Archaeological Site of Cyrene
Factors affecting the property in 2009*
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Housing
- Interpretative and visitation facilities
- Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
- Solid waste
- Other Threats:
Inadequate on-site security and control systems
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Need to complete the management plan in order to co-ordinate actions in the short- and medium-term;
b) Need to provide a detailed map at the appropriate scale showing the boundaries of the property and buffer zone;
c) Threat to rock-hewn monumental tombs as a result of inadequate protection, leading to vandalism and the development of agricultural activities in the rural zone and urban constructions;
d) Inappropriate earlier restoration work ;
e) Problem of discharge of sewage from the modern town into the Wadi Bel Ghadir;
f) Inadequate on-site security and control systems;
g) Need for a presentation and interpretation system for visitors and the local population.
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2009
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2009**
January 2007: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission; August 2008: World Heritage Centre mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2009
At its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007), the World Heritage Committee specifically requested the State Party to complete the management plan, provide a map indicating the exact boundaries of the property, to inform the World Heritage Centre of any new project, like the implanatation of a new urban centre adjacent to Shahat. It also requested to strengthen the staff of the Department of Antiquities in the field and to avoid all aggressive cleaning and restoration of the monuments that might have a negative impact on the authenticity and integrity of the property.
In August 2008, the World Heritage Centre took part in a Global Heritage Fund mission, in an observer capacity, in the framework of the preparation of the management plan for the property by this non-governmental organization, at the request of the Libyan authorities.
At the time of preparation of this document, no report has been submitted by the State Party and no recent information has otherwise been received.
The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are concerned by the lack of management arrangements for the property, including security and control for the protection of the monuments, the need for adequate conservation and interpretation measures, as well as capacity building with a view to addressing the overall conservation issues and management of the property.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2009
33 COM 7B.58
Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (C 190)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7B Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.63, adoped at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of its recommendations, nor a map indicating the boundaries of the property;
4. Strongly urges the State Party to implement the measures recommended by the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission of January 2007 and its earlier decisions;
5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of its Decision 31 COM 7B.63, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010.
Draft Decision: 33 COM 7B.58
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7B Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.63, adoped at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of its recommendations, nor a map indicating the boundaries of the property;
4. Strongly urges the State Party to implement the measures recommended by the joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission of January 2007 and its earlier decisions;
5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of its Decision 31 COM 7B.63, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010.
Libya
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.
