Tipasa

a) Natural degradation caused by littoral erosion, marine salt and vegetation covering part of the inscribed sectors;

b) Deterioration of the remains due to vandalism, theft and uncontrolled visitation causing accumulation of rubbish;

c) Urbanisation on the outskirts of the property where, in the absence of a defined buffer zone, illegal construction provokes land disputes;

d) Lack of capacities for site conservation, unsuitable restoration techniques, and poor conservation conditions for the archaeological remains;

e) Proposed port development.

Total amount provided to the property: USD 9,564 from the Italian Funds-in-Trust.

The State Party’s report was received by the World Heritage Centre on 31 January 2008, including a document entitled Plan de Protection et de Mise en valeur des sites archéologiques de Tipasa et de sa zone de protection (PPMVSA): Méthodologie d’approche et contenu de l’étude [Protection and management plan for the Archaeological Site of Tipasa and its Buffer Zone: Methodology and content], dated December 2007.

This document constitutes the terms of reference for developing the protection and management plan. It integrates this plan into the overall statutory protection and planning structure and identifies those aspects which are already in force or being planned. A work plan is outlined, in four phases:

a) Diagnosis and urgent actions;

Topographic and archaeological survey and outline of the PPMVSA;

Finalization of the PPMVSA;

Development of the overall management plan for the archaeological site, the town, and the countryside;

It is estimated that the first three phases will require 300 days for completion, up to 20 November 2008. The State Party submitted as well a « Fiche technique du projet de réaménagement du port de pêche et de plaisance de Tipasa » (Direction des travaux publics et de la Culture- Tipasa, janvier 2008), and the « Fiche technique de la station d’épuration et de traitement des eaux usées de la Wilaya de Tipasa » (Direction de l’hydraulique et de la Culture – Tipasa, janvier 2008). Indeed, within the framework of the sanitization of the Wilaya and the protection of the heritage of the archaeological site of Tipasa, a wastewater treatment plant was established and is operational since December 2007.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies express concern that a more detailed plan with geographic coordinates delineating the property and its buffer zone has not been provided as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007).

Theinformation provided in the document related to the port does not allow an evaluation of the visual and archaeological impact of the proposed structures on the outstanding universal value of the property.