Bam and its Cultural Landscape

a) Lack of comprehensive management plan;

b) The boundaries of the property inscribed on an emergency basis were not aligned with the written text of the original Nomination File;

c) Development pressures related to the post-disaster reconstruction process ;

• Severe damage to the property caused by the earthquake in December 2003;
• Development pressures related to the post-disaster reconstruction process.

a) Conservation of the Arg-e-Bam and other cultural heritage assets within the World Heritage property;

b) Completion of necessary scientific studies for the recognition, registration, and legal protection of properties with historical, cultural, and natural significance within the cultural landscape zone, as well as marking the protective boundaries around each property within this zone;

c) Implementation of the management plan;

d) Precise understanding and definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property;

e) Adequate security of the heritage areas within the World Heritage property in addition to the Arg-e Bam.

a) Stabilisation and protection of the Arg-e-Bam and other significant cultural heritage assets within the World Heritage property by:

(i) Stabilisation of both the lower and upper parts of the citadel;

(ii) Removal and documentation of debris;

b) Completion of necessary scientific studies for the recognition, registration, and legal protection of properties with historical, cultural and natural significance within the cultural landscape zone, as well as marking the protective boundaries around each property within this zone;

c) management plan implemented by:

(i) Approval at final stakeholders meeting;

(ii) Legal Adoption by late 2007;

d) Precise definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property by completing the mapping of the archaeology and geomorphology of Bam and its Cultural Landscape;

e) Adequate security of the heritage areas within the World Heritage property in addition to the Arg-e Bam by increased number of guards and vehicles

Total amount provided to the property: USD 568,000 (2004-2007) from the UNESCO-Japan Funds-in-Trust; USD 300,000 (2005-2008) from the UNESCO Italy Funds-in-Trust; USD 20,000 (2004) from the World Bank Italian Trust Funds 

The World Heritage Centre received a comprehensive state of conservation report from the State Party on 25 January 2008. The report describes the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures, as follows:

a) The emergency conservation carried out in the course of 2007 focused mainly on the removal of debris, consolidation, and documentation of the Arg-e-Bam. Effective techniques for the conservation of earthen architecture have been developed and various pilot projects have been undertaken for the stabilisation of both the lower and the upper parts of the citadel;

b) A centre for documentation of debris has been established. Currently, 70% of the debris within Arg-e-Bam has been removed and documented;

c) The protective boundaries around Arg-e-Bam have been marked by ICHHTO (Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization). All constructions around the Arg-e-Bam are being effectively controlled and the Gardens are being preserved. Mapping of archaeology and geomorphology of Bam and its Cultural Landscape is continuing.

d) The review process for the legal adoption of the comprehensive management plan is in progress. An “Office for Bam Cultural Landscape” has been established in close coordination with the local Governor and in close coordination with ICHHTO to ensure an effective implementation of the management plan at the local level;

e) Studies are being conducted for the precise understanding and definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property for the future extended landscape zone. The studies should be completed by 2010 provided the necessary budget for these studies is ensured;

f) Adequate protection of the heritage areas is being ensured by a Security Base established in 2007, which includes 12 guards and assistance from the police if necessary.

A redefinition of the Statement of outstanding universal value has been submitted by the State Party and will be presented to the World Heritage Committee for examination in Document WHC-08/32.COM/8B.

However, at its 29th session (Durban, 2005), the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to prepare an updated version of the Nomination file so as to match the perimeter of the property and its outstanding universal value. The relevant documentation has yet to be provided.