according to the 10 corrective measures scheduled for the five-year period 2014-2018 and with reference to the set of indicators identified in Decision 37 COM 7A.37. This will assist the State Party and the Committee to more precisely assess the progress made in the achievement of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).