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Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (Brazil)
 

State of Conservation


Advanced

Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem
(Palestine)

Factors affecting the property in 2013*
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Water (rain/water table)
  • Other Threats:

    Urgent and necessary consolidation works required (roofing, ...)

Threats for which the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
  • Degradation of the architectural complex of the Church of the Nativity;
  • Development pressure;
  • Tourism pressure.
Corrective Measures for the property

Not yet identified

Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures
Not yet established
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2013

Total amount granted: USD 723,000 from Italy (Emergency Action Plan 1997-1998; Conservation and Management Plan  2006-2010).

International Assistance: requests for the property until 2013

Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD

Missions to the property until 2013**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2013

The State Party submitted the state of conservation report for the property on 21 February 2013. It consists of a short note about maintenance and tourism services, about the restoration of the roof of the Church of the Nativity and about the preparation of a conservation and management plan for the historic town of Bethlehem, declared as the “buffer zone of the property”. The project is said to be funded by the European Commission and implemented by the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation (CCHP), the Bethlehem Municipality and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The reason why a new plan is being prepared, while the existing “Bethlehem Area Conservation and Management Plan” prepared with the support of UNESCO and with funding from the Italian Government is available and is to be published in the near future, is not spelled out in the report. There is no mention either of a specific conservation and management system for the property itself.

As regards the restoration of the Church of the Nativity, the tender for the roof has been advertised in the newspapers and is due on 13 March 2013 with works projected to start in June 2013. The State Party announces that it will ask ICCROM for technical assistance and advice on the restoration works and will provide progress reports to the World Heritage Centre. A series of pictures, showing some water damage, is attached to the report.

The State Party announces that a “Charter on the Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Palestine” has been proclaimed on 6 February 2013, setting guiding principles for conservation.

The State Party has annexed to the report a document entitled “Master Plan for Developing Tourism in Bethlehem”, undated. This document is in the form of a project document, drafted further to the Bethlehem Tourism Action Plan Initiative launched on 5 March 2011.

The State Party has reviewed the statement of Outstanding Universal Value revised by ICOMOS on the basis of the provisional statement adopted by the World Heritage Committee in Decision 36 COM 8B.5. This statement will be examined by the World Heritage Committee under Item 8 of the Agenda (Document WHC-13/37.COM/8E).

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2013

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies take note of the announcement of the preparation of a new Conservation and Management Plan for the Historic Town of Bethlehem and would recommend the World Heritage Committee to urge the State Party to develop a specific plan for the property itself, based on its Outstanding Universal Value, and to submit it for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to its adoption.

They also take note of the decision of the State Party to separate into three phases the restoration programme for the Church of the Nativity and to tender only the restoration works for the roof at the time being. In this respect, they wish to highlight, as outlined in the ICOMOS evaluation, the necessity to design an overarching conservation strategy for the repair and restoration of the monument before initiating the effective work, and to submit this to the Advisory Bodies for review.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, taking into account the shortcomings revealed by the ICOMOS evaluation of the property before its inscription on the World Heritage List, recommend to the World Heritage Committee to request the State Party to identify urgently the corrective measures and Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger that would serve as a basis for planning of all future action at the property.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2013

  • Adopted

  • Draft Decision
37 COM 7A.27
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Palestine) (C 1433)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.   Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A,

2.   Recalling Decision 36 COM 8B.5 , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.   Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop proposals for corrective measures and for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, together with a timeframe for their implementation, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014;

4.   Recalls the need for an overarching conservation strategy for the Church of the Nativity to be developed as early as possible to guide the restoration project;

5.   Also requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by the Advisory Bodies according to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines , the conservation strategy and details of the restoration project for the Church of the Nativity, in particular for the roof for which tendering has commenced;

6.   Urges the State Party to develop a specific conservation and management plan for the property as a whole that includes approaches to tourism and development regulations;

7.   Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , 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 38th session in 2014;

8.   Decides to retain the Birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Nativity and the pilgrimage route, Bethlehem (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Read more
37 COM 8B.56
Adoption of Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the following World Heritage properties inscribed at the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee (Saint Petersburg, 2012)

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Documents WHC-13/37.COM/8B.Add.2 and WHC-13/37.COM/8B.Add.2.Corr,

2.  Adopts the Statements of Outstanding Universal Value for the following World Heritage properties inscribed at the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee (Saint Petersburg, 2012):

-  Brazil: Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea ;

-  India: Western Ghats;

-  Palestine: Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem ;

-  Russian Federation: Lena Pillars Nature Park.

Read more
37 COM 8C.2
Update of the List of World Heritage in Danger (retained properties)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined the state of conservation reports of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (WHC-13/37.COM/7A, WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add and WHC-13/37.COM/7A.Add.
  2. Decides to maintain the following properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger:
  • Afghanistan, Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam (Decision 37 COM 7A.29 )
  • Afghanistan, Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Decision 37 COM 7A.30 )
  • Belize, Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Decision 37 COM 7A.16 )
  • Central African Republic, Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.1)
  • Chile, Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (Decision 37 COM 7A.37 )
  • Colombia, Los Katíos National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.17 )
  • Côte d'Ivoire, Comoé National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.2 )
  • Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea, Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.3 )
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Virunga National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.4 )
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.5 )
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Garamba National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.6 )
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Salonga National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.7 )
  • Democratic Rep. of the Congo, Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.8 )
  • Egypt, Abu Mena (Decision 37 COM 7A.23 )
  • Ethiopia, Simien National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.10 )
  • Georgia, Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery (Decision 37 COM 7A.32 )
  • Georgia, Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (Decision 37 COM 7A.33 )
  • Honduras, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Decision 37 COM 7A.18 )
  • Indonesia, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Decision 37 COM 7A.14 )
  • Iraq, Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (Decision 37 COM 7A.24 )
  • Iraq, Samarra Archaeological City (Decision 37 COM 7A.25 )
  • Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls (Decision 37 COM 7A.26 )
  • Madagascar, Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Decision 37 COM 7A.11 )
  • Mali, Timbuktu (Decision 37 COM 7A.19 )
  • Mali, Tomb of Askia (Decision 37 COM 7A.20 )
  • Niger, Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Decision 37 COM 7A.12 )
  • Palestine, Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (Decision 37 COM 7A.27 )
  • Panama, Fortifications on the Caribbean Side of Panama: Portobelo-San Lorenzo (Decision 37 COM 7A.36 )
  • Peru, Chan Chan Archaelogical Zone (Decision 37 COM 7A.38 )
  • Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.13 )
  • Serbia, Medieval Monuments in Kosovo (Decision 37 COM 7A.34 )
  • Uganda, Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Decision 37 COM 7A.21 )
  • United Republic of Tanzania, Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (Decision 37 COM 7A.22 )
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (Decision 37 COM 7A.35 )
  • United States of America, Everglades National Park (Decision 37 COM 7A.15 )
  • Venezuela, Coro and its Port (Decision 37 COM 7A.39 )
  • Yemen, Historic Town of Zabid (Decision 37 COM 7A.28 )
Read more
Draft Decision:  37 COM 7A.27

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7A,

2.  Recalling Decision 36 COM 8B.5, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.  Requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop proposals for corrective measures and for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, together with a timeframe for their implementation, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014;

4.  Recalls the need for an overarching conservation strategy for the Church of the Nativity to be developed as early as possible to guide the restoration project;

5.  Also requests the State Party to provide to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by the Advisory Bodies according to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, the conservation strategy and details of the restoration project for the Church of the Nativity, in particular for the roof for which tendering has commenced;

6.  Urges the State Party to develop a specific conservation and management plan for the property as a whole that includes approaches to tourism and development regulations;

7.  Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, 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 38th session in 2014;

8.  Decides to retain the Birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Nativity and the pilgrimage route, Bethlehem (Palestine) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

 

 Palestine
Date of Inscription: 2012
Nomination records (Year): 2012
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (iv)(vi)
Danger List (dates): 2012-2019
Read the SOUV
Documents examined by the Committee in 2013

WHC-13/37.COM/7A

Exports

SOC

* : 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.