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Bam and its Cultural Landscape

Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Factors affecting the property in 2008*
  • Housing
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports

a) Lack of comprehensive management plan;

b) The boundaries of the property inscribed on an emergency basis were not aligned with the written text of the original Nomination File;

c) Development pressures related to the post-disaster reconstruction process ;

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Severe damage to the property caused by the earthquake in December 2003;
  • Development pressures related to the post-disaster reconstruction process.
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger

a) Conservation of the Arg-e-Bam and other cultural heritage assets within the World Heritage property;

b) Completion of necessary scientific studies for the recognition, registration, and legal protection of properties with historical, cultural, and natural significance within the cultural landscape zone, as well as marking the protective boundaries around each property within this zone;

c) Implementation of the management plan;

d) Precise understanding and definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property;

e) Adequate security of the heritage areas within the World Heritage property in addition to the Arg-e Bam.

Corrective Measures for the property

a) Stabilisation and protection of the Arg-e-Bam and other significant cultural heritage assets within the World Heritage property by:

(i) Stabilisation of both the lower and upper parts of the citadel;

(ii) Removal and documentation of debris;

b) Completion of necessary scientific studies for the recognition, registration, and legal protection of properties with historical, cultural and natural significance within the cultural landscape zone, as well as marking the protective boundaries around each property within this zone;

c) management plan implemented by:

(i) Approval at final stakeholders meeting;

(ii) Legal Adoption by late 2007;

d) Precise definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property by completing the mapping of the archaeology and geomorphology of Bam and its Cultural Landscape;

e) Adequate security of the heritage areas within the World Heritage property in addition to the Arg-e Bam by increased number of guards and vehicles

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
2010
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2008

Total amount provided to the property: USD 568,000 (2004-2007) from the UNESCO-Japan Funds-in-Trust; USD 300,000 (2005-2008) from the UNESCO Italy Funds-in-Trust; USD 20,000 (2004) from the World Bank Italian Trust Funds 

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2008
Requests approved: 1 (from 2004-2004)
Total amount approved : 50,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2008**

Since January 2004: Several UNESCO missions. 

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008

The World Heritage Centre received a comprehensive state of conservation report from the State Party on 25 January 2008. The report describes the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures, as follows:

a) The emergency conservation carried out in the course of 2007 focused mainly on the removal of debris, consolidation, and documentation of the Arg-e-Bam. Effective techniques for the conservation of earthen architecture have been developed and various pilot projects have been undertaken for the stabilisation of both the lower and the upper parts of the citadel;

b) A centre for documentation of debris has been established. Currently, 70% of the debris within Arg-e-Bam has been removed and documented;

c) The protective boundaries around Arg-e-Bam have been marked by ICHHTO (Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization). All constructions around the Arg-e-Bam are being effectively controlled and the Gardens are being preserved. Mapping of archaeology and geomorphology of Bam and its Cultural Landscape is continuing.

d) The review process for the legal adoption of the comprehensive management plan is in progress. An “Office for Bam Cultural Landscape” has been established in close coordination with the local Governor and in close coordination with ICHHTO to ensure an effective implementation of the management plan at the local level;

e) Studies are being conducted for the precise understanding and definition of the outer boundaries of the heritage areas surrounding the property for the future extended landscape zone. The studies should be completed by 2010 provided the necessary budget for these studies is ensured;

f) Adequate protection of the heritage areas is being ensured by a Security Base established in 2007, which includes 12 guards and assistance from the police if necessary.

A redefinition of the Statement of outstanding universal value has been submitted by the State Party and will be presented to the World Heritage Committee for examination in Document WHC-08/32.COM/8B.

However, at its 29th session (Durban, 2005), the World Heritage Committee requested the State Party to prepare an updated version of the Nomination file so as to match the perimeter of the property and its outstanding universal value. The relevant documentation has yet to be provided.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2008
32 COM 7A.22
Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Islamic Republic of Iran) (C 128)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decisions 31 COM 7A.22 and 31 COM 8B.59, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes the commitment of the State Party and the international community to the safeguarding of this property and the progress made towards achieving the Desired state of conservation and urges the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, an up-dated Nomination file based on the property boundaries approved in Decision 31 COM 8B.59, and the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;

5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2009 a report on the progress made in implementing the corrective measures for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

6. Decides to retain Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Islamic Republic of Iran) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Draft Decision: 32 COM 7A.22

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decisions 31 COM 7A.22 and 31 COM 8B.59, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes the commitment of the State Party and the international community to the safeguarding of this property and the progress made towards achieving the Desired state of conservation and urges the State Party to continue its work on the corrective measures adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007);

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, an up-dated Nomination file based on the property boundaries approved in Decision 31 COM 8B.59, and the outstanding universal value of the property;

5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2009 a report on the progress made in implementing the corrective measures for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

6. Decides to retain Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Islamic Republic of Iran) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

Report year: 2008
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Date of Inscription: 2004
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)(iv)(v)
Danger List (dates): 2004-2013
Documents examined by the Committee
arrow_circle_right 32COM (2008)
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.