State of Conservation
City of Potosí
(Bolivia (Plurinational State of))
Factors affecting the property in 2018*
- Management systems/ management plan
- Mining
- Surface water pollution
- Other Threats:
Instability and risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico; Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Management systems/management plan
- Mining
- Surface water pollution
- Potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain
- Instability and risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico
- Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
- Inefficient enforcement of protective legislation
- Environmental impacts on the hydraulic complex which in turn affects historic fabric and local population
Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
- Instability and imminent risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico’s summit
- Lack of conservation policy of integral character which considers all the components of the property
- Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
- Potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain
- Inefficient enforcement of protective legislation
- Threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors
Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger
Adopted, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969
Corrective Measures for the property
Adopted, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969
Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Adopted, see page http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2018
Total amount granted: USD 10,000 for a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS technical mission in 2005 financed by the Spanish Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018
Requests approved: 5
(from 1988-2015)
Total amount approved : 83,777 USD
2015 | Elaboration of the integral and participative ... (Approved) | 29,992 USD |
2010 | Technical assistance for the preservation of the Cerro ... (Approved) | 26,285 USD |
1994 | Restoration of mural paintings in the Church of La ... (Approved) | 15,000 USD |
1992 | Conservation of the Kari-Kari Lagoons (Not approved) | 0 USD |
1991 | Mission to advise on the measures to be taken for the ... (Approved) | 5,000 USD |
1988 | Advise the authorities on the elaboration of a ... (Approved) | 7,500 USD |
Missions to the property until 2018**
May 1995 and November 2009: World Heritage Centre technical missions; November 2005 and February 2011: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS technical missions; December 2013 and January 2014: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring missions; May 2017: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS technical mission; October 2017 and May 2018: Technical missions facilitated by the World Heritage Centre
2014 | Reactive Monitoring Mission to the City of Potosí, Plurinational State of Bolivia (C420) - 11-14 December 2013 / ... |
1995 | UNESCO Expert Mission Report, City of Potosí, May 1995 |
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018
On 15 February 2018, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/420/documents/ and responds to Decision 41 COM 7A.23, and to the updated set of corrective measures, providing the following information:
- The State Party reiterates its commitment to implement the set of corrective measures within the timeline approved in Decision 41 COM 7A.23 and presents a workplan under four themes: mining productive heritage; environmental heritage; archaeological, architectural and urban heritage; limits and regulation. The most significant advances were achieved in the preparation of the legal and operational framework for the management and conservation of the Cerro Rico, the elaboration of the Integrated and Participatory Management Plan (IPMP) and the definition of the buffer zone;
- The Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy, through the Mining Corporation of Bolivia (COMIBOL), issued a report on the Integral Management of the Cerro Rico de Potosí in October 2017 that presented a geophysical study, and proposals to implement the relocation of miners above the 4,400 m.a.s.l. limit. This report also noted that new mining production contracts are issued within the framework of the established work plan, and safety and environmental standards. In addition, the Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy presented a draft Supreme Decree in January 2018 that would establish permanent mechanisms and legal instruments for the conservation of the morphological structure of Cerro Rico, and foresees the implementation of a Conservation Plan based on the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR). The Ministry of Cultures and Tourism supports the decree, which, at the time of the report, is still in the analysis phase within the government;
- The development of the IPMP has advanced thanks to the participatory workshop held as part of the October 2017 technical mission, in which the various institutions involved in the property’s management and conservation participated. The mission resulted in the definition of the methodological strategy for the IPMP’s elaboration. Working groups were established for each of the plan’s six thematic components: mining heritage, environmental heritage, industrial archaeological heritage, architectural heritage, urban heritage, and intangible heritage. It was agreed that the overall goal of the IPMP would be to respond to the corrective measures and indicators defined in the DSOCR over the established 5-year timeframe. It will involve inter-agency work, coordinated by the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism. The State Party’s progress and the first draft of the IPMP were discussed and further advanced with the authorities concerned in the May 2018 technical mission;
- The technical work involved in the clarification of limits and definition of buffer zones, coordinated by the Autonomous Departmental Government of Potosi and the site manager, is in progress. A first draft of cartographic and topographic information was expected in December 2017;
- The preparation and implementation of conservation and restoration works of industrial, architectural, monumental heritage, public and urban spaces, as well as improvements to urban infrastructure, will be included in the IPMP.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018
The State Party’s report, as well as the outcomes of the recent technical missions in the framework of the International Assistance granted for the property, demonstrate its commitment to implementing the corrective measures adopted in Decision 41 COM 7A.23. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue their implementation along these lines. The design of the IPMP around the corrective measures is a promising strategy in this regard. The adoption of the corrective measures, of the DSOCR and the advice of the technical missions have helped to streamline the State Party’s efforts in a more coordinated and sustainable manner.
The results of the October 2017 technical mission provided a solid base upon which the IPMP will be elaborated and finalized, with the commitments and participation of all involved actors, at different levels of government. The information provided on the IPMP reflects a well-considered methodology that takes into account the distinct needs of the diverse components of the property, and is directly linked to the objectives established in the DSOCR. More detailed information of the IPMP’s status were presented and discussed in the May 2018 technical mission, and it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to submit the draft IPMP as soon as it is available to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies.
It is also recommended that the Committee take note of the advances regarding the delimitation of the property’s buffer zones, and reiterate the urgency of finalizing and submitting the proposal of a Minor Boundary Modification.
Regarding the implementation of the other corrective measures, the State Party should provide more complete information on their advances, including the relevant reports, legislation, policies, etc. mentioned in the state of conservation report, particularly regarding the Integral Management of the Cerro Rico de Potosí of October 2017 to allow for a fuller understanding of the current situation of the management and conservation of the Cerro Rico and the relocation of the miners.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018
-
Adopted
-
Draft Decision
Draft Decision: 42 COM 7A.8
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7A,
- Recalling Decision 41 COM 7A.23, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
- Acknowledges with appreciation the State Party’s commitment to implementing the corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and encourages the State Party to continue working towards their effective implementation within the established timeline;
- Takes note of the progress achieved in elaborating the Integrated and Participatory Management Plan (IPMP) for the property, as facilitated by the two recent technical missions, and urges the State Party to submit the final draft to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, as soon as it becomes available;
- Also takes note of the advances in elaborating a proposal for definition of the property’s buffer zone, and also urges the State Party to submit a final proposal for a Minor Boundary Modification, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Requests the State Party to provide complete and clear information on the progress in implementing the entire set of corrective measures, and include the relevant reports, legislation, policies, etc. mentioned in its 2018 state of conservation report, to allow for a fuller understanding of the current situation particularly regarding the management and conservation of the Cerro Rico and the eventual relocation of miners above 4,400 meters;
- Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2019, 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 43rd session in 2019;
- Decides to retain City of Potosí (Bolivia (Plurinational State of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
* :
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.