Abu Mena

• Water (rain/water table): Rise of the underground water table level and ensuing damage to the structures
• Impact on structures due to earth trembling and other forms of damage likely to result from the use of heavy earth-moving equipment (works completed)
• Housing: Encroachments within the property and inappropriate recent constructions
• Lack of conservation plan, defining short-, medium-, and long-term objectives and establishing technical parameters (materials, techniques, etc.)
• Management systems/management plan: need for a management plan, to include research, presentation and interpretation, the role of stakeholders (e.g. the Mar Mena community), staffing, sponsorship, visitor facilities, access, etc.
• Governance: Lack of engagement with local communities and other stakeholders
• Management activities: Failure to implement corrective measures 

• A land-reclamation programme and irrigation scheme with no appropriate drainage mechanism for the agricultural development of the region has caused a dramatic rise in the water table
• The destruction of numerous cisterns, disseminated around the property, has entailed the collapse of several overlying structures. Huge underground cavities have opened in the north-western region of the property
• A large, banked road has been built to enable movement within the property

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1279 but outdated and needs to be revised

N/A

On 31 January 2024, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, an executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/90/documents/. Progress in a number of areas is presented, as follows:

• Within the Groundwater Level Reduction Project, the system to lower the water table is now automatically operated through sensors that indicate the water level;
• The specialist company that implemented the groundwater project was contracted to carry out periodic maintenance work and monitor groundwater levels. The monitoring report for 2023 was attached as an annex and shows that the groundwater level remained below the recommended level (-7m) throughout the entire year;
• Following an ICOMOS technical review, the draft Management Plan was revised in light of the suggested comments; the revised Plan was attached as an annex;
• Coordination has begun between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the UNESCO Cairo Office and Abu Mina Monastery for the preparation of the Conservation Plan. Initial efforts are focused on organizing a training programme that will support the preparation of the Plan, thanks to funding provided by the World Heritage Fund;
• Work on site included clearing an area of 5,000m² of overgrown vegetation in order to make more of the property accessible to visitors;
• Information panels and maps, seating and sanitary facilities have been installed in order to improve the visitor experience. The panels were designed following the guidelines which had been prepared during a joint workshop with the UNESCO Cairo Office;
• The implementation of corrective actions has been monitored and mapped to demonstrate that all corrective measures have been completed or are in progress, showing progress towards the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).

Finally, the State Party states that it would welcome a Reactive Monitoring mission to Abu Mena to review the progress towards the DSOCR in preparation for removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger.

With regard to the DSOCR, the State Party’s efforts towards implementing corrective measures are commended. In 2007, the Committee adopted the following corrective measures: a) Conservation conditions survey of the property and urgent conservation measures; b) A project to lower groundwater levels; c) Introduction of a system to monitor groundwater levels; d) Preparation of a Conservation Plan; e) Stakeholder consultation with a view to preparing a Management Plan. At this point in time, the property’s state of conservation has been surveyed, with urgent measures implemented, and future conservation actions outlined in the Management Plan, while awaiting the development of the Conservation Plan.  The Groundwater Level Reduction Project has lowered the groundwater to the recommended level, the system in place is now running automatically and the results are being monitored.  The Management Plan has been drafted, reviewed and a revised version submitted. All this demonstrates substantial progress; however, removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger would best await the final outstanding task: the completion of the Conservation Plan, which is essential for ensuring the long-term protection of the property.

At its last session, the Committee requested that the Management Plan be revised in light of the ICOMOS Technical Review, as well the development of plans for visitor management and sustainable development. The revised Management Plan now includes summaries of visitor management activities and some actions relating to visitors are included in the associated action plan. However, it would be beneficial that a strategic approach be taken to ensure that the actions, which are already being carried out, fully support the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the property’s role as a place of pilgrimage. It is also noted that some of these actions include new construction and the installation of infrastructure (e.g., a visitor centre, cafeteria, lighting system, etc.), and the World Heritage Centre should be notified in advance of any such significant projects before any decisions are taken, as required under Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines. Such new projects may benefit from impact assessment being carried out in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage context to improve the planning process and ensure that there are no negative impacts on the OUV of the property.

Finally, the State Party indicates that it would welcome a Reactive Monitoring mission with a view to removing the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger. As was specified last year, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that such a Reactive Monitoring mission may be organized once a draft Conservation Plan has been prepared and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review.