Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara

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

b) Deterioration of the architectural heritage fabric;

c) Sea wave erosion;

d) Theft of stone from ruins for use as building material;

e) Lack of functioning local consultative committee;

f) Lack of implementation of the conservation and Management Plans. 

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

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1586

Total amount provided to the property: USD 201,390 from the Norwegian Funds-in-Trust for UNESCO rehabilitation project

The State Party submitted a state of conservation report on 1 February 2012 that responds to the decision adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session (UNESCO, 2011). It indicates that an agreement has been signed with the World Monuments Fund to implement a project titled “Integrated Preservation at the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara”. A total amount of USD 700,000 has been granted to implement a two-year project that will have 3 main components: Emergency stabilization and preservation in Songo Mnara and Kilwa Kisiwani; Strengthening Coastal Sea Defenses and Strengthening Management Capacities. A work plan has been included in the report and work was expected to commence in February 2012.

a) Boundaries of the property and buffer zone

Surveys were expected to begin in February 2012, as a component of the proposed project “Integrated Preservation of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara”. No expected date for submission of maps for delineated boundaries and buffer zone has been provided.

b) Conservation project and comprehensive Management Plan

Within the framework of the above mentioned project, the comprehensive Management Plan will be formulated under the strengthening management capacities component and will consider both islands. It is expected that regional heritage institutions will be involved, including the Centre for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA) to work on land use planning and the Africa World Heritage Fund to collaborate on the development of the Management Plan and a business plan.

c) Timeframe for implementation of corrective measures

Based on the timetable for the integrated project, the State Party anticipates that corrective measures will be implemented by November 2013.

d) International Assistance request

No formal request has been submitted to the World Heritage Committee for consideration and review. However, the State Party has actively sought funding from other sources, including the African World Heritage Fund, and international heritage organizations.

e) Other issues

The report notes the efforts made in the implementation of corrective measures. In regard to the control of sea erosion, interventions have started to address the impact on historic structures. Notwithstanding, the State Party notes that the threat persists, so risk mapping will be carried out to identify potential courses of actions to control erosion along sea shores.

As for land use, it is expected that with the development of component maps the necessary regulatory tools will be developed, in a participatory manner involving communities and local authorities, to deter further impacts on the property.

Stabilization, conservation and maintenance interventions have been carried out at the Makutani Palace and at the Kilwa Sultans Mausoleums. 

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the implementation of the Integrated Preservation Project will significantly advance addressing the conditions that warranted the inclusion of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger. They recommend requesting the State Party to submit the complete project, including technical specifications for interventions, for review prior to implementation. They would encourage the State Party to further explore means to ensure that the financial and technical resources for the sustained implementation of the Management Plan upon its completion are secured. The World Heritage Committee might consider that a reactive monitoring mission could be carried out toward the end of 2013 to assess whether corrective measures have been fully met to remove the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger at the 38th session in 2014.