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Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara

United Republic of Tanzania
Factors affecting the property in 2008*
  • Governance
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Other Threats:

    Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric;

b) Lack of approved statement of outstanding universal value;

c) Lack of use the management plan as the main vehicle for managing the property,

d) Lack of approved boundaries for core and buffer zones linked to the land-use plans and appropriate protection;

e) Need to extend the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati;

f) Lack of functioning local consultative committee;

g) Lack of implementation of the conservation and management plans. 

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Deterioration and decay leading to the collapse of the historical and archeological structures for which the property was inscribed 

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

A Desired state of conservation is proposed in the draft Decision for adoption by the World Heritage Committee.

Corrective Measures for the property

a) Implement urgent measures to halt sea-wave action;

b) Survey and demarcate the boundaries of the property including extension;

c) Improve and implement the management and conservation plans;

d) Provide for on-site management staff;

e) Halt the vegetation growth within and around monuments;

f) Halt of illegal removal of monuments stone for private constructions.

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
A timeframe is proposed in the draft Decision for adoption by the World Heritage Committee.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2008

Total amount provided to the property: Support from the French and Japanese governments to UNESCO project (USD 1,438,000). The Norwegian Funds-in-Trust provided support for UNESCO rehabilitation project (USD 201,390).

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2008
Requests approved: 3 (from 1983-2001)
Total amount approved : 41,370 USD
Missions to the property until 2008**

23 – 27 February 2004: ICOMOS mission; 1-6 June 2008: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008

In accordance with the World Heritage Committee’s request at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission visited Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara from 1 to 6 June 2008. The World Heritage Centre received on 8 January 2008, from the State Party, a report entitled “Report on the state of conservation of the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara Endangered World Heritage Site” as requested by the World Heritage Committee.

The report includes a detailed Statement of significance and a Statement of “authenticity and of integrity” which provide an extensive description of the property. However these have not been prepared in consultation with the World Heritage Centre or ICOMOS and do not correspond with the requirements of the Operational Guidelines in preparing Statements of outstanding universal value.

The World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS note that the report states that the boundaries of the core zones remain identical to those proposed in 1981 and that plans are in place to survey and delineate these boundaries. The report also proposes to define a buffer zone of 20 hectares for Kilwa Kisiwani and of 10 hectares for Songo Mnara, but precise boundaries are not proposed. Finally the report acknowledges the importance of extending the Property  to include Kilwa Kivinje and notes that it is preparing a nomination to this end with UNESCO support.

Concerning the World Heritage Committee’s request to evaluate efforts to respond to the recommendations of the 2004 mission report, while the State Party report contains no direct response to this request, substantial improvements may be noted for each recommendation:

a) International documents, particularly UNESCO Conventions and Recommendations and ICOMOS charters are taken into account in the work.

b) A sea wall has been built (2006) and mangroves extended to stop erosion of the beach at Kilwa Kisiwani, and to safeguard Gereza Fort and Malindi mosque.

c) Gereza Fort has received urgent physical stabilisation and conservation attention and is the subject of a World Monuments Fund project.

d) Considerable attention has been given to structurally weak buildings in Kilwa Kisiwani.

e) Much attention has been given to reduce encroachments within the designated zones through increasing community involvement with heritage management, including development of local “Ruins Committees”.

f) Plans are being developed to include Kilwa Kivinje within the World Heritage property.

g) Attention – still not yet sufficient however – has been given to improving the management structure and supporting mechanisms, on the site.

 

The State Party’s report section on management details a series of conservation activities, primarily being undertaken in Songo Mnara. The report comments on efforts to establish a National Coordination Office at the Ministry responsible for antiquities and to develop a proposal to establish a National World Heritage Committee to facilitate coordination and consorted efforts to better manage World Heritage properties in the United Republic of Tanzania. The report also documents activities carried out in the context of the management plan. However although the activities described provide a very positive contribution to the World Heritage property, there is no indication that the State Party is using the property’s management plan as the main vehicle to assure co-ordination of all actions affecting it.

The World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS note that while, for the most part, the State Party report does not respond directly to the World Heritage Committee’s requests, the report itself provides an extensive overview of works underway at the property and initiatives being developed. The report includes a concluding section which documents in great detail the natural and human threats to the property, and the very worthwhile successful efforts to stimulate community based involvement in long term protection of the property.

The joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS reactive monitoring mission (2008) evaluated each of the existing and potential threats in relation to the outstanding universal value for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and concluded the following:

a) Improve and implement management plan and conservation plan

The mission drew attention to the conditions prevailing at the two sites, noting significant agricultural encroachment at Kilwa Kisiwani where the population resides around the standing monuments, where at Songo Mnara, the ruins are located away from the residential area. While the mission noted efforts to conserve some of the historical monuments, it also noted significant impacts from: :

· Human encroachment on the monuments through uncontrolled cultivation near the monuments and continued human and animal trampling on foundations of the ruins;

· Growth of vegetation within and around monuments often breaking up the masonry structures;

· Water and wind erosion, sea wave action, water penetration and infiltration into the masonry, weakening and washing out the lime mortar;

· Illegal removal of stone material for individual private constructions;

· Sea wave erosion particularly in Kilwa Kisiwani.

The mission confirmed the results of the State Party survey concerning the erosion and destruction of the monuments and the archaeological record of the historical city, as evidenced by the great loss of nearly all of the city walls. The mission noted that the sea wall protects several major monuments and that risks to the sea wall threaten the existence of much of the site and its future viability. The mission noted in particular that the rate of growth of mangrove plants planted in the shallow water on the shore of Gereza in Kilwa Kisiwani to protect the monuments from direct seawater splash has not been as rapid as expected and the threat from ocean flash still continues.

 

b) Delimitation of the property

The mission noted that the provision of details for the core area and the buffer zone, and development of related land-use plans for Kilwa and Songo Mnara as requested by the World Heritage Committee in the 31st session have yet to be addressed.

 

c) Some achievements

The mission also noted major achievements resulting from donor-assisted projects in Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara.  The mission acknowledged the “Development of Cultural Tourism and Community Awareness Raising on the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara Endangered World Heritage Site” to be financed by the French Embassy in United Republic of Tanazania. The mission was informed about an inventory and documentation exercise for cultural and natural heritage carried out under Marine Coastal Environmental Management Project (MACEMP) in 15 villages including Kilwa, a project intended to lead to further rehabilitation and restoration to some of the historical monuments. Furthermore, an “Antiquities Policy” expected to be approved during 2008 has been drafted and submitted to the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee for action. The objective of the new Policy is to address inadequacies of the present legal framework in protecting the heritage properties including Kilwa, and that the process for the development of a new Antiquities Law would be completed in the year 2010.

d) Corrective measures

The mission concluded that despite the existing political will, strong efforts of the Department of Antiquities and recent donor support from the international community, the site‘s coastal and island location and human occupation result in unrelenting ocean and population pressures at a time when cultural heritage conservation budget and staffing levels are low, and when communities are not yet convinced of the benefits of preserving the property’s heritage values. The mission noted that site management problems can be attributed to inadequate infrastructure (including lack of dependable transportation by boat for the site’s managers), equipment, funding, and on site expertise as well as a lack of co-ordination mechanisms integrating concern for heritage values in all actions affecting the property, including the internationally supported projects noted above.

e) Desired state of conservation

The mission further identified a time framed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, as described below.

Changes within the next two years:

· Delineate the boundaries for core and buffer zones of the property. This should also include the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati.

Changes within three years:

· Implementation of the management plan should be advanced, and there should be signs of added rehabilitation of architectural heritage

· Management structures should be well established in each serial site with an operational office and staff;

· Establishment of a proper land-use plan to protect sites integrity and resolve future land conflicts.

Changes within five years:

· Recovery of most of architectural heritage for conservation should have been completed (though full recovery will take much longer and will require sustained effort for over a decade).

Useful indicators of recovery might include: reduction in the number of human activities encountered in and around the monuments; halted sea-wave action causing the deterioration of the heritage monuments; reviewed the existing management plan for Kilwa and established national legislative and administrative system for the protection of the property; fully completed and operational information/education centres for serial land and island sites; and a complete inventory and documentation of cultural heritage (and also natural heritage) of the property.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2008
32 COM 7A.14
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) (C 144)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add.2,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A.15, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Commends the State Party for its continued efforts for the conservation and rehabilitation of the property, and particularly for the development of improved mechanisms for community involvement in the rehabilitation and the maintenance of the property;

4. Acknowledges receipt of a Statement of significance and a Statement of authenticity/ integrity, but regrets that these are not in conformity with the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, including the conditions of authenticity and integrity, as outlined in the Operational Guidelines;

5. Notes with concern that the report does not provide detailed and explicit information on the progress made on delineating boundaries for the two components of the property and their buffer zones; requests the State Party to undertake this exercise as a matter of urgency and encourages the State Party to submit, if necessary a request for International Assistance for this purpose;

6. Notes with concern the challenges faced by the property from climate change, leading to among others beach erosion;

7. Notes the danger posed to heritage by these challenges and their overwhelming nature;

8. Requests partners to continue to assist the State Party financially and technically to address these challenges;

9. Reiterates its request to the State party to use the management plan as the main vehicle for managing the site and for ensuring co-ordination of all activities affecting the property;

10. Adopts the following as the Desired state of conservation for the property in view of its future removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger:

       a) at least 70% rehabilitation of the heritage monuments;

       b) surveyed and demarcated boundaries as well as the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati;

       c) established proper land-use plan;

       d) demonstrate progress in the implementation of the management and the conservation plan;

       e) fully established on-site administrative structures;

       f) halted sea-wave action;

11. Adopts the following timeframe for the implementation of the above-mentioned corrective measures:

     a) changes within two years:

         i) delineate the boundaries for the two components of the property and their buffer zones to be submitted for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

     b) changes within three years: i) implementation of the management plan should be advanced, and there should be signs of added rehabilitation of architectural heritage;

        ii) management structures should be well established in each serial site with an operational office and staff;

        iii) establishment of a proper land-use plan to protect sites integrity and resolve future land conflicts;

     c) changes within five years: i) recovery of most of the architectural heritage for conservation should have been completed (though full recovery will take much longer and will require sustained effort for over a decade);

12. Invites the State Party to consider an extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati and recommends that the State Party submit this extension with the delineation of the boundaries for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

13. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to assist the State Party in developing the previously requested Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, and in exploring how to ensure that the site's management plan can function as the key, central co-ordinating mechanism in managing the property, and finally to assess the progress made in improving the state of conservation of the property;

14. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including the progress in implementing the corrective measures, and the re-evaluation of the timeframe for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

15. Decides to retain the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger

Draft Decision: 32 COM 7A.15

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A.Add.2,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7A. 15, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Commends the State Party for its continued efforts for the conservation and rehabilitation of the property, and particularly for the development of improved mechanisms for community involvement in the rehabilitation and the maintenance of the property;

4. Acknowledges receipt of a Statement of significance and a Statement of authenticity/ integrity, but regrets that these are not in conformity with the Statement of outstanding universal value, including the conditions of authenticity and integrity, as outlined in the Operational Guidelines;

5. Notes with concern that the report does not provide detailed and explicit information on the progress made on delineating boundaries for core and buffer zones; requests the State Party to undertake this exercise as a matter of urgency and encourages the State Party to submit, if necessary a request for International Assistance for this purpose;

6. Reiterates its request to the State party to use the management plan as the main vehicle for managing the site and for ensuring co-ordination of all activities affecting the property;

7. Adopts the following as the Desired state of conservation for the property in view of its future removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger:

a) At least 70% rehabilitation of the heritage monuments;

b) Surveyed and demarcated boundaries as well as the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati;

c) Established proper land-use plan;

d) Demonstrate progress in the implementation of the management and the conservation plan;

e) Fully established on-site administrative structures;

f) Halted sea-wave action;

8. Adopts the following timeframe for the implementation of the above-mentioned corrective measures:

a) Changes within two  years:

(i) Delineate the boundaries for core and buffer zones of the property. This should also include the extension of the property to include Kilwa Kivinje and Sanje ya Kati, the boundaries and the extension to be submitted for consideration by the 35th session of the Committee;

b) Changes within three years:

(i) Implementation of the management plan should be advanced, and there should be signs of added rehabilitation of architectural heritage;

(ii) Management structures should be well established in each serial site with an operational office and staff;

(iii) Establishment of a proper land-use plan to protect sites integrity and resolve future land conflicts;

c) Changes within five years:

(i) Recovery of most of architectural heritage for conservation should have been completed (though full recovery will take much longer and will require sustained effort for over a decade);

9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOSreactive monitoring mission to assist the State Party in developing the previously requested Statement of outstanding universal value, including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, and in exploring how to ensure that the site’s management plan can function as the key, central co-ordinating mechanism in managing the property, and finally to assess the progress made in improving the state of conservation of the property;

10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including the progress in implementing the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

11. Decides to retain the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

Report year: 2008
United Republic of Tanzania
Date of Inscription: 1981
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iii)
Danger List (dates): 2004-2014
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 32COM (2008)
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.


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