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State of Conservation Archaeological Site of ... 2024

Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna

Libya
Factors affecting the property in 2024*
  • Desertification
  • Illegal activities
  • Localised utilities
  • Relative humidity
  • War
  • Other Threats:

    Deterioration of the stone masonry; Sand covering certain areas of the property; Graffiti and fires; Alarming state of conservation of the Hunting Baths; Tidal flooding and continuous sea encroachment on the circus area

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Illegal Activities
  • Desertification
  • Flooding (tidal flooding and continuous sea encroachment on the circus area)
  • Conflict situation
  • Deterioration of the stone masonry
  • Sand covering certain areas of the property
  • Graffiti and fires
  • Localised utilities: discharge of domestic wastewater at the west of the property (issue resolved)
  • Relative humidity (deterioration of monuments/alarming state of conservation of the Hunting Baths)
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Conflict situation prevailing in the country

Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

In progress

Corrective Measures for the property

In progress

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures

In progress

UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2024

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. 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2024
Requests approved: 3 (from 1988-1990)
Total amount approved : 45,500 USD
1990 Mission to find solutions for the protection of Leptis ... (Approved)   17,500 USD
1989 Purchase of equipment to clear Leptis Magna site (Approved)   8,000 USD
1988 Purchase of equipment to clear Leptis Magna site after ... (Approved)   20,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2024**

1988: UNESCO mission; March 2003: World Heritage Centre mission; May 2006: World Heritage Centre mission; January 2007: World Heritage Centre Reactive Monitoring mission

2007 Report on the Reactive Monitoring Mission to Archaeological sites of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, 18-28 January 2007
1988 UNESCO Mission Report, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2024

The State Party did not submit the state of conservation report, which was requested by the World Heritage Committee at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023). Nevertheless, the State Party has pursued the elaboration of a draft retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS. The finalized RSOUV is presented in Document WHC/24/46.COM/8E.

No recent information on the state of conservation of the property is available.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2024

Regrettably, the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property. Hence, it is recommended that the Committee reiterate its previous requests, given the absence of updated information, particularly with regard to pursuing efforts to conserve the property and its OUV.

It remains crucial that the State Party finalizes the development of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) with a set of corrective measures, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies. Similarly, it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue consultations with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS concerning the definition of an appropriate buffer zone and the submission of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines.

The Committee had requested the State Party to pursue the development of a conservation strategy for the deteriorating state of the Hunting Baths, prepare proposals with mitigation measures to address tidal flooding and sea encroachment on the circus area and submit these to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies. It is recommended that the Committee also reiterate its request to the State Party to continue consulting with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies with regard to restoration materials and techniques planned to be used at the property, as well as technical proposals with mitigation measures to address the issue of tidal flooding.

Additionally, it remains crucial to develop a comprehensive Conservation Action Plan and a Management Plan, considering the pending conservation issues at the property. It is also important for the State Party to provide information, through the World Heritage Centre, on any future major restoration or construction projects that could impact the property’s OUV, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

It is also essential that the invited joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission, requested by the Committee at its previous sessions, be undertaken as soon as conditions permit, in order to evaluate the state of conservation of the property.

The Committee may wish to reiterate its call for increased mobilization of the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party to pursue urgent conservation activities.

Based on the above, it is recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2024
46 COM 7A.21
Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libya) (C 183)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.34 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
  3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit its report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee at its extended 45th session, and expresses concern about the absence of relevant updated information;
  4. Urges the State Party to continue its efforts for the conservation of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to the extent possible and to seek the necessary funds as needed;
  5. Strongly urges the State Party to finalize the process of development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies;
  6. Reiterates its concern about the alarming state of conservation of the Hunting Baths and its request to the State Party to:
    1. Pursue the development of a conservation strategy for the Hunting Baths, with urgent conservation measures aiming to preserve and protect the monument, and to seek the necessary technical and financial support in this regard,
    2. Present the proposed conservation plan for the Hunting Baths to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies,
    3. Continue to consult the Advisory Bodies with regard to restoration materials and techniques planned to be used at the Hunting Baths and the other archaeological remains at the property before their implementation;
  7. Reiterates its concern about the issue of tidal flooding and continuous sea encroachment on the circus area and its request to the State Party to develop proposals with mitigation measures to address the issue, and to present the proposals to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
  8. Continues to encourage the State Party to initiate the development of a comprehensive Conservation Action Plan for the property, and to pursue the development of a Management Plan, while seeking the necessary technical and financial support in this regard;
  9. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to continue, in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Reiterates furthermore its request to the State Party to keep the Committee informed on the evolution of the situation at the property and to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, on any on-going and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
  11. Recalling the previous invitation by the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to evaluate its state of conservation, encourages the mission to take place as soon as conditions permit;
  12. Continues to call for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
  13. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session;
  14. Decides to retain Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Read more
Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.21

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
  2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.34, adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
  3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit its report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee at its extended 45th session, and expresses concern about the absence of relevant updated information;
  4. Urges the State Party to continue its efforts for the conservation of the property and its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) to the extent possible and to seek the necessary funds as needed;
  5. Strongly urges the State Party to finalize the process of development of a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their implementation, as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies;
  6. Reiterates its concern about the alarming state of conservation of the Hunting Baths and its request to the State Party to:
    1. Pursue the development of a conservation strategy for the Hunting Baths, with urgent conservation measures aiming to preserve and protect the monument, and to seek the necessary technical and financial support in this regard,
    2. Present the proposed conservation plan for the Hunting Baths to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies,
    3. Continue to consult the Advisory Bodies with regard to restoration materials and techniques planned to be used at the Hunting Baths and the other archaeological remains at the property before their implementation;
  7. Reiterates its concern about the issue of tidal flooding and continuous sea encroachment on the circus area and its request to the State Party to develop proposals with mitigation measures to address the issue, and to present the proposals to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
  8. Continues to encourage the State Party to initiate the development of a comprehensive Conservation Action Plan for the property, and to pursue the development of a Management Plan, while seeking the necessary technical and financial support in this regard;
  9. Further reiterates its request to the State Party to continue, in close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
  10. Reiterates furthermore its request to the State Party to keep the Committee informed on the evolution of the situation at the property and to inform it, through the World Heritage Centre, on any on-going and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
  11. Recalling the previous invitation by the State Party for a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to evaluate its state of conservation, encourages the mission to take place as soon as conditions permit;
  12. Continues to call for an increased mobilization of the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
  13. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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 47th session;
  14. Decides to retain Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Previous 2023
Report year: 2024
Libya
Date of Inscription: 1982
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)
Danger List (dates): 2016-present
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC/24/46.COM/7A
arrow_circle_right 46COM (2024)
Exports
Previous 2023

* : 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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