Coro and its Port
Factors affecting the property in 2007*
- Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
- Management systems/ management plan
- Other Threats:
Serious deterioration of materials and structures
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Serious deterioration of materials and structures;
b) Deterioration of the architectural and urban coherence and integrity of the property;
c) Lack of adequate management, planning and conservation mechanisms.
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Considerable decay of materials and structures resulting from lack of comprehensive conservation and maintenance and torrential rains in 2004 and 2005;
- Deterioration of the architectural and urban fabric and coherence compromising the integrity and authenticity of the property;
- Lack of adequate and efficient management, planning and conservation mechanisms and institutional arrangements.
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Proposed in the draft Decision.
Corrective Measures for the property
Proposed in the draft Decision.
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
a) The Presidential Commission was established in 2005 and the Framework Agreement with the local governments was signed in February 2006. It should become operational by 2008.
b) Development of conservation plan during 2007, implementation of priority actions in 2008.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2007
Total amount provided to the property: 2,000 Euros for technical mission within the framework of the France UNESCO Convention. This mission was complemented by the presence of a French expert from the General Inspection of Architecture and Heritage, Ministry of Culture.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2007
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2007**
Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS reactive monitoring missions in 2002 and 2005; Expert mission in September 2006.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2007
The previous reactive monitoring missions recommended inscribing the site of Coro and its Port on the List of World Heritage in Danger. The four sectoral analyses, entitled “PLINCODE”- (Integral Plan for the Conservation and Development of Coro, La Vela and its areas of influence), was transmitted by the State Party to the World Heritage Centre in February 2006. It identified eight key threats to the site and its environs and drafted an outline of an action plan.
A technical assistance mission carried out in September 2006,noted that the PLINCODE had been submitted to the authorities in August 2006, but at the time of the mission no official approval had been received. The mission also satisfactorily noted the increased presence and control of the IPC (Cultural Heritage Institute) on the ground, progress in the reinforcement of the Municipal Institutes for Heritage as well as the creation of a Multi-institutional technical council to gather the professional teams at the technical office for the Emergency project. As for implementation of actions, the rehabilitation of some buildings and the repair of drainage networks were partially undertaken, while the adaptation of public spaces was still pending. The PLINCODE was thoroughly analysed and the mission concluded that there were gaps in technical criteria for interventions and that a comprehensive conservation plan was missing. In addition, no prioritised course of action was set up.
It was also noted that awareness amongst the population on the values and significance of the World Heritage property is insufficient and that the local institutions do not identify themselves with the plan or get involved in its implementation.
In addition, the mission detected that interventions at several sites used materials which were not compatible with the original, and in disregard to the defined functions, thus risking to compromise not only the authenticity of the property but also its structural integrity. However, the mission also noted that the local capacity exists, which could implement these projects, and that further training initiatives could be promoted, such as the Escuela de Barro in La Vela and la Escuela Taller in Coro.
On 2 January 2007 the Director-General of the IPC transmitted two volumes on progress made within the implementation of the PLINCODE, submitted to the World Heritage Centre in lieu of a state of conservation report. This document mainly illustrates the implementation of the drainage systems and the rehabilitation of buildings in Coro and La Vela. It also announces the creation of a Technical Office (OTAE) to plan the investment of resources, formulate and revise intervention projects on infrastructure, buildings and public spaces in the property.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2007
31 COM 7A.31
Coro and its Port (Venezuela) (C 658)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM.7A,
2. Recalling Decisions 29 COM 7B.92 and 30 COM 7A.33 adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) and 30th (Vilnius, 2006) sessions respectively,
3. Requests the State Party to verify whether the materials used for restoration works are compatible with accepted intervention techniques;
4. Requests the State Party to invite a World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS joint reactive monitoring mission to assess the progress made in improving the state of conservation of the property, and accordingly define the corrective measures and the desired state of conservation that will enable the Committee to define a timeframe for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, that could include:
a) Presidential signature of the PLINCODE (Integral Plan for the Conservation and Development of Coro, La Vela and its areas of influence), submitted to the authorities on August 2006;
b) Effective functioning of the management structure and institutional arrangements foreseen in the PLINCODE, with sufficient allocated resources;
c) Comprehensive drainage systems completed as well as underground networks, public spaces, sidewalks and streets in the historical area rehabilitated;
d) Prioritized implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan;
5. Encourages the State Party to continue implementing the following corrective measures:
a) Obtain the official approval of the PLINCODE;
b) Reinforce the Framework Agreement for Emergency Intervention in the area of Coro and La Vela that the IPC signed with the mayors of the municipalities of Miranda and the regional government on 14 February 2006;
c) Create a Council to assist the Technical Office (OTAE) to plan the investment of resources, formulate and revise intervention projects on infrastructure, buildings and public spaces in the property;
d) Formulate and prioritize a comprehensive conservation plan to complement the existing PLINCODE, by defining a precise course of action with intervention criteria and monitoring mechanisms to assess its effective and adequate implementation;
e) Strengthen capacity building for conservation and restoration through the existing available opportunities in workshops with the schools of conservation in La Vela and in Coro;
f) Create awareness in the local community through exhibitions and community involvement;
6. Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity for examination Committee at its 32nd session in 2008;
7. Also requests the State Party to submit a progress report by 1 February 2008 for review by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008 that should include the time-bound plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002, 2005 and 2006 missions and the progress made in their implementation;
8. Decides to retain Coro and its Port (Venezuela) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
31 COM 8C.2
Update of the list of the World Heritage in danger - maintenance
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Following the examination of the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-07/31.COM/7A and WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC-07/31.COM/7A.Add.3),
2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 31 COM 7A.20)
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, (Decision 31 COM 7A.21)
- Azerbaijan, Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Decision 31 COM 7A.26)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.1)
- Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 31 COM 7A.29)
- Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.2)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.3)
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo Virunga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.4)
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.5)
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo Garamba National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.6)
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo Salonga National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.7)
- Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 31 COM 7A.8)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 31 COM 7A.16)
- Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 31 COM 7A.9)
- Germany, Dresden Elbe Valley (Decision 31 COM 7A.27)
- India, Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (Decision 31 COM 7A.11)
- Islamic Republic of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Decision 31 COM 7A.22)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 31 COM 7A.17)
- Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 31 COM 7A.18)
- Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 31 COM 7A.10)
- Pakistan, Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Decision 31 COM 7A.24)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 31 COM 7A.30)
- Philippines, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Decision 31 COM 7A.25)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 31 COM 7A.28)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 31 COM 7A.15)
- Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 31 COM 7A.31)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 31 COM 7A.19)
Draft Decision: 31 COM 7A.31
1. Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM.7A,
2. Recalling Decisions 29 COM 7B.92 and30 COM 7A.33 adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) and 30th (Vilnius, 2006) sessions respectively,
3. Notes the progress made by the State Party in regards to elaborating the management plan and institutional arrangements;
4. Adopts the following benchmarks for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger to be reached by 2010:
a) Presidential signature of the PLINCODE (Integral Plan for the Conservation and Development of Coro, La Vela and its areas of influence), submitted to the authorities on August 2006;
b) Effective functionning of the management structure and institutional arrangements foreseen in the PLINCODE, with sufficient allocated resources;
c) Comprehensive drainage systems completed as well as underground networks, public spaces, sidewalks and streets in the historical area rehabilitated;
d) Prioritised implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan;
5. Encourages the State Party to implement the following corrective measures:
a) Obtain the official approval of the PLINCODE;
b) Reinforce the Framework Agreement for Emergency Intervention in the area of Coro and La Vela that the IPC signed with the mayors of the municipalities of Miranda and the regional government on 14 February 2006;
c) Create a Council to assist the Technical Office (OTAE) to plan the investment of resources, formulate and revise intervention projects on infrastructure, buildings and public spaces in the property;
d) Formulate and prioritise a comprehensive conservation plan to complement the existing PLINCODE, by defining a precise course of action with intervention criteria and monitoring mechanisms to assess its effective and adequate implementation;
e) Strengthen capacity building for conservation and restoration through the existing available opportunities in workshops with the schools of conservation in La Vela and in Coro;
f) Create awareness in the local community through exhibitions and community involvement;
6. Requests the State Party to submit a progress report by 1 February 2008 for review by the Committee at its 32nd session in 2008 that should include the time-bound plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002, 2005 and 2006 missions and the progress made in their implementation;
7. Decides to retain Coro and its Port (Venezuela) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
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.
