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State of Conservation Old Town of Ghadamès 2017

Old Town of Ghadamès

Libya
Factors affecting the property in 2017*
  • War
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Conflict situation prevailing in the country
Corrective Measures for the property

Not yet identified

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Not yet identified

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2017
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2017**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2017

On 16 May 2017, the State Party submitted a report entitled “Historic Preservation”, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/362/documents/. The report provides an overview of conservation and management initiatives undertaken before the conflict in Libya, the following information:

  • A map of the property showing the proposed boundaries and buffer zone, which had been prepared before 2011 ;
  • An account of events that took place in 2011 during the Libyan revolution, which states that the UNESCO Director-General’s appeals to protect Libyan cultural heritage played an instrumental role in avoiding serious damage to the property.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2017

The information provided by the State Party demonstrates its commitment to the conservation of the property despite the prevailing conflict situation in the country and implies that the property did not incur serious damage.

Nevertheless, the prevailing situation continues to raise high concern about the capacity of the responsible authorities to ensure the protection and conservation of the property. It is recommended that Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to submit more detailed information about the situation at the property, and to invite, as soon as the security conditions permit, a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission in order to assess the state of conservation of the property and elaborate, in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders, an action plan for the property. It is also recommended that the Committee reiterate the call made at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) for the international community to provide support to the State Party, especially in the implementation of the measures identified during the International Meeting on the Safeguard of Libya’s Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016). The report is available at the following web address: https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1496.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2017
41 COM 7A.40
Old Town of Ghadamès (Libya) (C 362)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.106, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
  3. Notes with concern the absence of detailed information on the state of conservation of the property;
  4. Reiterates its call for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide more financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Emergency Fund for Heritage, to implement the short- and medium-term measures identified during the International Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016);
  5. Requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any evolution of the situation at the property as well as of measures undertaken to ensure its protection and conservation;
  6. Reiterates its request that the State Party invite the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to carry out a mission to the property as soon as the security conditions permit;
  7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
  8. Decides to retain Old Town of Ghadamès (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
41 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/17/41.COM/7A, WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add and WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add.2),
  2. Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
    • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 41 COM 7A.54)
    • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 41 COM 7A.55)
    • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 41 COM 7A.2)
    • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 41 COM 7A.23)
    • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.4)
    • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 41 COM 7A.24)
    • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.6)
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.7)
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.8)
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.9)
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.10)
    • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.11)
    • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 41 COM 7A.32)
    • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.3)
    • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 41 COM 7A.18)
    • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 41 COM 7A.33)
    • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 41 COM 7A.34)
    • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 41 COM 7A.35)
    • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 41 COM 7A.36)
    • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 41 COM 7A.37)
    • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 41 COM 7A.38)
    • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 41 COM 7A.39)
    • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 41 COM 7A.40)
    • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 41 COM 7A.41)
    • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 41 COM 7A.14)
    • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 41 COM 7A.28)
    • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 41 COM 7A.29)
    • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 41 COM 7A.30)
    • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 41 COM 7A.56)
    • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 41 COM 7A.15)
    • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 41 COM 7A.42)
    • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 41 COM 7A.43)
    • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 41 COM 7A.25)
    • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 41 COM 7A.26)
    • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.16)
    • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 41 COM 7A.21)
    • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 41 COM 7A.19)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 41 COM 7A.44)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 41 COM 7A.45)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 41 COM 7A.46)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 41 COM 7A.47)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 41 COM 7A.48)
    • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 41 COM 7A.49)
    • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 41 COM 7A.31)
    • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 41 COM 7A.22)
    • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 41 COM 7A.17)
    • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 41 COM 7A.1)
    • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 41 COM 7A.57)
    • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 41 COM 7A.27)
    • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 41 COM 7A.51)
    • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 41 COM 7A.52)
    • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 41 COM 7A.53)
      Read more
      Draft Decision: 41 COM 7A.40

      The World Heritage Committee,

      1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add,
      2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.106, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
      3. Notes with concern the absence of detailed information on the state of conservation of the property;
      4. Reiterates its call for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide more financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Emergency Fund for Heritage, to implement the short- and medium-term measures identified during the International Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage (Tunis, May 2016);
      5. Requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any evolution of the situation at the property as well as of measures undertaken to ensure its protection and conservation;
      6. Reiterates its request that the State Party invite the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to carry out a mission to the property as soon as the security conditions permit;
      7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
      8. Decides to retain Old Town of Ghadamès (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
      Next 2018
      Report year: 2017
      Libya
      Date of Inscription: 1986
      Category: Cultural
      Criteria: (v)
      Danger List (dates): 2016-present
      Documents examined by the Committee
      WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add
      arrow_circle_right 41COM (2017)
      Exports
      Next 2018

      * : 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.


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