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State of Conservation Abu Mena 2023

Abu Mena

Egypt
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
  • Housing
  • Management activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Water (rain/water table)
  • Other Threats:

    Encroachments within the property and inappropriate recent constructions; Lack of engagement with local communities and other stakeholders

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Rise of the underground water table level and ensuing damage to the structures
  • Impact on structures due to earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment (works completed)
  • Lack of conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc.)
  • Need for a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.
  • Encroachments within the property and inappropriate recent constructions
  • Lack of engagement with local communities and other stakeholders
  • Management activities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Failure to implement corrective measures
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • A land-reclamation programme and irrigation scheme with no appropriate drainage mechanism for the agricultural development of the region has caused a dramatic rise in the water table
  • The destruction of numerous cisterns, disseminated around the property, has entailed the collapse of several overlying structures. Huge underground cavities have opened in the north-western region of the property
  • A large, banked road has been built to enable movement within the property
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279

Corrective Measures for the property

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279 but outdated and needs to be revised

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023

N/A

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Requests approved: 2 (from 2001-2023)
Total amount approved : 63,504 USD
2023 Training program about the preparation of site ... (Approved)   56,504 USD
2014 Burg Al Arab- Mariotte, Dir Mary Mena- Alexandria (Not approved)   0 USD
2014 Burg Al Arab- Mariotte, Dir Mary Mena- Alexandria (Not approved)   0 USD
2001 Technical advice on ground water related problems at ... (Approved)   7,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**

2002: Expert mission; 2005, 2009 and 2012: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring missions; 2018: UNESCO and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations mission

2012 Report on the Joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to the World Heritage Site of Abu ...
2000 ICOMOS Expert Mission Report, Abu Mena
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023

On 1 February 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/90/documents/. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions, in the recommendations of the 2012 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission and the 2018 joint UNESCO/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Advisory mission, as well as towards achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), is presented in the report, as follows:

  • A Management Plan has been drafted for 2022-27 and submitted for review as an Annex;
  • A minor boundary modification proposal has been provided as an Annex;
  • A Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (RSOUV) was drafted following consultation with stakeholders and submitted as an Annex;
  • The state of conservation of the property is being monitored and priorities established for a conservation works schedule;
  • Conservation work is being carried out for the Mar Mena Tomb, Baptistry, Great Basilica, Church of the Martyr, façade of the hotels, the southern and eastern basilica extensions, and the healing room. Activities include propping of unstable walls, rebuilding of collapsed walls and weeding;
  • A site survey was carried out and recording and photographic documentation are being undertaken across the site, including documentation of restoration work;
  • The Groundwater Level Reduction Project (GLRP) continues with geotechnical studies to manage the risk of land subsidence that might result around the Abu Mena Tomb, as well as new drainage wells and monitoring;
  • A feasibility study has been prepared to enable the GLRP to transition to solar energy;
  • An Abu Mena Steering Committee was established for the management of the property and, in particular, for the implementation of the Management Plan. It consists of the representatives of the relevant government institutions and other key stakeholders.

Finally, the State Party states that it would welcome a Reactive Monitoring mission to Abu Mena to review the progress towards the DSOCR in preparation for removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023

Progress is being made in response to previous Committee Decisions, towards the DSOCR and in the implementation of the corrective measures set.

The minor boundary modification has been reviewed by ICOMOS and will be examined by the World Heritage Committee under Item 8 of the agenda (Document WHC/23/45.COM/8B).

ICOMOS has provided advice and comments on the Management Plan in the form of a Technical Review. The early sections describing values and attributes and the management system are useful, particularly in light of Abu Mena being an early inscription without a detailed nomination file (inscribed in 1979). Feedback has been provided on how later sections of the draft might be revised to ensure that its implementation supports objectives for the property’s conservation.

The Management Plan does not include a Conservation Plan, which is necessary given the serious state of conservation at the property. It is noted that conservation work is already being carried out to address the most urgent issues, although some of this seems to be only temporary in nature, e.g., metal props supporting collapsing walls. It is not clear what permanent measures and long-term maintenance are planned. The State Party has submitted a request for International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund, in order to support the implementation of a training programme in the preparation of a conservation plan for the site. This will be an important step in developing conservation strategies for the property as well as short- medium- and long-term actions. The Management Plan does not contain the expected information on visitor management or sustainable development, and it is unclear if plans currently exist or if they need to be developed.

Following a pilot phase, the GLRP continues to show progress and monitoring has been set in place. Geotechnical studies were carried out to manage the risk of the Abu Mena tomb cracking during the dewatering process. The State Party has decided to take slower but less invasive measures to avoid this, which is commended.

With regard to the DSOCR, the Committee adopted in 2007 corrective measures that included the following: a) consolidate structures; b) lower water table, establish a monitoring system and prepare a Conservation Plan; c) prepare and implement a Management Plan. While all measures are being addressed, they are not yet all completed and, therefore, the future conservation of the property is not yet guaranteed. For this reason, it is recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

In addition, the timeframe for the corrective measures was originally scheduled for completion by 2010 and a revised timeframe has not yet been agreed. The State Party predicts that it will have completed all actions necessary for reaching the DSOCR by June 2023, although the request to revise the Management Plan means that it may not be ready for full implementation by then. It is therefore proposed that the new timeframe for the corrective measures is by end of 2024.

Finally, regarding the State Party’s indication that it would welcome a Reactive Monitoring mission with a view to removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that such a Reactive Monitoring mission may be organized once a draft Conservation Plan has been prepared and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review. and the State Party considers that the corrective measures have all been implemented.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 14
International Assistance

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/14,
  2. Decides to approve the following International Assistance requests:
    1. “Conservation and management of Sudanese style mosques in northern Côte d’Ivoire” (Côte d’Ivoire) for an amount of US$ 85,058 under the Conservation and Management-Culture budget, replacing the “per diem” amounts of US$ 8,000 and US$ 5,000 (corresponding to the defrayment for the participants in the workshops) by the fixed amounts of US$ 1,800 and US$ 1,125 respectively,
    2. “Preparation of a Conservation Management Plan for the Asante Traditional Buildings of Ghana” (Ghana) for an amount of US$ 43,678 under the Conservation and Management-Culture budget, the US$ 1,700 foreseen for the DSA for the international experts being reallocated to cover the DSA of an additional seven cultural officers, under whose jurisdiction the Ashanti Traditional Buildings are located, and three conservators in the Upper West and Central regional offices of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board,
    3. “Training program about the preparation of site conservation plan” (Egypt) for an amount of US$ 56,504 under the Conservation and Management-Culture budget; the status of the national experts will be clarified prior to the establishment of the contract, since the World Heritage Fund cannot cover salaries of a government’s employees,
    4. “Condition assessment of shipwrecks within the Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site” (Marshall Islands) for an amount of US$ 70,000 under the Conservation and Management-Culture budget (i.e. without the amounts dedicated to diving equipment (US$ 3,000) and marine park fees (US$ 1,800)),
    5. “Conservation of Ancient Siva Devale No 01 within the World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa Ancient City” (Sri Lanka) for an amount of US$ 47,500 under the Conservation and Management assistance-Nature budget as authorized by Paragraph 240 of the Operational Guidelines,
    6. “Raising awareness of the population of the Park to the seismic threats to the Department of the North and the installation of a system of conservation, maintenance of the monuments and a compilation of technical specifications for earthquake-resistant reinforcement of the vernacular architecture of the PNH CSSR” (Haiti) for an amount of US$ 33,325 under the Conservation and Management-Culture budget; at the time of the implementation of the activity, the use of International Assistance funds should focus primarily on the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value, in close consultation between the State Party, the Secretariat (World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Office in Port-au-Prince) and the Advisory Bodies;
  3. Having noted the lack of funding under Preparatory Assistance and the amount left under the “Conservation and Management Assistance” category, authorizes the transfer of US$ 119,500 from the Conservation and Management Assistance budget to the Preparatory Assistance budget;
  4. Welcomes the review of the International Assistance 2016-2021 focusing on Conservation and Management Assistance and Emergency Assistance and takes note of the outcomes and the benefits that International Assistance has brought to Africa, LDCs and to local communities, and the role it has played in furthering sustainable development in the context of World Heritage properties; and invites States Parties benefitting from International Assistance to submit full reports on the interventions and outcomes;
  5. Encourages States Parties considering preparation of International Assistance requests to contact the World Heritage Centre for advice either on the topic and/or on the technicalities of their International Assistance requests well ahead the annual deadline of 31 October.
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45 COM 7A.26
Abu Mena (Egypt) (C 90)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.5 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
  3. Welcomes the efforts undertaken towards improving the state of conservation of the property, and urges the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
  4. Notes the invitation from the State Party for a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property;
  5. Requests that the Management Plan be revised in light of the ICOMOS Technical Review, with particular attention given to ensuring that conservation planning is completed, as well as developing plans for visitor management and sustainable development;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  7. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
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45 COM 8B.57
Minor boundary modifications - Abu Mena, Egypt

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Documents WHC/23/45.COM/8B and WHC/23/45.COM/INF.8B1,
  2. Refers the examination of the minor modification to the boundary and to the buffer zone of Abu Mena, Egypt, back to the State Party in order to allow it to:
    1. Clarify the protection regime that will apply to the enlarged property which is not included within the designated archaeological site,
    2. Establish an appropriate protective designation for the areas added to the property, in order to ensure that it is covered in its entirety by explicit legal protection designations,
    3. Establish an ad-hoc management body for the property,
    4. Consider enlarging the buffer zone or, at least, establish mechanisms that guarantee the effective management of the immediate and wider settings of Abu Mena in a way that is supportive of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value and the maintenance of the rural character of the property’s surroundings.
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45 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/23/45.COM/7A, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.3, WHC/23/45.COM/7A.Add.4),
  2. Having examined the recommendations of the Advisory Bodies, 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 45 COM 7A.51)
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 45 COM 7A.52)
  • Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 45 COM 7A.55)
  • Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 45 COM 7A.18)
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.3)
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.4)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.5)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.6)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.7)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.8)
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 45 COM 7A.26)
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.1)
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.15)
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 45 COM 7A.27)
  • Iraq, Hatra (Decision 45 COM 7A.28)
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 45 COM 7A.29)
  • Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 45 COM 7A.31)
  • Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 45 COM 7A.10)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 45 COM 7A.33)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 45 COM 7A.34)
  • Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 45 COM 7A.35)
  • Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 45 COM 7A.36)
  • Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 45 COM 7A.37)
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 45 COM 7A.11)
  • Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 45 COM 7A.22)
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 45 COM 7A.23)
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 45 COM 7A.24)
  • Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 45 COM 7A.2)
  • Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 45 COM 7A.53)
  • Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 45 COM 7A.12)
  • Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 45 COM 7A.39)
  • Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 45 COM 7A.38)
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 45 COM 7A.19)
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 45 COM 7A.20)
  • Romania, Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Decision 45 COM 7A.56)
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.13)
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 45 COM 7A.57)
  • Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 45 COM 7A.16)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 45 COM 7A.40)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 45 COM 7A.41)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 45 COM 7A.42)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 45 COM 7A.43)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 45COM 7A.44)
  • Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 45 COM 7A.45)
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 45 COM 7A.14)
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 45 COM 7A.17)
  • Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 45 COM 7A.54)
  • Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 45 COM 7A.21)
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 45 COM 7A.47)
  • Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 45 COM 7A.49)
  • Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 45 COM 7A.50)
3.    Recalls that the following properties were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 18th extraordinary session (UNESCO, 2023):
  • Lebanon, Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.1)
  • Ukraine, The Historic Centre of Odesa (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.2)
  • Yemen, Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (Decision 18 EXT.COM 5.3)
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45 COM 8E
Adoption of Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/8E,
  2. Commends the States Parties for the work accomplished in the elaboration of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties located within their territories;
  3. Adopts the retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value, as presented in Annex of Document WHC/23/45.COM/8E, for the following World Heritage properties:

ARAB STATES

  • Egypt, Abu Mena
  • Egypt, Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
  • Egypt, Historic Cairo
  • Egypt, Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae
  • Egypt, Saint Catherine Area
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat)
  • Iraq, Hatra

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

  • Australia, Tasmanian Wilderness
  • Sri Lanka, Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications

EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

  • Croatia, Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica in the Historic Centre of Poreč
  • Croatia, Historic City of Trogir
  • Croatia, The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik
  • France, Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne
  • Greece, Meteora
  • Spain, Doñana National Park
  • Spain, Historic City of Toledo
  • Spain, Historic Walled Town of Cuenca
  • Spain, Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture;
4.    Notes that retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger will be reviewed in priority by the Advisory Bodies;

5.    Requests the World Heritage Centre to upload the two language versions of the above-mentioned retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value on its website.
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Draft Decision: 45 COM 7A.26

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7A.5, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/Online, 2021),
  3. Welcomes the efforts undertaken towards improving the state of conservation of the property, and urges the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);
  4. Notes the invitation from the State Party for a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property;
  5. Requests that the Management Plan be revised in light of the ICOMOS Technical Review, with particular attention given to ensuring that conservation planning is completed, as well as developing plans for visitor management and sustainable development;
  6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, 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 46th session;
  7. Decides to retain Abu Mena (Egypt) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2021
Report year: 2023
Egypt
Date of Inscription: 1979
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iv)
Danger List (dates): 2001-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/23/45.COM/7A
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2022) .pdf
Initialy proposed for examination in 2022
arrow_circle_right 45COM (2023)
Exports
Previous 2021

* : 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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