Byblos

• Port expansion project (issue resolved)
• Need for a Management Plan and a Master Plan (issue resolved)
• Plans for an extension of the jetty (issue resolved)
• Tourism infrastructure: “Diplomatic Club” project with above ground structures of reinforced concrete built at the south of the property on potentially archaeologically sensitive grounds
• Management systems/ management plan: Unclear boundary definition of property and buffer zone
• Erosion and siltation/ deposition: Environmental risks - coastal erosion of the Byblos mound due to the heavy tidal impact of the sea.

On 4 March 2021, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/295/documents. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented, as follows:

• All works on the ‘Diplomatic Club’ beach resort project adjacent to the archaeological area have been stopped, and no further archaeological investigations conducted on this private property since the execution of the project was suspended in April 2017;
• Conservation and consolidation of the excavated remains are priority maintenance measures, focusing on archaeological features at risk and the removal of harmful vegetation;
• A vegetation management plan is being elaborated with the ‘Nature Conservation Center’ of the American University of Beirut to promote endemic plants and to control species that might pose a threat to the archaeological remains;
• Detailed documentation activities are being carried out including topographic and architectural surveys with the use of laser scan technology;
• Refurbishment and restoration of two historic buildings at the archaeological sites foreseen for site management offices and museum functions had to be postponed due to the economic crisis;
• Within the Historic City adjacent to the archaeological site, the new Centre for Research and Conservation of Lebanese Cultural Heritage (CRCPL) has been fully equipped and has become operational with activities taking place.

The State Party reports that the country has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis, and therefore all major interventions in the archaeological site have stopped.

The opening of the new CRCPL is acknowledged, and it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to organise further capacity building activities in order to develop the Centre as an internationally-acknowledged research and educational facility on archaeological conservation and management practices.

It is recalled that the ‘Diplomatic Club’ beach resort project was originally proposed as an ecotourism project with park-like landscaping and some recreational facilities on private land. The World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS supported the principle of this proposal as it would have produced desirable ecological and archaeological outcomes, preserving attributes reflecting the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, while helping to separate the property from nearby beachfront tourism activities in the southern part of the World Heritage property, for which no clear boundaries or buffer zones have been established to date.

The 2018 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission ascertained that significant incremental changes had been made to the initial project design that would create a large tourism facility, which would consume natural resources and therefore not be consistent with the original ecotourism concept, nor provide a buffer from nearby tourism activities. Therefore, the activities raised the concern of the Committee, which requested the State Party to suspend the construction works and allow a thorough archaeological investigation to clarify the existence of evidence that may reflect the property’s OUV, such as that relating to a Phoenician port facility, which would be an archaeological site of great importance directly related to the ancient city of Byblos.

It is considered that the Committee’s previous request to suspend the project in its current and unrevised form continues to be justified. In addition, further excavation would be required to determine whether any material remains, particularly in the deeper archaeological strata, are associated with the ancient port of Byblos. The State Party has indicated that the project and the archaeological investigations that needed to be undertaken prior to the continuation of the works have been suspended. Given the potential impact that a project in the area may have on the OUV of the property, it is crucial that any future project planned in this area is preceded by  a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) prepared in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidelines, taking into account the results of the archaeological investigations into the nature and extent of the archaeological features.

In 2019, a boundary clarification proposal relating to the extent of the property at the time of inscription was submitted by the State Party, who is currently undertaking its review based on feedback by the World Heritage Centre.

It is recommended that the Committee reiterate its request to the State Party to revise the boundary of the property, including a buffer zone, and to develop a minor boundary modification proposal in consultation with the Advisory Bodies.

The issues addressed by the 2018 mission remain relevant and it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to implement the mission’s recommendations, including those addressing the conservation and management of the property, possible synergies with other UNESCO conventions, and the need for a sustainable tourism plan. The preparation of a plan for the management of the property's natural resources is considered an important step forward in establishing sustainable site maintenance practices adapted to the harsh environmental conditions that prevail at the property.

The World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies understand the difficulties faced by the States Party due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic situation. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to request International Assistance in order to address pending issues, such as the elaboration of the Management Plan and other management tools.

It is further recommended that the Committee request the State Party to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, of any future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in accordance with paragraph 172 of Operational Guidelines, before decisions are made that would be difficult to reverse.