Archaeological Site of Cyrene

• Deliberate destruction of heritage (Inadequate protection leading to threat to rock-hewn monumental tombs, vandalism and the development of agricultural activities in the rural zone)
• Governance
• Housing (Urban encroachment and uncontrolled building construction leading to destruction of archaeological areas)
• Interpretative and visitation facilities (Need for a presentation and interpretation system for visitors and the local population)
• Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals
• Crop production
• Management activities (Inappropriate earlier restoration work)
• Management systems / management plan (Need to complete the Conservation and Management Plan in order to co-ordinate actions in the short and medium term; Need to provide a detailed map at the appropriate scale showing the boundaries of the property and buffer zone, as well as regulatory measures foreseen to ensure the protection of the property; Inadequate on-site security and control systems) 
• Surface and sewage water pollution (Problem of discharge of sewage from the modern town into the Wadi Bel Ghadir)
• Forest fires
• Conflict situation prevailing in the country

Not yet identified

Not yet established

Total amount granted: USD 15,000 for the European Project “Protection of Cultural Heritage and Diversity in Complex Emergencies for Peace and Stability”

On 8 February 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report. An executive summary of this report is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/190/documents/. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented in this report, as follows:

• Urban encroachment has declined significantly in the property but has increased in the areas surrounding the archaeological sites. The affected areas include the Northern and Western necropolises and the extramural Demeter sanctuary. Several meetings and awareness-raising campaigns have been undertaken to encourage local residents to stop construction around the archaeological sites, which local residents have committed to do;
• As part of the Protection and Conservation Strategy established in 2018, the Department of Antiquities (DoA) and the Urban Planning Authority are creating guidelines for land use within the buffer zone;
• The boundary clarification adopted in 2018 has been shared with the Municipality of Shahat and the Urban Planning Authority for protection and conservation purposes. A proposal for a boundary modification has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre for evaluation by the Advisory Bodies;
• The pollution caused by sewage disposal into Wadi of Belghader continues to threaten the archaeological monuments;
• The DoA and the Municipality of Shahat are working to address the issue of forest fires, another major threat to the property;
• The Engineering Consulting Office for Utilities (ECOU) has prepared a proposal to build a hotel near the Temple of Zeus;
• The Presidential Council has issued a decree for the creation of a special committee to follow up on illicit trafficking of cultural property. Bilateral memoranda of understanding with several countries on this matter are envisaged. Important work with Arab and European security agencies and Interpol to limit illicit trafficking has been achieved. In close cooperation with the Spanish authorities, efforts are underway to return a “funerary statue” smuggled from Cyrene.

The State Party intends to call on the international community to provide more financial and technical support for the conservation of its cultural heritage, and has formally invited a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property.

The information provided by the State Party demonstrates its commitment to the conservation of the property, despite the prevailing conflict. Progress is being made regarding the analysis of the situation and the implementation of remedial actions. Although urban encroachment within the property has decreased, the significant increase around the archaeological sites remains a major concern.

The lack of effective management and the evolving security conditions make the conservation of the property difficult. Updated information about the damage caused by pollution and forest fires, two major areas of concern, is needed. Information on the proposed Shahat Grand Hotel near the Temple of Zeus also needs to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.

The effort made to clarify the property’s boundary is recognized as an indispensable step towards its effective protection and management. The ongoing close consultation with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS in defining an appropriate buffer zone is appreciated. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to continue this cooperation, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines.

The important efforts carried out by the State Party against the illicit trafficking of its cultural heritage are welcomed. It is also recommended that the Committee reiterate its appeal to the Member States of UNESCO to support these efforts by providing funds and specialized assistance to continue urgent conservation activities, and to cooperate in the fight against illicit trafficking and the protection of Libyan cultural heritage.

On the occasion of the third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise, the State Party indicated its willingness to start the elaboration of management plans for all five of its World Heritage properties, and will seek international support to achieve this objective. It also reported an increasing awareness by civil society, local and national authorities, and high-level decision-makers about the necessity to protect cultural heritage in Libya, including World Heritage properties. The organization of workshops and symposiums on the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties has emphasized the importance of their protection and conservation, linking national identity with cultural heritage.

It is therefore further recommended that the State Party’s important efforts to conserve this property are oriented in line with the action plan that was developed during the International Meeting on the Safeguard of Libyan Cultural Heritage, held in Tunis in May 2016 (report is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1496), and building on the short-, medium- and long-term measures identified during that meeting.

The recent escalation of violence raises much concern about the sustainability of the efforts made to conserve the Archaeological Site of Cyrene, as it prevents the State Party from undertaking the necessary actions to ensure its protection and conservation. It remains essential that the joint mission invited by the State Party and requested by the Committee at its 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) and 41st (Krakow, 2017) sessions respectively, takes place as soon as the security conditions permit. In the meantime, it is important that the State Party pursue its efforts to keep the Committee, through the World Heritage Centre, updated on the situation on the ground, as well as on the further implementation of the measures it has launched, while addressing, to the extent possible, the comments and requests made by the Committee.

Considering the above-mentioned information, it is recommended that the Committee retains the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.