Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Factors affecting the property in 2012*
- Changes in traditional ways of life and knowledge system
- Deliberate destruction of heritage
- Flooding
- Housing
- Land conversion
- Management systems/ management plan
- Water (rain/water table)
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
a) Raise of the underground water level;
b) Risks of flooding (Valleys of Kings and Queens);
c) Absence of a comprehensive Management Plan;
d) Major infrastructure and development projects taking place or scheduled;
e) Uncontrolled urban development;
f) Housing and agricultural encroachment on the West Bank;
g) Demolitions in the villages of Gurna on the West Bank of the Nile and transfer of the population.
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2012
Total amount provided to the property: USD 1,131,000 from the Japanese Funds-in-Trust 2002-2004 and 2008 (wall paintings restoration in the tomb of Amenophis III).
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2012
Total amount approved : 7,000 USD
| 2001 | Technical advice on ground water related problems at ... (Approved) | 7,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2012**
2001: ICOMOS mission; 2002: hydrology expert mission; July 2006 and May 2007: World Heritage Centre missions; April 2008: World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS mission; May 2009: World Heritage Centr /ICOMOS mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2012
The State Party did not submit a state of conservation report on the property as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010). Therefore, no update is available on the status of implementation of the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee at its previous sessions.
Nevertheless, the State Party submitted a retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value which is currently being reviewed.
Previous reports had highlighted the need to develop a management plan that would integrate all components of the property and that would provide a comprehensive policy framework for all interventions at the property. Large scale buildings, developments, urban sprawl and clearing projects had also been noted as potential threats to the integrity of the site. In particular, the works on the Avenue of the Sphinx have certainly progressed as the Governor of Luxor wrote to the World Heritage Centre announcing its inauguration in March 2012.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2012
Due to the absence of updated information, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies cannot estimate the progress made by the State Party in implementing the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee nor the works undertaken by the State Party in the property. They recommend that the World Heritage Committee reiterate its requests made at previous sessions.
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2012
36 COM 7B.50
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (Egypt) (C 87)
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.56, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),
3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report as requested;
4. Reiterates its request to the State Party for:
a) An integrated management plan for the property as a whole,
b) The establishment of a West Bank buffer zone;
5. Also reiterates its request to the State Party, in accordance to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, to provide detailed information on the planning and design of proposed and on-going projects, in particular the Corniche and the landing stage for cruise boats on the West Bank, for review prior to implementation;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
Draft Decision: 36 COM 7B.50
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-12/36.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 34 COM 7B.56, adopted at its 34th session (Brasilia, 2010),
3. Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report as requested;
4. Reiterates its request to the State Party for:
a) an integrated management plan for the property as a whole,
b) the establishment of a West Bank buffer zone;
5. Also reiterates its request to the State Party, in accordance to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, to provide detailed information on the planning and design of proposed and on-going projects, in particular the Corniche and the landing stage for cruise boats on the West Bank, for review prior to implementation;
6. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2013, a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 37th session in 2013.
Egypt
* :
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.
