Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna

• Illegal Activities
• Desertification
• Flooding (issue resolved)
• Conflict situation
• Deterioration of the stone masonry
• Sand covering certain areas of the property
• Graffiti and fires
• Discharge of domestic wastewater at the west of the property (issue resolved)

Not yet drafted

Not yet identified

Not yet identified

Total amount granted: USD 24,543 for the European Project “Protecting Cultural Heritage and Diversity in Complex Emergencies for Stability and Peace”.
June 2020: Netherlands Funds in Trust: USD 49,620 for Strengthening national capacities for the elaboration of corrective measures for Libyan World Heritage properties. 

On 6 February 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report and an updated version on 11 February 2021. The executive summaries of both reports are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/183/documents/. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented, as follows:

• Despite the difficulties faced since 2011, the Department of Antiquities (DoA) continues to undertake conservation measures in collaboration with the local community and the Tourism Police, in addition to awareness raising in coordination with municipal authorities. No cases of damage or serious violations have been reported;
• In 2019, a committee was established, as per Government Decision 155/2019, for the Management and Implementation of the Strategy for Preservation and Conservation of World Heritage properties in Libya;
• The DoA has carried out regular monitoring visits to evaluate the property’s state of conservation and considers that the situation has improved in the last three years. Funding is still a main constraint, preventing the property’s regular maintenance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the site and its museum have been closed since March 2020, operating with a reduced number of staff;
• Vandalism and animal grazing have been reduced. The unauthorized discharge of domestic wastewater was addressed through coordinated work with the local authority by clearing the path for discharge away from the property, managing to prevent any possible flooding in the future. Regular cleaning of vegetation has taken place, and a study on damage caused by vegetation and other threats has helped to establish control mechanisms that started to be implemented in 2020. A fire erupted in August 2020 due to dry vegetation, but was successfully controlled;
• The DoA is considering building sand barriers to protect the property from sand encroachment, especially the most vulnerable buildings. Discussions on the use of nanotechnology as a possibility to reduce the effects of weathering and sand drift are being considered;
• Periodic cleaning of the Wadi Lebda path was conducted to avoid flooding. Restoration and cleaning works were undertaken at the Punic Market, the Severan Basilica, the Barko cemetery and the colonnaded street. The project for the installation of a security fence, including the rehabilitation of the entrance of the site is in the contracting phase. Other protective measures such as a tree barrier and earthen embankments also being used;
• Efforts have been sought to establish laboratory facilities and to undertake conservation training, resulting in an improved state of conservation of the property in the past three years. The process for the definition of a buffer zone for the property has continued and a minor boundary modification proposal has been submitted, while the preparation of a management plan has been initiated;
• Several partnerships have contributed to technical and financial support for undertaking the above-mentioned activities, such as the Training in Action programme and the Libyan Cultural Heritage Management Project (MaliCH) aiming at building capacities and supporting the conservation of the property. The State Party intends to call on the international community to provide more financial and technical support, and considers the March 2020 technical meeting with ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre as successful in initiating direct discussion and consultation.

The State Party reiterates that the property is not facing any specific ascertained danger and requests its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger. To this end, it has formally invited a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property.

The efforts undertaken by the State Party demonstrate its commitment to the conservation of the property, despite the prevailing situation. The constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of funding do not allow for major conservation works. It is recommended that the Committee call upon the international community to support the State Party in its conservation efforts.

No information was provided concerning the deterioration of stone masonry, as mentioned in previous reports. The initiation of the process to draft a Management Plan and the measures undertaken regarding sand control, flood and fire prevention, and resolving the issue of domestic wastewater discharge are welcome.

Several projects have been implemented at the property, including cleaning and condition assessment in the framework of the Training in Action project, as well as works undertaken at the Punic Market, the Severan Basilica, Barko cemetery and the colonnaded street. It is recommended that the World Heritage Committee request that technical specifications and materials for conservation/restoration works are discussed with ICOMOS before implementation. The initiation of the procedure for the installation of a fence and the ongoing discussions regarding other protection measures are welcome. All of these initiatives are important; however, they are not enough to guarantee the appropriate state of conservation of the property.

The World Heritage Centre organized a meeting in Paris in March 2020 to address the elaboration of a proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and related corrective measures, boundary modifications and Tentative Lists. Participants comprised the State Party, ICOMOS, the UNESCO Rabat Office, and the World Heritage Centre. Discussions and technical recommendations focused on the minor boundary modification proposal submitted by the State Party and planned projects. The boundary modification submitted with the State Party report is currently under review. 

The first meeting for the elaboration of the DSOCR for the property took place on 1 April 2021.This process is being elaborated through the support of the World Heritage Fund and the Netherlands Funds in Trust project “Strengthening national capacities for the elaboration of corrective measures for Libyan World Heritage properties”. It is recommended that the State Party continues this dialogue with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS on the elaboration of the Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and the DSOCR, to be submitted in line with Paragraph 164 and 183 of the Operational Guidelines.

Important efforts have been made to secure new projects, such as the MaliCH project funded by the International alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas (ALIPH). It is recommended that the Committee welcome these efforts and requests the State Party to keep the Committee informed on progress of their implementation.

It is recommended that the State Party’s important efforts to conserve the property are oriented in line with the action plan that was developed during the International Expert Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage, held in Tunis in May 2016 (report available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1496), building on the short-, medium- and long-term measures identified during that meeting. It is therefore recommended that the Committee request the State Party to provide information on progress made in the implementation of this Action Plan.

The effects of the conflict situation in the country raise much concern about the sustainability of efforts made, as the prevailing constraints prevent the undertaking of essential actions to protect and conserve the property. Nevertheless, the recent improvement in the situation may have a positive impact on the conservation of the property. It remains crucial that the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission takes place as soon as the security conditions permit. In the meantime, it is important that the State Party continues to keep the Committee, through the World Heritage Centre, updated on the situation on the ground and the implementation of intervention measures,

It is therefore recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.