Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
- Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- Other Threats:
Potential construction of a separation fence (wall)
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Potential construction of a separation fence (wall)
- Abandonment of terraces and afforestation
- Impact of socio-cultural and geo-political transformations
- Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
- Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
- Invasive/alien terrestrial species
- New constructions within the property’s boundaries
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Potential construction of a separation fence (wall)
- Abandonment of terraces and afforestation
- Impact of socio-cultural and geo-political transformations
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6245
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6245
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted; see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6989
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
Total amount approved : 30,000 USD
2016 | Management and Conservation Plan for the World Heritage ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2021**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021
On 28 January 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report and an updated version was submitted on 29 January 2021. Both reports are available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1492/documents and present progress in a number of conservation issues previously addressed by the Committee, as follows:
- The Management Conservation Plan (MCP) has been finalised, translated into Arabic and disseminated among local actors and communities. In October 2019, it was co-signed by key stakeholders;
- The proposed management structure is not yet in place, and neither the Steering nor the Site Management Committees have been set. The Directorate of the World Heritage Sites in Palestine coordinates and ensures the implementation of the MCP until the management system is operational. Regular coordination meetings and workshops were held and planned for implementing projects and activities;
- Progress is made towards the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) by implementing corrective measures:
- Dismissal of plans to build a “Wall” along the property, or within its setting: Plans to build a “wall” throughout the property remain suspended. The definitive dismissal of these plans is essentially beyond the State Party’s control,
- Adequate conservation of the agricultural terraces and their associated components, including watchtowers and drystone walls throughout the property: Implementation of projects to preserve biodiversity, rehabilitate agricultural lands, traditional and hiking paths and dry-stone walls has continued. A training workshop was conducted on rehabilitation of dry-stone walls rehabilitation,
- Adequate restoration in place of the irrigation system and the development of an adequate sewage system to protect water quality in the property: Projects have been prepared for the rehabilitation of the traditional irrigation system. Water quality inspections and maintenance are carried out regularly. Efforts have been deployed to improve the sewage system, but the necessary funds (USD 25 million) have not yet been secured. The responsible authorities have adopted temporary measures, such as banning the construction of new houses without sealed septic tanks and providing inhabitants with low-cost tanks that need to be discharged periodically at sewage stations,
- The project to improve the water supply network in Battir (USD 200,000) has been undertaken, while the execution of a wastewater treatment plant project awaits funding and the implementation of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre,
- Protection in place for the property and its buffer zone, and, Management plan and a monitoring system adopted and sustainable management system in place: A monitoring system has been developed within the MCP and will be implemented once the management system is effective;
- Other activities include festivals, capacity building, rehabilitation, cleaning and awareness raising;
- The State Party’s January 2021 report confirms that main activities have continued, though the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected ongoing and planned activities. The tourism sector has been heavily hit, resulting in a dramatically-reduced income for local inhabitants. However, a positive aspect is the return of farmers to cultivate the land.
Further, the State Party reports on several threats with a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, including:
- “Urban growth within and around the property;
- Illegal construction of Israeli settlements, in the property and on surrounding hills, setting up of pitched tents for the establishment of a new settlement, demolishment of drystone walls, houses and rest areas in the property and its buffer zone, the cutting of olive trees, prevention of recovery projects;
- Planning by the Israeli Occupation Authorities for a 632.87-acre industrial zone, covering part of the buffer zone”.
The State Party wishes to retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2021
Throughout 2019 and 2020, the State Party demonstrated progress in implementing the necessary measures to achieve the DSOCR and to respond to the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee. The 2021 report confirms the State Party’s commitment, while admitting that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down processes and activities.
The MCP has been finalised but the envisioned management system, which is crucial for effective management, is not operational yet. In particular, it is urgent to establish the Steering Committee and an implementation working group, involving decision–makers from the local authorities and, in the working group, technical staff from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA), the municipalities and any other relevant institution. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to allocate the necessary resources for a site manager and, in the meantime, implement alternatives, such as creating a joint office with MOTA and staff from the municipalities and other relevant ministries, in order to ensure the coordinated and synergic operationalisation of the MCP. This system can build upon the recently-achieved endorsement of the MCP by all stakeholders and upon the management/coordination meetings that have been held with the municipalities and should continue on a regular basis in the future.
Maintenance and rehabilitation projects for attributes of the agricultural landscape, awareness-raising initiatives and local product promotion have been or are being implemented despite limitations and unfavourable conditions. Temporary alternatives and measures have been enacted to counter the lack of funds to improve the sewage system; however, the solution adopted – low-cost tanks – requires close monitoring of the modalities and regularity of the periodic discharge of these tanks at sewage stations and should be considered a short-term solution. It is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to continue seeking funds for the improvement of the sewage system as a priority.
The envisaged elaboration of a land-use plan and related bylaws is crucial to avoid uncontrolled urban expansion: the plan should be prepared with the full involvement of the municipalities and the local communities to ensure that its goal and provisions are appropriate.
UNESCO received a letter from the Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (on 5 September 2019) and two letters from the Permanent Delegation of Palestine to UNESCO (on 10 October 2019 and 18 June 2021) regarding violations and illegal constructions undertaken in and near the property. The Secretariat followed up with the State Party of Israel, requesting the relevant information.
The return to agriculture is a positive sign and is to be supported so as to ensure that farming continues after the pandemic emergency.
It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any proposed plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse.
In order to monitor progress with the implementation of the corrective measures in relation to the actual state of conservation of the property, it is crucial that this progress is measured against the inventories carried out during the preparation of the MCP that show the current assessed situation on the ground.
It is recommended that the property be retained on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7A.17
Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Palestine) (C 1492)
Decision: 44 COM 7A.17
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.30 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
- Commends the State Party for its efforts to improve the state of conservation of the property and to implement the corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and in particular concerning the restoration of the irrigation system;
- Requests the State Party to allocate the necessary resources to ensure the operationalisation of the management system and the implementation of the Management Conservation Plan (MCP), and urges the State Party to adopt in the meantime alternatives to ensure that the Steering Committee and a working group are established and given a mandate for decision-making and for implementing the MCP;
- Also urges the State Party to continue seeking the required funds to undertake the development of a sufficient sewage system as a priority;
- Encourages the State Party to develop a land-use plan and related bylaws to avoid uncontrolled urban growth within the property and its buffer zone, with the full involvement of the municipalities and local communities;
- Takes note with concern of the reports about ongoing illegal constructions and other developments and transformations within the property and its buffer zone;
- Also requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any proposed plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2022;
- Decides to retain Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
44 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (Retained Properties)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC/21/44.COM/7A, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2, WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2.Add),
- Decides to retain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
- Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 44 COM 7A.28)
- Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 44 COM 7A.29)
- Austria, Historic Centre of Vienna (Decision 44 COM 7A.32)
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of), City of Potosí (Decision 44 COM 7A.35)
- Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.39)
- Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.40)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.41)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.42)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.43)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.45)
- Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 44 COM 7A.5)
- Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.55)
- Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.52)
- Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 44 COM 7A.6)
- Iraq, Hatra (Decision 44 COM 7A.7)
- Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 44 COM 7A.8)
- Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (site proposed by Jordan) (Decision 44 COM 7A.10)
- Kenya, Lake Turkana National Parks (Decision 44 COM 7A.47)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Decision 44 COM 7A.11)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Decision 44 COM 7A.12)
- Libya, Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Decision 44 COM 7A.13)
- Libya, Old Town of Ghadamès (Decision 44 COM 7A.14)
- Libya, Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus (Decision 44 COM 7A.15)
- Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 44 COM 7A.48)
- Mali, Old Towns of Djenné (Decision 44 COM 7A.1)
- Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 44 COM 7A.2)
- Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 44 COM 7A.3)
- Mexico, Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Decision 44 COM 7B.56)
- Micronesia (Federated States of), Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Decision 44 COM 7A.30)
- Niger, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 44 COM 7A.49)
- Palestine, Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Decision 44 COM 7A.17)
- Palestine, Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town (Decision 44 COM 7A.16)
- Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 44 COM 7A.36)
- Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 44 COM 7A.37)
- Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.50)
- Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 44 COM 7A.33)
- Solomon Islands, East Rennell (Decision 44 COM 7A.53)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Aleppo (Decision 44 COM 7A.18)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Bosra (Decision 44 COM 7A.19)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient City of Damascus (Decision 44 COM 7A.20)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (Decision 44 COM 7A.21)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (Decision 44 COM 7A.22)
- Syrian Arab Republic, Site of Palmyra (Decision 44 COM 7A.23)
- Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 44 COM 7A.4)
- United Republic of Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve (Decision 44 COM 7A.51)
- United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 44 COM 7A.54)
- Uzbekistan, Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (Decision 44 COM 7A.31)
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Coro and its Port (Decision 44 COM 7A.38)
- Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 44 COM 7A.25)
- Yemen, Old City of Sana’a (Decision 44 COM 7A.26)
- Yemen, Old Walled City of Shibam (Decision 44 COM 7A.27).
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7A.17
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A.Add.2,
- Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.30 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
- Commends the State Party for its efforts to improve the state of conservation of the property and to implement the corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and in particular concerning the restoration of the irrigation system;
- Requests the State Party to allocate the necessary resources to ensure the operationalisation of the management system and the implementation of the Management Conservation Plan (MCP), and urges the State Party to adopt in the meantime alternatives to ensure that the Steering Committee and a working group are established and given a mandate for decision-making and for implementing the MCP;
- Also urges the State Party to continue seeking the required funds to undertake the development of a sufficient sewage system as a priority;
- Encourages the State Party to develop a land-use plan and related bylaws to avoid uncontrolled urban growth within the property and its buffer zone, with the full involvement of the municipalities and local communities;
- Takes note with concern of the reports about ongoing illegal constructions and other developments and transformations within the property and its buffer zone;
- Also requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre of any proposed plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the OUV of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session in 2022;
- Decides to retain Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
![](https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/thumbs/site_1492_0004-376-200-20140923114655.jpg)
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.