Archaeological Site of Sabratha
Factors affecting the property in 2024*
- Housing
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Land conversion
- Management systems/ management plan
- Relative humidity
- War
- Other Threats:
Excessive vegetation growth; Impact of humidity and seawater salt on stone masonry
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Urban encroachment/Housing
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Land conversion
- Natural degradation
- Management System/Management Plan: absence of a management plan and a holistic conservation strategy
- Conflict situation prevailing in the country
- Other Threats: Excessive vegetation growth; Impact of humidity and seawater salt on stone masonry
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
Not yet drafted
Corrective Measures for the property
Not yet identified
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Not yet identified
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2024
Total amount granted: 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
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2024**
June 2000: World Heritage Centre mission; March 2003: World Heritage Centre mission; January 2007: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission.
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). No recent information of 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 Pary 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.
Following the ICOMOS technical review of studies undertaken at the Roman Theatre, no further information has been provided, including with regard to onsite investigations, establishing a sustainable conservation strategy, or technical specifications and materials for conservation work. It is recommended to request the State Party to pursue consultations with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies regarding conservation projects at the property, including in terms of the materials and techniques to be used before their application. It is also recommended to reiterate the previous request to the State Party to continue keeping the Committee informed about the evolution of the situation at the property, and to inform it through the World Heritage Centre of any major planned restoration or construction project that may impact the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.
Reiterating the urgent need for a comprehensive management strategy, the State Party is strongly encouraged to prioritise the development of a Management Plan and to seek the necessary technical and financial support in this regard.
It is recommended that the Committee continue encouraging the State Party to consult 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. It is also recommended that the State Party launch, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, the development of the retrospective Statement of OUV for its examination by the World Heritage Committee.
The joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission remains crucial and should be undertaken as soon as conditions permit in order to evaluate the overall state of conservation of the property. In the meantime, it is important that the State Party initiates the process to develop the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and a set of corrective measures, in collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies.
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
Draft Decision: 46 COM 7A.22
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.35 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
- Regrets that the State Party did not submit a 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;
- Reiterates its request to 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;
- Requests the State Party to pursue consultations with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies with regard to any conservation projects planned at the property, including in terms of materials and techniques to be used before their application;
- Also reiterates its request to the State Party to continue 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 ongoing and future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may impact the OUV of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Continues to encourage the State Party to pursue the development of a Management Plan for the property, and invites it to seek the necessary technical and financial support and allocate the resources required for its implementation;
- Further reiterates its request to the State Party to pursue close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for the elaboration of a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, and to submit it in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Urges the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft retrospective Statement of OUV, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
- Urges the State Party to initiate the process to develop 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;
- Recalling the invitation by the State Party for the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, encourages that the mission takes place as soon as conditions permit;
- Continues to call for an increased mobilization by the international community to provide financial and technical support to the State Party, including through the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund;
- 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;
- Decides to retain Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libya) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Libya
Exports
* :
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.
