11

7 place de Fontenoy
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Tel : +33-1 45 68 15 71
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Arab States 2000-2003
Periodic Report and Regional Programme

reports

UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Wo r l d He r i t a ge

For more information contact:

11

reports

reports
Cover photo: Interior courtyard of the Mosque in thge Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) © UNESCO/F. Alcoceba

Wo r l d He r i t a ge

Wo r l d He r i t a ge

Periodic Report andRegional Programme
Arab States
2000-2003

Periodic Report andRegional Programme
Arab States
2000-2003

The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this publication and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any
opinion whatsoever on the part of the UNESCO Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or
area or of their authorities, or concerning the delimitation of their frontiers or boundaries.
Reproduction is authorised, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and copies sent to the UNESCO(Paris) address below:

World Heritage Centre
UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP, France
Tel : +33-1 45 68 15 71
Fax : +33-1 45 68 55 70
website : http://whc.unesco.org
Design: RectoVerso
Layout: Arzimut
Map design: Caterina Cittadini

Published in 2004 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Preface
Since its adoption in November 1972, the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural
and Natural Heritage –also known as the World Heritage Convention– has allowed the inscription of 754
sites on the World Heritage List (582 cultural, 149 natural and 23 mixed properties in 129 States Parties).
The World Heritage Convention recognises the “importance, for all the peoples of the world, of safeguarding this unique and irreplaceable property, to whatever people it may belong.” This inscription on
the World Heritage List therefore provides for the protection of heritage of “outstanding universal
value” against the dangers which increasingly threaten it, and its passing on to future generations.
The Arab Region comprises eighteen States signatories to the World Heritage Convention, distributed inthree geographical sub-regions: North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East. Today, in 2004,
the Arab Region total 57 cultural and natural properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, which is
our duty to preserve according to the principles set out by the World Heritage Convention.
World Heritage properties in the Arab Region, however, are with few exceptions subject to development
pressures linked to urban and agricultural expansion, tourism, pollution and the exploitation of natural
resources (oil, mining industry, fishing…). Other factors threaten these properties, such as armed conflictor the illicit traffic of cultural property (looting, illicit destruction and sale of cultural and historicalobjects). Such dangers to the preservation of heritage have led to the inscription of six properties in the
Arab Region on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1988.
With a view to monitoring the state of conservation of these properties, and in line with Article 29 of
the World Heritage Convention, which requests States Parties to provide information on the legislative
and administrative provisions which they have adopted for the application of this Convention, thePeriodic Reporting exercise was therefore designed. Besides assessing the state of preservation of World
Heritage sites and the implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties, this new
tool was meant to identify the main conservation needs of each participating country, through thecompilation of two extensive questionnaires. The first to undertake this exercise was the Arab Regionin 2000. Based on this information, and further to a specific request from the World Heritage Committee,
the World Heritage Centre implemented a series of actions and developed a Programme for theConservation of World Heritage in the Arab Region.
This document presents the results for this first step of the Periodic Reporting. It provides an overview
of the state of conservation of World Heritage properties in the Arab Region and assesses the resources
available for the conservation of the properties, management training and awareness-raising of all thenational and local persons concerned. In addition, it explains how the results of Periodic Reporting
enabled the drafting of a Regional Programme for the Arab Region, aiming, through combined efforts
and cooperation between the States Parties and the World Heritage Centre, for the enhancement ofpreservation and protection measures for heritage in the Arab Region.

Francesco Bandarin
Director
World Heritage Centre
UNESCO

3

Acknowledgements
Our thanks and appreciation go to all the Arab States Parties, site managers, local staff, nongovernmental organizations, and to the staff of the secretariat who participated in this exercise andin the preparation of this report. Particularly, we would like to thank Cécile Menétrey-Monchau forthe writing and editing of the text. We also extend our thanks to Mr Hadi Saliba and Mr Abdelaziz
Daoulatli, the consultants responsible for the initial report presented at the 24th session of theWorld Heritage Committee (Cairns, Australia, December 2000). The preparation of this report wascoordinated by Govanni Boccardi, Chief of the Arab States Unit of the World Heritage Center of
UNESCO.
The World Heritage Centre also wishes to express its gratitude to the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust for
its financial contribution to the publication of this document.

5

Table of Contents
Preface Francesco Bandarin

Page 3

Acknowledgements

Page 5Introduction

Page 8Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
by the Arab States Parties

1

Introduction
1 Identification of the properties

Page 13

Page 141.1. National inventories
1.2. Tentative lists
1.3. Proposals for inscription

2 Legal and institutional framework

Page 16

2.1. Adoption of a general policy and integrationof heritage into sustainable development
2.2. Status of services for protection, conservation and presentation
2.3. Scientific and technical studies and research
2.4. Identification, conservation, presentation and promotion measures

3 Training
4 International cooperation and fund raising
5 Education, information and awareness-raising

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
at the Property Level
Introduction
1 Identification of natural and cultural heritage properties

Page 22
Page 23
Page 24

2

Page 27

Page 29

1.1. Information provided at the time of inscription
1.2. Updating of the Statement of Value
1.3. Statement of authenticity / integrity

2 Management of the properties inscribed
2.1. Legal and institutional framework
2.2. Management and planning
2.3. Management plan of the site
2.4. Capacities in financial and human resources at the property level
2.5. Cooperation on protection/conservation
2.6. Scientific, technical and educational studies
2.7. Facilities, tourism and promotion

Page 32

3 Factors affecting the property

Page 40

3.1. Degree of threat linked to development and to the environment
3.2. Degree of threat linked to the development of tourism
and to local human activities

4 Monitoring and preventive conservation

Page 434.1. Regular monitoring
4.2. Prevention of natural and human threats and pressures

Follow-Up Actions
Introduction

3

Page 47

Recommendations from the World Heritage Committee

1 Actions undertaken since the Periodic Reporting exercise (2000-2003)

Page 481.1. National meetings
1.2. Activities undertaken within the framework of the Global Strategy
1.3. Activities undertaken regarding capacity-building

2 The Regional Programme for the implementation of
the World Heritage Convention in the Arab States

Page 50

2.1. Background
Specific problems identified by the Periodic Reporting exercise
and fields of action for a Regional Programme
UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (2002-2007) for the Arab Region
Strategic Objectives of the World Heritage Committee and Regional Programmes
2.2. The Strategy of the Regional ProgrammeInternational Assistance Modules
Projects
National Programmes
The Monitoring Committee
2.3. Objectives of the Regional Programme for the Arab Region,
expected results and indicators
Global Objective
Objectives of the Regional Programme
Expected results, activities and indicators
2.4. Resources and calendar for the implementation of the Regional ProgrammeConclusions
Appendix
Map of the World Heritage properties in the Arab Region: 2003

4

Page 65

Page 67

Introduction
This document was prepared by the Arab States Unit of the World Heritage Centre, following
the request of the World Heritage Committee that an analytical summary of the Periodic Reporting
exercise be prepared for the Arab Region in view of its publication. This report aims at evaluating theimplementation of the World Heritage Convention in the Arab Region, on the basis of the Periodic
Reports submitted by the States Parties in 2000 and of information collected by the Secretariat in theframework of its activities. In addition, it discusses follow-up actions since 2000, and includes information on the drafting of a Regional Programme for the Arab Region in an effort to respond positively tothe requests and needs expressed by the States Parties during the exercise.
The objective of the Periodic Reporting exercise was to monitor the state of conservation of World
Heritage in the Arab Region to enable the World Heritage Committee to identify strategic needs andpriorities, and to allow both the Committee and the States Parties to work together towards improving
management and protection. Thus, the exercise provided:- An updating of the World Heritage Committee’s information on the properties inscribed to record
possible changes in the circumstances and in the state of conservation of properties;- An assessment of the implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties;- An assessment as to whether the World Heritage values of the properties inscribed on the World
Heritage List were maintained over time;
At the State Party level, the exercise also allowed:• To contribute to the improvement of the States Parties’ 1 implementation of the World Heritage
Convention;• To the better drafting of national heritage policies and property management programmes withimproved identification of regional and national priorities;• To the active involvement in the preservation effort by the local and national officials and the
populations;• To provide a mechanism for regional and international cooperation and for an exchange of information and experiences between States Parties concerning the implementation of the Convention andthe conservation of World Heritage.
Discussions on the most appropriate means to establish this up-to-date information were initiated in1982 and continued since then. The reflection on the periodical reports led to the definition of a processof periodical submission of reports during the twenty-first and the twenty-second sessions of the World
Heritage Committee in 1997 and 1998. A consensus was reached that, in accordance with Article 29 of
the Convention, the States Parties would provide periodic reports on the application of the Convention
and the state of conservation of World Heritage properties. A regional approach was recommended toencourage regional cooperation and the exchange of information amongst States Parties, and a rigorous
1. See: WHC-03/27.COM/6B

8and flexible monitoring methodology was devised to enable consideration of the particularities andregional characteristics. Document WHC-99/CONF.209/12, presenting the action plan for the Arab Region,
was approved by the World Heritage Committee at its twenty-third session from 24 November to
4 December 1999, in Marrakesh.
Periodic Reports, presented in the form of a questionnaire in two parts, comprise two complementary
aspects:• Section I, which will be analysed in Chapter I, is the State Party’s report on the implementation of theConvention, including the identification of properties of cultural and/or cultural value; the protection,conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage; international cooperation and fundraising; and education, information and awareness building;• Section II, which will be analysed in Chapter II, focuses on the evaluation of the state of conservationof each of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. The local authorities and property
managers submit an assessment of the situation at the property level in order to study whether theWorld Heritage values for which a property was initially inscribed on the World Heritage List have been
maintained over time.

Regarding the Arab Region, only States Parties
holding properties that were inscribed on theWorld Heritage List up to and including 1992 wereinvited to participate in the exercise. This criterion
would enable the updating of information received
by the Committee at the time of inscription. Other
properties, inscribed after 1992 were deemed too
recent to require updating.

The Banc d’Arguin National Park in Mauritania, inscribed on
the World Heritage List in 1989, is one of the three Natural
World Heritage properties in the Arab Region. The Park
stretches over 12000km2 and hosts over a hundred different
species of birds, and several endangered species.

© UNESCO/Technical services Banc d’Arguin

Although all regions will eventually perform this exercise, the Arab states were the first to undergo thisexercise. Therefore, in addition to evaluating the state of preservation of World Heritage properties in
the Region, it also served as a test for the other regions. Since 2000, the Africa Region (2001-2002), and
the Asia and Pacific Region (2003) have also completed this exercise. Periodic Reporting for the Latin
America and the Caribbean Region, and the Europe and North America Region are planned for 2004 and2005-2006 respectively.

2. WHC-2000/CONF.204/7

9

All in all, within the Arab Region, 12 States Parties (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Sultanate of Oman, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, Yemen),
representing 44 properties (41 cultural, 1 mixed, and 2 natural) were called upon to prepare reports on
the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by States Parties (Section I). Only eleven Section I
reports were received as one State failed to submit its report: the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Algeria’s
Section I report was received too late to be included in the analysis of the reports2 which was presented to the World Heritage Committee during its twenty-fourth session in December 2000 in Cairns(Australia). This publication includes the data received in Algeria’s Section I report.
Six other States Parties, signatories to the Convention, were not eligible to participate in the exercise:four States (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Sudan), signatories to the Convention, have no properties
inscribed on the World Heritage List. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait signed the Convention after
the Periodic Reporting exercise, on May 11, 2001 and June 6, 2002, respectively.
A total of fourty-four properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List prior to 1993, and were
therefore eligible to submit reports for Section II, with the exception of Jerusalem. Of the twelve Stateswith inscribed properties, three did not submit reports on all the properties concerned, representing a
total of 6 missing reports on Section II: Algeria (1 property), the Sultanate of Oman (3 sites inscribed as
1 property), Tunisia (2 properties), including one of the only two natural properties (Ichkeul National
Park in Tunisia). The Section II reports of the Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania), the Kasbah of
Algiers and the M’Zab Valley (Algeria), which were received too late to be included in the analyticalreport presented to the World Heritage Committee during its session in Cairns, have been taken into
account in this publication.
The documents received (for both Section I and Section II) are essentially the questionnaires, totalling
about 1900 pages of text, occasionally accompanied by documentation. The results of this exercise, thefirst of its kind, remain very positive. The Committee was informed of the implementation of theConvention by the States Parties and on the state of the cultural properties inscribed on the World
Heritage List.
The conclusions and recommendations of the analysis of the Periodic Reporting exercise, and theStrategic Objectives of the World Heritage Committee, allowed the drafting of a Regional Programme
for the Arab States for implementation over a six-year period. This Programme is fully described inPart III.
Table 1 presents the States Parties and properties that participated in the Periodic Reporting of 2000, as
well as the evolution of the number of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List from 2000 to 2003.

10

Table 1. States Parties, properties and reports
States Parties

Properties
inscribed
before 1993

Total Numberof Properties
in 2000

Total Numberof Properties
in 2003

Section I
ReportNumber ofSection II
reports submitted

Algeria

6 C + 1 C/N

6 C + 1 C/N

6 C + 1 C/N

submitted

60Bahrain

0

0

0

X

Egypt

5C

5C

6C

submitted

5

Iraq

1C

1C

2C

submitted

1

Jordan2C

2C

2C

submitted

20

Kuwait00

0X

Lebanon

4C

5C

5C

submitted

4

Libyan Arab Jamahirya

5C

5C

5C

Not submitted

5

Mauritania

1N

1C+1N

1C+1N

submitted

1
3

Morocco

3C

6C

7C

submitted

Sultanate of Oman

2C

3C+1N

3C+1N

submitted

1

Qatar

0

0

0

X

0

Saudi Arabia

0

0

0

X

0
0

Sudan

0

0

1 CS

X

Syrian Arab Republic

4C

4C

4C

submitted

4

Tunisia

6 C + 1N

7C+1N

7C+1N

submitted

5

United Arab Emirates

0

0

0

X

0
2

Yemen

2C

3C

3C

submitted

Total

40 C
1 C/N
2N
+
Jerusalem

49 C
1M
2N
+
Jerusalem

52 C
1 C/N
3N

11 Section I

39 Section II

Reports

Reports

submitted

submitted

18 States+
Jerusalem

C: Cultural property; N: Natural property; C/N: Mixed Cultural and Natural property

11© UNESCO/F. Alcoceba© UNESCO

Implementation of
the World Heritage
Convention by
the Arab States Parties

1

Left:
Traditional architecture in the Old City of Sana’a (Yemen) and
the Roman Amphitheater of El Jem (Tunisia) are testimonies of thediversity and richness of the cultural heritage of the Arab Region.

13

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

The application of the World Heritage Convention
is dependent on the knowledge and application ofits specific concepts and procedures (preparation of
Tentative Lists, Nomination Dossiers, International
Assistance Requests…). The States Parties’ efforts
to increase the number of World Heritage properties in their countries, to provide a legal and institutional framework in which to apply the values of
the Convention, to promote training, international
cooperation and fund-raising for increased preservation efforts, and to uphold education, information and awareness-building to encourage a better
understanding of the World Heritage concept, are
key indicators of the efforts made towards theimplementation of the Convention.

1 Identification of the properties
The existence of national inventories, tentative lists andthe submission of nomination forms, represent key markers of the implementation of the Convention by any
State Party. These three stages in the identification of heritage properties are a compulsory step towards their inscription on the World Heritage List, and the organisationof preservation programs adapted to their needs. The
answers received for questions focusing on national
inventories, tentative lists and nominations therefore
enabled the assessment of the States Parties’ efforts to
identify and inscribe new properties on the World
Heritage List.
1.1. National inventories

This chapter refers to the data collected from theSection I reports of the eleven participating States
Parties: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco,
Mauritania, the Sultanate of Oman, the Syrian
Arab Republic, Tunisia and Yemen, during the
Periodic Reporting exercise of 2000. Details are also
given on the efforts and progress to help solve theissues on which the States Parties expressed
concern.

National inventories, drafted by each State Party or all
relevant national and local authorities, are provisional listsof cultural and/or natural heritage of national significance. The drafting of national inventories forms the basis forthe identification of possible World Heritage properties.
The following set of questions therefore aimed at assessing whether States Parties had regularly up-dated andreviewed these lists.

1.1. National inventories
National inventories

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Does the State Party hold an Inventory of Cultural sites?

10

0

1

91%

Does the State Party hold an Inventory of Natural sites?

1

10

0

9%

Is there an Inventory of mixed sites (Natural and Cultural)?

0

0

11

0%

Is there an institution responsible for the preparation andupdate of national inventories?

11

0

0

100%

With the exception of Yemen, which stated that it did not
yet hold an inventory for cultural properties, and the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, all States Parties (Algeria, Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, theSultanate of Oman, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia),
had prepared national inventories at the time of the
Periodic Reporting exercise in 2000. These inventories
remained for the most part under preparation, and nodate had been set for their completion.
Although these responses received were satisfactory,
efforts regarding the identification of natural heritage
properties were not considered as adequate. In fact, 91%
of States Parties possessed solely an inventory of cultural
heritage. Only the Sultanate of Oman was in the processof establishing an inventory for natural heritage.
The answers obtained for the natural heritage andmixed heritage inventories revealed that these concepts

14

were probably not fully understood – an issue that theoccasional confusion between national inventory and listing seemed to confirm. The absence of information on
the modalities of the inventories, and of the incidencesof the inventory on the nomination process also supported this view. Similar conclusions appeared from thestudy of the answers regarding Tentative Lists andnominations.
1.2. Tentative lists
Each State Party is due to prepare and submit a Tentative
List presenting an inventory of properties suitable for inclusion in the World Heritage List. Properties must have been
identified, described and delineated in accordance with
the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage
Committee. In the following set of questions, States Parties
were invited to provide information on their tentative list.

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

1

1.2. Tentative lists
Tentative lists

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Has the tentative list been submitted?

8

2

1

73%

Are:
• local authorities;• the community
associated with the process?

2
3

5
4

4
4

18%
27%

Existence of a responsible institution?

7

0

4

64%

The results of the Periodic Reporting exercise showed thatnational authorities did not give equal importance to their
Tentative List. Only 73% of States Parties in the Arab
Region presented Tentative Lists complying with the
Operational Guidelines. Preparation of Tentative Lists
remained for the most part a closed process, with neither
the local authorities nor the population being consulted.
The only exception was Morocco, which had begun towork in a consultative manner with the local authorities
and population. Twenty-seven per cent of States Parties stillneeded to revise or submit a new Tentative List.
The World Heritage Centre has worked towards better
informing the national bodies and assisting them in theimplementation of the Convention by translating theConvention, the Operational Guidelines, the format for theTentative List, the format for nominations, the documents
for Periodic Reporting and all the forms for requests forinternational assistance, into Arabic in 1998. The Periodic
Reports showed that the harmonisation of Tentative Lists

was still needed at the sub-regional level and in the Arab
Region, perhaps through the organisation of regionaland sub-regional meetings between the responsible parties. Some were indeed organised, such as in Amman in
2002, and in Cairo in 2003 as will be further discussed
in Chapter III.
By September 2003, the number of States Parties holding
Tentative Lists had risen from eight to thirteen, andspecial efforts were noted from several countries tore-establish a balance between the number of cultural,
natural and mixed (C/N) properties on their Tentative Lists:
particularly Yemen and Egypt. UNESCO gladly noted thatthe property of the St. Catherine Area (Egypt, South Sinai)
was added to the World Heritage List in 2002, and encourages States Parties in the Arab Region to present naturaland mixed properties on their Tentative List, and in theirapplications for nominations. The following table
presents the current number and nature of properties inscribed on the tentative lists and the World Heritage List.

Nature of Properties on the Tentative Lists and Status of Inscribed Properties, by State Party, for the
Arab Region in 2004.
States Parties

Nature of Properties on Tentative Lists

Properties inscribed on WH List

Algeria

5 C + 1 C/N

6C+1M

Bahrain

4C+1N

0

Egypt

23 C + 7 N + 1 C/N

6C

Iraq

6C

2C

Jordan

11 C

2C

KuwaitNo Tentative List

0

Lebanon

8C+1N

5C

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

No Tentative List

5C

Mauritania

3C

1C+ 1N

Morocco10 C + 5 N

7C

Sultanate of Oman

5C

3C+1N

Qatar

No Tentative List

0

Saudi Arabia

No Tentative List

0

Sudan

6C

1C

Syrian Arab Republic

15 C

4C

Tunisia

No Tentative List

7C+1N

United Arab Emirates

No Tentative List

0

Yemen

5C+3N+3M

3C

Total

101 C + 17 N + 5 M

52 C + 1 M + 3 N+
Jerusalem

18 States Parties

15

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

1.3. Proposals for inscription
Once a property has been added to the National Inventory,
then included in the Tentative List, States Parties may submit nominations for the inscription of properties on theWorld Heritage List. Each year, the World Heritage

Committee assesses these proposals and may choose toaccept, refuse, or defer the nomination to the States
Parties for revision of the dossier. The following questions
focus on the States Parties’ proposals for inscription in2000.

1.3. Proposals for inscription
Proposals for inscription

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Does the State Party hold properties which have been proposed forinscription on the World Heritage List?

8

0

3

73%

Has the State Party engaged in an analysis of collaboration andcooperation with local authorities and the population regarding
nomination?

4

1

6

36%

Has the State Party described the preparation process for nominations?

6

0

5

55%

Has the State Party encountered obstacles and difficulties met during
the process?

4

2

5

36%

As the requirements for the inclusion of new properties on
the World Heritage List become stricter, the relative percentage of Arab properties on the List is currently in decline, which hints at a lack of knowledge of the Convention
and its procedures. Since 1998, the region has registeredan average of only one inscription per year. As noted in thecase of National Inventories, Tentative Lists and the proposals for inscription concerned mostly cultural properties,
and therefore did not adequately represent the diversity
and characteristics of the heritage of the Arab Region. The
situation was especially cause for concern in the Gulf
Region where very few States had submitted Tentative
Lists.
As noted for the Tentative Lists, the Periodic Reporting
exercise showed that the preparation of nominations rarely included consultation with the local authorities andpopulation, which was only reported in 36% of cases.
Only little detail was given regarding the obstacles, difficulties encountered, advantages perceived and lessons
learnt from the nomination process, which not only supported the observation that the consultation process was
not well developed, but also suggested that the authorities in charge of nominations lacked understanding of theneed to cooperate with local authorities. In fact, this set ofquestions revealed that the principal actors engaging in
the drafting of the nomination applications were thenational decision-makers who choose the properties to be
inscribed depending on their historical, prestige, or tourist
criteria, with only little involvement of local authorities.
Aware of these shortcomings, some countries haverequested overall assistance for the establishment of thenomination file including the preparation of relevant documentation. It has indeed been observed that the quality of16

the nomination dossiers was not very satisfactory due tothe lack of essential information (maps, documentation,
management plans, etc.). The inscription criteria seemed
not to have been clearly understood, or were not always
mentioned.
Two studies carried out in 1999 and 2002 concerning
International Assistance indicated that, since 1993, thenumber of requests received on behalf of the States Partiesof the Arab Region had increased by more than 70 percent. However, this increase was inferior to that registeredfor other regions. The requests for International Assistancewere often incomplete and required substantial revision
before they could be submitted for approval to the World
Heritage Committee.
In conclusion, the answers received from the States Parties
regarding National Inventories, Tentative Lists and nominations, revealed that some countries still lacked knowledgeof the World Heritage Convention and of the concepts
which are at the root of its implementation, such as thenomination process. Chapter III will discuss how the
Regional Programme for the Arab Region was designed todevelop solutions to these shortcomings.

2 Legal and institutional framework
The inscription of properties on the World Heritage List
requires the need to develop adequate legislation and institutional frameworks to ensure their safeguarding andconservation according to World Heritage standards, as
stated in the World Heritage Convention. These legislations, encompassing both local and national measures,must include provisions for the identification, protection,conservation, renovation, presentation, and rehabilitation

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

of Heritage, through the adoption of an adequate generalpolicy, the promotion of scientific and technical studies
and the support of regional and international cooperation.
States Parties were therefore invited to provide an assessment of the efficiency of their legal and institutional framework related to the management of their properties.

1

protection, conservation, presentation and transmission
to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage…situated on its territory,’ and insist that ‘each State
Party to this Convention shall endeavour, in so far as possible, and as appropriate for each country: to adopt ageneral policy which aims to give cultural and natural
heritage a function in the life of the community and tointegrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes.’ The following set of questions were aimed at assessing States Parties’ applicationof the above articles.

2.1. Adoption of a general policy and integration ofheritage into sustainable development
Articles 4 and 5 of the World Heritage Convention recall
the States Parties’ ‘duty of ensuring the identification,

2.1. Adoption of a general policy and integration of heritage into sustainable development
Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Were efforts made to integrate Heritage in a national managementand development policy at:• a national level?
• a provincial level?
• a local level?

6
5
5

2
0
0

3
6
6

55%
45%
45%

Are policies and plans aiming at assigning a function to cultural andnatural heritage in the life of the community:• Existing;• Operational;• Being established;• Envisaged?

4
1
3
3

3
0
0
0

4
10
8
8

36%
9%
27%
27%

Are these plans integrated in a general planning and/or national
conservation strategy?

7

2

2

64%

Was progress noted since their adoption?

4

0

7

36%

Has the State Party identified fields where improvement would
be desirable?

7

0

4

64%

Adoption of a general policy and integration of heritage into
sustainable development

understood or taken into account by the States Parties.
However, some States Parties made a true effort towards
integrating heritage into a national management anddevelopment policy framework. Jordan, for instance,
imposed a 5% tax on all building studies to the benefit ofheritage. Tunisia adopted very modern legislation, the"Code for Heritage Protection" of 1994, even if difficulties remained for its strict application, in spite of all thebenefits of this Code for the safeguarding and integrationof heritage.
© UNESCO/Claude Michel

The non-responses and negative answers (from 45% to55%) concerning the efforts made to integrate heritage
in a national management and development policy,
demonstrated that this process was still in the making in
the Arab Region. Its concept was perhaps not fully

The Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
often hosts restoration works and excavations, performed incooperation with foreign scientific missions.

Despite considerable initiatives and numerous, very positive adaptations, only a minority of States Parties (45%)
had taken steps towards giving cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community. In
Mauritania, for instance, the Counsel of Ministers had
recently defined a cultural policy integrating a strategy forthe preservation of heritage. The development of suchpolicies indicated that some States Parties had taken heritage into consideration not only for its cultural, natural,17

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

and environmental aspects, but also for its economic andsocial values, and its contribution to development. In
other States Parties (27%), such as Egypt, the creation ofsuch a policy was still in the process of being elaborated,but such efforts were not systematic amongst Arab States
Parties.
Although 64% of States Parties declared that plans togive cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of
the community had been integrated in a general planning or conservation strategy at a national level, links
between such programs and a national strategy remained unclear. Only the Sultanate of Oman mentioned
both a development plan and a national strategy forconservation. In some cases, such as Jordan, the integration of heritage was restricted to the field of tourism
development.
Attempts and projects aiming at developing such a policy
were achieved in several fields, and progress was noted insome areas. In the case of Morocco, better means for protection and specialised institutions were created (TheInstitute of Cultural Heritage, and the Directorate forCultural Heritage, established respectively in 1985 and1988). Similarly, Tunisia valued the role of heritage indevelopment, and was establishing, through World Bank
funding, a global strategy study, for the integration ofheritage into planning and economic and social develop-

ment. Mauritania had also integrated heritage into sustainable development programmes.
However, 64% of the States Parties mentioned the needfor financial, logistical and technical resources (Syrian
Arab Republic, Yemen); a better restoration of national
heritage (Jordan, the Sultanate of Oman); and a wish for
new archaeological discoveries (Iraq).
The answers received for this set of questions revealed
that the integration of heritage into a management anddevelopment policy at the national level was still being
elaborated, and a true effort was noted on behalf of mostcountries. However, heritage had not yet been integrated
into the functional life of the community or linked to anational strategy.
2.2. Status of services for protection, conservationand presentation
Each State Party is responsible for designing specific services within its territory focusing on the protection,conservation and presentation of cultural and natural
heritage. The following set of questions aimed at providing information on the setting up, modification or
improvement of these services, including assessing thelevel of staff and the means available to discharge theirfunctions.

2.2. Services for protection, conservation and presentation
Services for protection,conservation and presentation
Do the services responsible for conservation depend on:• a ministry;• an interministerial committee;• a multisectoral committee?
Are these services responsible for the:• protection/conservation ;• presentation ;• exploitation ;of the property?
Has the State Party identified fields where improvements would bedesirable?

The Periodic Reports revealed that institutional framework in the Arab Region was very centralised and lacked“horizontal” coordination between the governmental
institutions and the services in charge of the conservation of the properties, especially at the local level.
Despite their demonstrated goodwill to perform theirtask, often under difficult circumstances, the Heritage
Services in the Arab Region were largely under-equipped
to meet the needs for the preservation of heritage.
These services appeared to suffer from a lack of integration of their activities into a wider development arena,
as noted in the previous paragraphs.

18

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

8
1
3

1
1
0

2
9
9

73%
9%
27%

9
8
5

0
0
0

2
3
6

82%
73%
45%

11

0

0

100%

According to the Periodic Reporting exercise, efforts
were made by States Parties to promote protection,conservation and presentation of properties. Mauritania,
for instance, possessed a National Heritage Council incharge of the co-ordination of programmes and strategies implemented by the executive structures, such as
the National Foundation for the Safeguarding ofAncient Cities. In some States Parties, the central authorities had sometimes given management responsibility
to other governmental agencies, with a view of integrating heritage resources into the framework of economicImplementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

and social development, thus separating the responsibilities for conservation from those for presentation between two distinct authorities, with loss of coherence
and efficiency. For instance, the Ministries for Culture(Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Syrian Arab Republic,
Lebanon...), of Tourism and Antiquities (Jordan), forCulture and Tourism (Yemen) ensured the responsibility
for the services in charge of Cultural Heritage. In certain
cases, these responsibilities were decentralised to local
governments. Occasionally, the highest authorities of
the State took the initiative of creating inter-ministerial
committees to harmonise the actions concerning specific properties, as noted in 27% of cases, but they did
not always function efficiently.
While institutional bodies for the preservation of cultural heritage have existed for several decades in the Arab
Region, natural heritage did not always benefit frominstitutionalised structures in several States Parties.
When they exist, the Ministries for Environment often
manage natural heritage. In the Sultanate of Oman, forexample, it is the Ministry of Regional Municipalities
and Environment which is responsible for the natural
heritage.
The reports indicated that institutional structures in the
Arab Region mainly concentrated on implementing their
original mandate, often limited to archaeological excavations, the sale of tickets, museum administration, etc.
Established for the most part during the first half of the20th century, at a time when heritage was less threatened, the Antiquities Departments were conceived asarchaeological institutes and, a best, as guardians of theproperties, sometimes carrying out restoration activities.
Consequently, these institutions were not equipped or1

did not have the mandate to meet the new challenges
that the cultural and natural heritage must face today:in particular, urban development, tourism, education,and economic activities, but also looting. It should also
be noted that the budget of conservation services’ wasmuch lower than those of the other States agencies. The
lack of equipment and especially financial resourceswere frequently emphasised. Mauritania, Morocco andYemen furthermore regretted the lack of co-ordination
between the different actors responsible for heritage
protection.
The answers regarding the state of protection, conservation and presentation services, confirmed the resultsof the previous section indicating that there were noclear policies and procedures for integrating the heritage in the process of sustainable development. Moreover,
the reports indicated that further efforts were required
to develop national preservation strategies, not only toenable better conservation programs and coordination,
but also to allow easier access to the material means(staff, training, equipment, financial resources) which,for the moment, are not readily available to the heritage protection services.
2.3. Scientific and technical studies and research
State Parties are required to develop significant scientificand technical studies or research projects on their World
Heritage properties. These are needed to increase scientific knowledge regarding the properties, and consequently to allow the drafting of adequate protection
and presentation programmes. In the following set ofquestions, States Parties were invited to provide information on past or ongoing research projects.

2.3. Scientific and technical studies and research
Scientific and technical studies and research

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Have scientific and technical studies, or research projects been undertaken on World Heritage properties?

10

0

1

91%

Are results of this research available to directors of properties or to the
local population?

9

0

2

82%

Are there fields where improvement would be desirable and upon which
the State Party is concentrating its efforts?

8

0

3

73%

Apart from one non-response to the first question(Algeria), all States Parties declared that scientific andtechnical studies had been undertaken on World
Heritage properties in their countries (91%). In a majority of cases, these studies were carried out by foreign
missions. However, the studies and research cited remained, for the most part, of an archaeological or historicalnature. Studies devoted to the fields of conservation,
restoration and presentation were rarely undertaken.
Similarly, little attention was paid to natural resources orthe eco-biological aspects of the properties. This echoed
the remarks made concerning National Inventories,
Tentative Lists and nominations, that States Parties may
not be sufficiently attentive to the need to represent the19

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

true diversity, wealth and characteristics of the culturaland natural heritage of the region.
Studies were, for the most part, undertaken by private
individuals or local authorities -usually local researchers incooperation with national or foreign universities andresearch centres- rather than through government or
national initiative. Therefore, the studies mentioned by
the States Parties, were usually articles, theses, monographs or seminar reports. Special efforts were notedfrom Tunisia, which had undertaken a global strategy
study on « Heritage and Development » with assistancefrom the World Bank.
However, the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen and Mauritania
reported problems on the availability of documentationand the management of foreign missions. The foreign missions had unfortunately rarely delivered their mission
reports, studies, publications, reports or other documents
undertaken bilaterally, to the competent national authorities (even in a photocopied form). In some cases, as Yemen
mentioned, the lack of communication and coordination
between national and local authorities would not allow
studies to be automatically transmitted to the services responsible for Heritage, even if foreign missions made themavailable to the States Parties. In other States Parties,
results were made available and published, such as in
Lebanon, or disseminated through seminars, congresses
and the media (Morocco, Sultanate of Oman).
In terms of scientific and technical documentation, there
was little mention of the existence of specialised research
units within official heritage departments. Exceptions include Egypt, which holds a Documentation Centre for Cultural
and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT), which is however not partof the Ministry of Culture, and Tunisia, where the
Association for the Safeguarding of the Medina of Tunis
has a Documentation Centre specialising in the historic city.

When questioned on their desire for improvement
concerning studies and research, a majority of States
Parties mentioned the need to carry out more in-depth
studies on property management, preservation and safeguarding strategies, presentation, and the elaboration ofaction plans. Some Periodic Reports stressed that thisresearch should be given priority, and should be based onregional cooperation. Morocco, for instance, proposed tofinance a study of World Heritage properties aiming at
updating the declarations of value (including criteria),
involving all levels of heritage services, proposing participative management, and integrating the heritage potential of properties within development policies.
The answers received for these questions demonstrated
that almost all countries had undertaken research projects
and scientific studies on heritage. However, research on
natural aspects was still inadequate. Furthermore, regional cooperation needed to be developed, as well as national initiatives, since most studies are still carried out by
foreign missions. Encouraging changes and efforts werenoted.
2.4. Identification, conservation, presentation andpromotion measures
Legal and administrative measures, undertaken by theState party or relevant authorities, provide for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and rehabilitation of cultural and natural heritage as required by
the Convention. Other international conventions for theprotection of cultural and natural heritage may also havebeen signed by the State Party and integrated to national
policies and planning. The following questions aimed at
obtaining a clearer view of legislative and policy measures
regarding the preservation and presentation of World
Heritage.

2.4. Identification, conservation, presentation and promotion measures
Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Are there specific legislation measures for the identification,
protection, conservation, presentation, and promotion of heritage?

8

1

2

73%

Are restoration and conservation a priority consideration in terms of:• actions undertaken to identify properties;• actions undertaken to encourage participation;• actions undertaken to involve the private sector?

4
6
7

1
1
1

6
4
3

36%
55%
64%

Is a reform of the general policy and/or legal policy necessary?

6

5

0

55%

Is the State Party signatory to other international conventions signed?

8

0

3

73%

Are appropriate scientific and technical measures undertaken for theidentification, protection, conservation, presentation and promotionof cultural and natural heritage?

8

1

2

73%

Is the media used?

8

0

3

73%

Are there areas where improvement would be desirable?

10

0

1

91%

Identification, conservation, presentation andpromotion measures20

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

However, some of the existing laws mentioned in the
Periodic Reports were relatively old and, although they
were never judged inoperative, they probably required
updating, such as the 1933 legislation in Lebanon.
Others had already been updated such as those of the
Syrian Arab Republic, which declared that the
Antiquities law was being revised. Similarly, Mauritania
promised a strengthening of its institutional framework. In Algeria and Tunisia, these laws had been entirely revised. In fact, all the States Parties had understood the necessity of adapting their legislation measures to modern needs, and were preparing, envisaging
or completing the reorganisation or improvement of
their laws.
In a majority of cases (64%) efforts were being made to
involve the private sector for restoration and conservation in the role of provider of services, free or remunerated. With regard to participation of the local community, the measures most often cited were the use of local
labour.

The desired changes, as expressed by the States Parties,
focused more on the operational management structures
than the legal ones, especially in Yemen and Mauritania,
which encouraged the implementation of an action plan
to respond to fundamental problems. One of the negative responses to this question came from Tunisia as thiscountry was already undergoing a reform on its Heritage
Code and operational, institutional, training, funding
measures. Rather than an opposition to the concept ofreform, Tunisia was therefore signalling that it was already in the process of implementing such changes.
Consequently, 64% of States Parties –rather than 55% asstated above– judged reforms necessary.
Eight States Parties had adopted other international
conventions to reinforce their legislations, with an average of 5 conventions per country. Still, almost all theauthors of the Periodic Reports, with the exception of
Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic, judged that thesafeguarding of heritage was not considered a priority by
the public bodies despite the devotion and professionalism demonstrated by the services directly responsible forthe properties. Although this is not without consequence
on conservation, it did not signal negligence, abandon orlack of interest. The responses received proved that national authorities should undertake further efforts to grantpreservation and conservation a higher place on their listof priorities and to increase awareness of the heritage
concept amongst the population. Eight countries statedthat they use the media for such means.
The scientific and technical measures for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage are numerous anddiverse, but were often judged insufficient. However, progress was reported in all fields of conservation, even if
improvement was widely desired, especially on the use of
new technologies (GIS, computerisation, Internet) scientific publications, visitor control of properties, information,
education and increasing public awareness through wideuse of the media.

© UNESCO

Opinions diverged on the issue of the need to reform thegeneral policy and legislation frameworks relating to theconservation of cultural heritage, with 55% of States
Parties favouring reform. Indeed, the legal instruments,
designed for the protection of the properties or individualmonuments, did not suffice to ensure the control ofurban transformations for the safeguard of the heritage
values. Where it existed, the application of legislation protecting urban heritage was confronted with issues ofcontradictory duplications between traditional, religious
and civil rights.

© UNESCO/E. Barrios

The cultural heritage of the Arab Region is protected by
specific national laws. In 73% of cases, States Parties
had developed specific legislation measures for theidentification, protection, conservation, presentation,and promotion of heritage. Yemen was the only country for which no such measures have been developed.

Conservation, presentation and promotion measures must be adapted to the characteristics and values of individual properties as much for culturallandscapes such as Ouadi Qadisha and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Lebanon), and for archaeological sites such as Hatra (Iraq).

21

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

3.1. Training
Training

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Are mechanisms developed or envisaged to increase cooperation
between the various institutions responsible for the conservationand protection of World Heritage?

6

2

3

55%

Have the training needs for institutions or individual concerned been
identified?

6

1

4

55%

Do training opportunities exist?

7

1

3

64%

Are there WH training modules and programmes?

1

5

5

9%

Is natural and cultural heritage training available for staff?

4

3

4

36%

Are measures taken to encourage scientific research in support oftraining and education activities?

6

2

3

55%

Are there fields where improvements would be desirable and forwhich the State Party is concentrating its efforts?

8

0

3

73%

3 Training
States Parties are required to develop and implement training and educational strategies for professional capacitybuilding. These are to include the creation of national orregional centres for training and education in the protection, conservation, and presentation of cultural and natural
heritage that must be integrated within the existing university and educational systems.
Training is one of the vital elements enabling successful
World Heritage protection and is necessary in all fields ofpreservation, conservation and presentation. The training
problem was given consideration by the eleven countries,
which participated in the Periodic Reporting exercise, indicating the high level of concern that this problem generates with the heritage conservation authorities in the Arab
World. The authors of the reports repeatedly complained,
in 82% of cases, on the lack of human resources. States
Parties’ global remarks on the areas in which improvement
was desirable, largely converged on the training andrecruitment of competent professionals in all fields.
Without being negative, the evaluation of training in thefields of heritage protection, conservation, restoration,
management, presentation and promotion, indicated theexistence of certain shortcomings. Rather than the quality
and availability of training courses, it was the failure to pinpoint specific needs and to identify relevant training opportunities, which was called into question. Thus, a rigorous
study, both quantitative and qualitative, of needs and priorities as well as the identification of existing training opportunities would be essential. As stated earlier, this indicatedthat efforts were required to encourage coordination and‘horizontal’ communication between the national authorities responsible for the heritage and the local authorities, toallow the sharing of information.
However, positive aspects were identified such as the highnumber of training opportunities available in the Arab
Region. Several countries reported the existence of training
opportunities at universities, on-the-job training and short

22

or long-term training abroad, including courses and lectures. Regional training courses had also been developed.
These courses included the Tunis Course designed for
Heritage Architects, or archaeological and traditional arts
conservation courses in Rabat and Algiers. In Amman, the‘Technical School for Training’ offered training courses onmosaics, while other courses, reserved for Jordan and the
Syrian Arab Republic, focused on the management of properties. Although rather limited in capacity and funding,these regional courses, often supported by UNESCO, theEuropean Union, ICCROM and countries such as France or
Italy, are examples to follow and strengthen. UNESCO also
encourages the Baghdad Centre for the Conservation ofCultural Heritage, created in 1970 for the Arab Region by
ALECSO and ICCROM, to resume its activities.
The Mauritanian report requested the creation of multi-disciplinary training centres in each country, offering training
opportunities in all the fields of science and technology
relevant to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. However, it would seem preferable to develop the existing structures (courses, workshops...) already specialisingin one or several of the different fields of preservation, andto encourage regional cooperation and exchanges.
Another solution may be the ‘recycling’ of professionals,
completing their existing skills and knowledge with additional training in fields adapted to the specific needs oftheir countries. Similarly, measures undertaken for researchin the Arab Region remained limited and the States Parties
placed more emphasis on bilateral or international activities
than on those carried out at the national level.
The States Parties identified the need for improved training
opportunities in all fields of activity linked to cultural heritage, including scientific research (Iraq, Egypt), specialist training (Sultanate of Oman), and documentation and promotion (Mauritania). In a majority of cases, except perhaps for
the Sultanate of Oman, the main problem was the lack offunding hampering the development of training courses,
and the reports strongly underlined their expectations in theway of international cooperation and financial support.
However, the provision of funds cannot be a substitute for1Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

the lack of human resources, including qualified professional staff, researchers or scientific personnel. The identification of the needs of each State Party is required todevelop solutions and new strategies, and should begiven more thought.

Parties for the identification, protection, conservation andpreservation of the World Heritage located on their territories. Measures are to be taken to avoid direct or indirect
damage to the properties, and national, public and private foundations or associations as well as the State Party
itself are encouraged to raise funds and provide assistance for the preservation of World Heritage property.
Through the following questions, States Parties wererequested to assess the efficiency of cooperation andfund raising initiatives.

4 International cooperation and fund raising
Within the framework of the Convention, States Parties
are strongly expected to cooperate with other States
4.1. International cooperation and fund raisingNo

No Response% of positive
answers

Has the State Party developed cooperation with other States Parties
for the identification, protection, conservation and preservation ofcultural and natural heritage situated on its territory?

9

1

1

82%

Does the State Party possess documentation which could help othercountries to promote and improve the application of the World
Heritage Convention?

2

1

8

18%

Are there bilateral or multilateral activities for the protection andconservation of World Heritage?

4

2

5

36%

Are World Heritage properties twinned with others at the national
and international level?

2

5

4

18%

Were national and private foundations or associations created toencourage fund-raising and donations for World Heritage protection?

8

1

2

73%

Are there annual grants for the protection and conservation of theWorld Heritage properties at the State Party level?

7

4

0

64%

Has your government set up a programme for assistance?

2

7

2

18%

Is there a coordinating mechanism between World Heritage
administrative authorities and education/training?

2

6

3

18%

Has your government made voluntary contributions other than the
mandatory ones to improve the work of the Convention?

0

8

3

0%

© UNESCO/Dominique Roger

Yes© UNESCO/Nenadovic

International cooperation and fund raising

The Nubian monuments (Egypt and Sudan) were saved from the risingwaters of the Nile thanks to the International Campaign launched by
UNESCO, in the 1960s and 1970s. This rescue campaign was at theroot of the concept of a common heritage for all humanity that paved
the way for the adoption of the World Heritage Convention in 1972.

23

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

According to the data communicated through the Periodic
Reports, the Arab States did not appear to have, except inrare cases, a recognised and ongoing framework forcooperation in the field of heritage. They benefited fromassistance from diverse sources, but not sufficiently fromneighbouring Arab States. The most frequent cooperation
programmes involved archaeological missions, mainly in
the Syrian Arab Republic, Jordan, Lebanon, the Sultanate of
Oman and Yemen. However, several countries (Tunisia,
Morocco, Mauritania, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Sultanate ofOman) indicated a need for greater diversity of cooperation
programmes, mainly in the fields of conservation, restoration and presentation of properties, as well as regarding
museology.
France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, theUnited States and Canada were the most commonly citedin terms of cooperation with the Arab Region. Since thecreation of the MEDA Programme, the European Union has
increasingly become an influential actor and partner promoting networking. It encourages North-South exchanges
by involving specialised official institutions and civil societyof the non-profit sector. Tunisia was also involved in the
UNIMED Programme devoted to the project for
Computerised Heritage Cartography.
Tunisia and Morocco placed emphasis on the Maghreb
courses of Rabat (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria) and Tunisia,
for conservation and restoration training. However, assistance and cooperation between Arab States Parties
needed to be further developed. The ongoing cooperation
efforts between Morocco and the Sultanate of Oman, andJordan’s participation to excavations in Saudi Arabia andaid to Bahrain, are examples to be followed.
Local associations and foundations for Heritage Protection
were reported as numerous and varied. They included the
National Egyptian Heritage Revival Association (NEHRA),
the Petra National Trust in Jordan, the Shibam Welfare
Association in Yemen, over twenty Associations for the
Safeguarding of the Medina in Tunisia, and several similarfoundations in Lebanon and Mauritania. These associations
were often funded through government grants and various
regional and local community sources. Foundations andprivate initiatives for the safeguarding and presentation of
the monuments and properties remained rare and limitedin scope, with only very little support from public bodies.
They had not yet been given sufficient importance within
the Arab Region for their role in protecting and safeguarding natural and cultural heritage, and strongly deserve tobe developed by the States Parties.
A stated obstacle to adequate fund-raising and international cooperation was the lack of communication, both at anational and local level, with regard to the NGOs, the international partners and the potential donors, which could
constitute very important political and financial support
groups for the safeguarding of World Heritage properties.
For example, international cooperation in the field of heritage had existed in almost all the countries of the region for
decades, but it remained too focused on scientific research
aspects (archaeological excavations, etc.) or occasionally ona restoration intervention, bearing only exceptionally on
management and property conservation aspects. Those
responsible for conservation did not seem to have either
the mandate or sufficient capacities for communication to
identify potential donors and increasing fund raising.
Despite some positive experiences recorded in the area ofinternational cooperation and fund raising, some shortcomings were reported regarding communication, organisation, the diversification of resources, and the means available. The reports showed that regional cooperation could
be further developed as suggested by the success of someregional initiatives such as the Maghreb courses and similar
ongoing projects.

5 Education, information and awarenessraising
States Parties are requested to take appropriate steps toraise awareness of decision-makers, property-owners, andthe general public regarding the protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage. Such programmes
should be aimed at all levels of education, from schools touniversities, but also target the general public through thedevelopment of information programmes. Such means
strengthen popular appreciation and respect for the heritage and keep the public broadly informed of the dangers
threatening it as well as of activities carried out in pursuance of the Convention. In the following questions, States
Parties were invited to provide information on these issue.

5.1. Education, information and awareness-raising24

Education, information and awareness-raising

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Are there awareness-raising measures for decision-makers, property
owners and the public at large on heritage protection andconservation?

9

2

0

82%

Are there education and public awareness-raising programmeson heritage protection and conservation?

3

3

5

27%

Are there education and public awareness programmes on threats
to the heritage and the application of the Convention?

6

3

2

55%

Does the State Party participate in the Special Project ‘Participation ofYoung People in the Preservation and Promotion of World Heritage’?

5

1

5

45%

1

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention by the Arab States Parties

Educational, information and public awareness actions
on heritage protection and conservation, as described in
the Periodic Reports, included the use of the mass media(press, Radio, T.V.), school visits, documentaries, brochures, conferences, targeted at all levels of society andparticularly young people. The principal initiators of thiseffort to promote information were the State and civilsociety, but the phenomenon had not reached the samelevel in all the countries and its level of influence andimpact on society largely differ. The difference was significant between countries having a long experience inthis field (school educational programmes and regularpublic awareness-raising events) and others requiring
greater efforts to implement a real education and awareness-raising policy.
Some of the most positive initiatives, regarding awareness-raising measures for decision-makers, property
owners and local authorities on heritage protection andconservation, included the Heritage Month in Tunisia
and Algeria, and the events during International Daysfor Monuments and Properties (18 April) and Museums(18 May) in Morocco, which were celebrated simultaneously with the Heritage Days in Europe. Efforts werealso made, on a smaller scale, to develop workshops andseminars in Jordan and Mauritania, or to involve themedia for the promotion of World Heritage concepts in
the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, with particularemphasis on schools. Lebanon and the Sultanate of
Oman encouraged private initiatives for protection, restoration and conservation. However, such initiatives
were scarce, limited in scope, and still insufficient. In
most Arab States Parties, public education and information on the issue of the protection of heritage have notyet become a national priority.
Only three countries possessed organised education andinformation programmes on threats to the heritage forthe public at large. The other awareness-raising measures reported by the States Parties were sporadic andfollowed private initiatives rather than organised
government programmes. In Algeria, Iraq and theSultanate of Oman, they were mainly aimed at the

younger generation, through guided school visits to properties and museums. Jordan organised shows, seminars
and festivals.
The answers received regarding the existence of information or educational programmes on the applicationof the Convention, or specific measures for the integration of World Heritage values into educational programmes, also showed that few measures had beendeveloped regarding these issues. According to the answers received, no country possessed any such programme or activities. Only sporadic educational measures
were mentioned for adults and young children including
the insertion of the notions of conservation and threats
to the heritage into school and university teaching
manuals. Algeria, Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia had included(notably, in the history classes) national heritage values
into their education programs mainly in history classes.
Other countries, such as Yemen and Mauritania announced their intention to follow this lead. The Syrian Arab
Republic, Jordan, and Morocco intended to consolidate
existing information in their countries.
Specific measures introducing the concepts of the World
Heritage Convention to younger generations and to the
public at large have not yet been developed in mostStates Parties. In fact, according to their Periodic Reports,
only five countries had joined the Special Project for theParticipation of Young People in the Preservation andPromotion of World Heritage. Large-scale educational
information programmes for the spreading of Heritage
values are needed to allow future generations to take partin the preservation of World Heritage.

© UNESCO/Dominique Roger

The Periodic Reports revealed that local communities
and authorities were rarely involved in the inscription
process or conservation of World Heritage properties.
Both lack the necessary understanding of heritage as adevelopment resource. In the case where the immediateneeds of the local communities are not being met, thesecommunities might even be considered as a direct threat
for the conservation of properties. Yet, if they wereconsulted and better informed through educational andawareness-raising programmes, the local communities
could have a role to play in protecting the heritage.
Therefore, the education of the local population andauthorities is as important as that of political actors, andefforts are required to facilitate and develop informationand to increase awareness of World Heritage values.

The World Heritage Convention, in Article 27, stresses that educational
and information programmes form an integral part of the safeguarding and protection of World Heritage. Schoolchildren in the Medina
of Fez (Morocco) are taught about the Convention and its concepts
to strengthen appreciation and respect of the cultural and natural
heritage by the population, especially the younger generation.

25

© UNESCO© UNESCOThe Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (Morocco) and Petra (Jordan) are developing
management systems to address the combined effects of development andneglect.

Implementation of
the World Heritage
Convention at theProperty Level

2

27

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

The aim of the Section II Reports was to provide
an account on the state of implementation of theWorld Heritage Convention regarding the different properties within the Arab Region. This
opportunity for site managers to share their experience of property management, to discuss theiraims, the means available, the problems encountered, and to present requests for improvement,
allowed the evaluation of each property’s specificneeds. The data received, in addition to observations and recommendations expressed by the
National authorities of the States Parties in
Section I, contributed significantly to the elaboration of adequate regional, national or local programmes for improved preservation, protection
and conservation measures as will be discussed in
the next chapter.
This chapter aims at assessing the evolution ofstate of conservation of the properties with respect to the values and criteria provided at thetime of inscription on the World Heritage List,
including the potential emergence of threats due
to social and economic development. Indirectly,
this exercise also enables the World Heritage
Committee to evaluate the property managers’
acquaintance with the criteria and the justifications used for the inscription, including the boundaries of the nominated areas. Thus, theCommittee is able to respond adequately to theneeds expressed in the reports and to facilitate
the preservation of heritage.
The Arab Region numbers 12 States Parties(Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, theSultanate of Oman, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia,
Yemen), holding properties inscribed on theWorld Heritage List prior to 1993 and eligible tosubmit reports for Section II, with a total of 44
properties (41 cultural, 1 mixed, and 2 natural).
Amongst the 44 properties, one (Jerusalem) was
not solicited to prepare a report on the
Implementation
of
the
World
Heritage
Convention at the property level (Section II). Of
the 12 States Parties participating in the Periodic
Reporting exercise, 3 did not submit reports on all
the properties concerned, representing a total of
4 missing reports for Section II: Algeria (1 property: Tassili N'Ajjer), the Sultanate of Oman (1 property: Archaeological properties of Bat, Al Khutmand Al Ayn)3, Tunisia (2 properties: Medina of
Sousse and Ichkeul National Park), including one(Ichkeul National Park in Tunisia) of the two natural properties in the Arab Region. The reports of
the Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania), the28

Kasbah of Algiers and the M’Zab Valley (Algeria),
were received too late to be included in the initial
analytical report which was presented to theWorld Heritage Committee during its session in
Cairns. However, they have been taken into
account in this publication.
This chapter is therefore based on an analysis of
the thirty-nine reports received for Section II:
1 Algeria: 6 properties (Al Qal’a of Beni
Hammad, the Kasbah of Algiers, the M’Zab
Valley, Timgad, Tipasa and Djemila)
2 Egypt: 5 properties (Islamic Cairo, Memphis
and its Necropolis –the Pyramid Fields from
Giza to Dahsur, Ancient Thebes with its
Necropolis, the Nubian Monuments from Abu
Simbel to Philae, and Abu Mena)
3 Iraq: 1 property (Hatra)
4 Jordan: 2 properties (Petra and Quseir Amra)
5 Lebanon: 4 properties (Byblos, Tyre, Anjar and
Baalbek)
6 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: 5 properties (theArchaeological Site of Sabratha, theArchaeological Site of Leptis Magna, the Old
Town of Ghadames, the Archaeological Site ofCyrene and the Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart
Acacus)7 Mauritania: 1 property (the Banc d’Arguin
National Park)
8 Morocco: 3 properties (the Medina of Fez, theMedina of Marrakesh, the Ksar of Ait-BenHaddou)
9 Sultanate of Oman: 1 property (Bahla Fort)
10 Syrian Arab Republic: 4 properties (the Ancient
City of Damascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo,
the Ancient City of Bosra and the Site of
Palmyra)11 Tunisia: 5 properties (the Medina of Tunis, theSite of Carthage, the Amphitheater of El Jem,
the Punic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis,
and Kairouan)
12 Yemen: 2 properties (the Old City of Sana'aand the Old Walled City of Shibam).
This chapter therefore tackles themes similar to
those developed in the previous chapter but withspecial emphasis on the characteristics and needsof each property. In the Section II reports, the persons in charge of heritage conservation at the site
level were invited to comment on the same issues
as the national authorities in Section I, and to provide their point of view on preservation andconservation.
3. The archaeological properties of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn were included
as one inscription onto the World Heritage List.

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

1 Identification of natural and cultural
heritage properties

the World Heritage List and to assess whether these criteria had been maintained over time.

According to Article 11 of the World Heritage Convention,a natural or cultural property must “have outstanding universal value” in order to find its place on the World
Heritage List. The World Heritage Committee indicates its
World Heritage values by deciding on the criteria for inscription. Each property must fulfil at least one of the selected criteria regarding the cultural and/or natural value ofthe property. In this chapter, site managers were requested
to recall the criteria for which the properties were listed on

1.1. Information provided at the time of inscription

2

The following table, and the questions it relates to in
the Periodic Reports, recall the criteria, evaluations
and recommendations made at the time of inscription
for each site. The aim of this section was to summarise the data and important facts concerning the World
Heritage properties in order to facilitate comparison
with the present state of the property.

1.1. Information at the time of inscription
Information at the time of inscription

Is the author (site manager) familiar with:• the justifications given for the inscription of the property at thetime of the inscription?
• the criteria retained by Committee at the time of the inscription?
• the observations made by the advisory body for evaluation at thetime of inscription?
• WH Committee observations at the time of the inscription?

This exercise of recalling the criteria for which the properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List, proved particularly useful as it was discovered that none of the persons in charge of the properties had direct access to theinscription files. UNESCO had to provide the authors of
the Periodic Reports with relevant information on theirsites, and copies of the inscription files. A large part of thereport writers failed to reply to the last two questions,indicating their difficulty in analysing the files, which they
were not familiar with.
The exercise revealed that the centralisation of data at thenational level in institutions, organisms or administrations
responsible for the preservation of properties, induces alack of communication between the national authorities
responsible for the heritage and the local site managers,which only hampers efforts to coordinate preservation andconservation efforts both at the State and regional levels.

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

37
38

0
0

2
1

95%
97%

20
23

13
0

6
16

51%
59%

1.2. Updating of the Statement of Value
According to the Operational Guidelines, a revision andre-submission of the statement of value may be envisaged following the substantive revision of the criteria by
the World Heritage Committee or when improvements
were made regarding the identification or knowledgeof specific outstanding universal values of the property.
The delimitation of the World Heritage property and ofits buffer zone may be modified by revising or extending relevant boundaries to ensure the protection andconservation of the World Heritage property, and must
be approved by the World Heritage Committee. The following set of questions aimed at assessing whether thestatements of significance still reflected the World
Heritage values of the properties or needed to berevised.

1.2. Updating of the Statement of Value
Updating of the Statement of Value

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Does the statement of value reflect the WH values of the property?

38

1

0

97%

Is a new submission of the nomination dossier required?

4

34

1

10%

• Are the boundaries of the buffer zone appropriate?
• Is the boundary of the property appropriate?

32
31

6
7

1
1

82%
79%

Should a revision or an extension of the property be envisaged?

3

32

4

8%

Is a new statement of value necessary?

12

1

10

31%

29

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

The Periodic Reports demonstrated that many of thenomination files drafted prior to 1993 did not containclear statements of significance. Although the statementof significance is an essential element required for the
adoption of the selective criteria and the inscription of aproperty on the World Heritage List, in a majority of cases
this concept did not appear to have been fully understood. Repeated confusion between the statement ofvalue and the general historical considerations of the properties confirmed that the authors were unfamiliar withthe two concepts.
Despite these shortcomings, the answers received provided clear indication of the factors affecting the maintaining of values at the property level. While twelve report
writers judged that the submission of a new statement ofvalue was necessary, only four thought that the submission of a new nomination dossier was required. The latterincluded the Libyan properties of the Archaeological Siteof Leptis Magna, the Old Town of Ghadames and theRock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus -although no explanation
was offered to justify their claim- and the World Heritage
property of Petra in Jordan.
The properties for which a new submission of the statement of significance was needed included the Medina of
Marrakesh (Morocco), Hatra (Iraq), the Rock-Art Sites of
Tadrart Acacus, the Old Town of Ghadames, theArchaeological Site of Cyrene (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya),
Timgad, Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad, Tipasa (Algeria), andthe Site of Carthage (Tunisia). The Rock-Art Sites of
Tadrart Acacus, for instance, stressed that new discoveries
had been made and the Old Town of Ghadames pointed
at the disappearance of buildings.

to produce these documents to up-date the informationon the properties available to the World Heritage
Committee. However, only very few reports provided
appropriate maps and measurements defining the boundaries and buffer zones. This lack of information may bevery detrimental to the conservation of heritage properties as it prevents the establishment of a coherent system of legal protection, monitoring and maintenance.
The following table presents the results of an inventory,
undertaken in February 2004 by the World Heritage
Centre, of the status of the maps submitted with theoriginal nomination dossiers of the thirty-nine sites thatparticipated in the Periodic Reporting exercise. This
study revealed that only two sites had submitted maps
responding to the recommendations of the World
Heritage Committee regarding the nomination dossiers,
i.e. showing the perimeter of the nominated World
Heritage areas with clear topographical data. Twentyeight per cent of nomination dossiers included mapsthat were either unclear, imprecise, unreferenced or
which did not respect the recommendations of theWorld Heritage Committee. In 67% of cases the nomination dossiers did not include maps showing theperimeter of the site.

Although six to seven report writers considered the boundaries of the property and/or the buffer zone inappropriate, further contradictions were noted on the issue of
property boundaries. The majority of reports stated that arevision of the boundaries was not needed. However,Islamic Cairo (Egypt), the Medina of Tunis (Tunisia), Al
Qal'a of Beni Hammad (Algeria) and the Banc d’Arguin
National Park (Mauritania) considered their buffer zone to
be inadequate, while the Archaeological Site of Cyrene,
the Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, the Old Town of
Ghadames (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), the Medina of
Marrakesh (Morocco) and Timgad (Algeria) stated thatthe boundary of their properties were inappropriate.
The answers showed that the territorial boundaries andbuffer zones of the sites were often disputed and not
well defined, preventing the control of the deterioration
factors of the properties (urban expansion, road systems, agriculture and urbanisation). Since the nomination dossiers submitted prior to 1997 rarely contained
up-to-date topographical maps, presenting geographic
coordinates, photos, or recent bibliographies provided
by the Conservation Services and responsible authorities, the authors of the Periodic Reports were requested

30

4. This is the only site for which a buffer zone is indicated.
5. The map shows the topography of the site, but it is in Arabic.
6. The map does not show the topography of the site. It is however very precise.

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

2

Maps available in the nomination dossiers for the 39 sites inscribed prior to and including 1993, and which
participated in the Periodic Reporting exercise of 2000 (12 States Parties)

State Party

World Heritage
Property

Date ofinscription
on the World
Heritage List

Al Qal’a of Beni Hammad 5 / 09 / 1980
Djemila17 / 12 / 1982
Kasbah of Algiers
14 / 12 / 1992
M’Zab Valley
17 / 12 / 1982
Timgad17 / 12 / 1982
Tipasa17 / 12 / 1982
Egypt
Islamic Cairo
26 / 10 / 1979
Memphis and its
Necropolis–the Pyramid Fields from26 / 10 / 1979
Giza to Dahsur
Ancient Thebes with its
26 / 10 / 1979
Necropolis
Nubian Monuments from26 / 10 / 1979
Abu Simbel to Philae
26 / 10 / 1979
Abu Mena
Iraq
6 / 12 / 1985
Hatra
Jordan6 / 12 / 1985
Petra
6 / 12 / 1985
Quseir Amra
Lebanon2 / 11 / 1984
Anjar
2 / 11 / 1984
Baalbek
2 / 11 / 1984
Byblos2 / 12 / 1983
Tyre
LibyanArchaeological Site ofArab
17 / 12 / 1982
CyreneJamahiriya Old Town of Ghadames 28 / 11 / 1986
Archaeological Site of
17 / 12 / 1982
Leptis Magna
Archaeological Site of
17 / 12 / 1982
Sabratha
Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart
6 / 12 / 1985
Acacus
Mauritania Banc d’Arguin National
15 / 12 / 1989
Park
Morocco30 / 10 / 1981
Medina of Fez
Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou 11 / 12 / 1987
6 / 12 / 1985
Medina of Marrakesh
Sult. of Oman Bahla Fort
11 / 12 / 1987
Syrian Arab Ancient City of Aleppo
28 / 11 / 1986
Republic
5 / 09 /1980
Ancient City of Bosra
Ancient City of Damascus 26 / 10 / 1979
5 / 09 / 1980
Site of Palmyra
Tunisia
26 / 10 / 1979
Site of Carthage
Amphitheater of El Jem 26 / 10 / 1979
9 / 12 / 1988
Kairouan
Punic Town of Kerkuane 6 / 12 / 198528 / 11 / 1986
and its Necropolis
26 / 10 / 1979
Medina of Tunis
Yemen
28 / 11 / 1986
Old City of Sana’a
Old Walled City of
Shibam17 / 12 / 1982
Total
39

The nomination
dossier for thisproperty includes amap showing clear
delimitations of theperimeter of thesite (with clear
topography).

The nomination
The nomination
dossier for thisdossier for thisproperty includes a map
property includes a map
showing only unclear
but the perimeter of thedelimitations of theproperty, and with no site or its buffer zone are
not shown.
legend and/or
topographical data.

Algeria

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X4
X
X
X
X5
X6
X
X
X
X
X

2

11

X
26

(5%)

(28%)

(7%)

31

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

1.3. Statement of authenticity / integrity
Properties must satisfy the test of authenticity and conditions of integrity in order to be accepted for inscription on
the World Heritage List. These conditions are applied toensure that the significant attributes through which theoutstanding universal value of a property is expressed are

not compromised and are represented in their entirety by
the property. Integrity is a measure of the wholeness andintactness of the natural and/or cultural heritage and its
attributes. The Periodic Reporting exercise aimed at assessing whether the authenticity and integrity of the property at the time of inscription had been retained over time.

1.3. Statement of authenticity / integrity
Statement of authenticity / integrity

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Have there been modifications in the authenticity /integrity of the site
since its inscription on the World Heritage List?

6

29

4

15%

Is it likely that changes of authenticity / integrity of the property willtake place in the near future?

8

29

2

21%

Have the values under which the site was inscribed, been maintained?

34

0

5

87%

The answers received showed that not all States Parties
had fully understood the notions of authenticity - integrity. Confusion was often made with the state ofconservation. Thus, reports tended to evoke the present
state of the property rather than its state at the time of
inscription, which the majority of writers were unfamiliar with, as previously noted. Despite this shortcoming,
most authors agreed that the state of conservation of
the properties might be cause for concern, especiallyregarding the existing or upcoming changes in theauthenticity/ integrity of the properties.
Two types of changes were reported entailing different
effects on the upkeep and preservation of the World
Heritage properties. Positive changes encompassing
legal measures, restoration work, and presentation infavour of maintaining authenticity/integrity, were cited,for example, in Kairouan, the Punic Town of Kerkuane
and its Necropolis (Tunisia), Bahla Fort (Oman), theArchaeological Site of Sabratha (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya), and Djemila (Algeria). Negative changes
due to man and/or nature were reported in several properties, including: the Ancient City of Aleppo, theAncient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic), theMedina of Marrakesh (Morocco), the Archaeological Siteof Cyrene, the Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus, the Old
Town of Ghadames (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Al Qal'a of
Beni Hammad and Timgad (Algeria), the Medina of Tunis(Tunisia), the Old City of Sana’a and the Old Walled Cityof Shibam (Yemen). The threats that induce thesechanges will be assessed in a subsequent section of thischapter. Despite these threats, there was no mention ofirreversible loss of value likely to trigger a process ofdelisting of some of these properties, even the mostthreatened.

32

However, some changes affecting properties were cause
for concern. For instance, the property manager of theAlgerian property of Tipasa requested that the property
be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
with the launching of an adequate safeguarding campaign due to illicit construction and to the deteriorationof the site. Tipasa was indeed added to the List of World
Heritage in Danger on June 28, 2002.
Occasionally, a combination of positive and negative factors were reported on the same property, creating bothfavourable conditions for the maintenance of values andnegative conditions which have the potential to develop
into real threats to the property. This situation of imbalance or instability could be observed in the majority ofsites.
Despite the existence of these threats, 87% of theauthors of the reports judged that the values underwhich the sites were inscribed on the World Heritage
List had been maintained although some modifications
to the authenticity/integrity of the properties had occurred. Although most of the changes described remainedminor, this only underlined the need to analyse theircause in order to evaluate and counter any potential
negative consequences to the preservation of the property and to prevent the development of these threats.

2 Management
inscribed

oftheproperties

The preservation of the values described in the statement of significance at the time of inscription of theproperty on the World Heritage List is conditional uponadequate management of the World Heritage proper-Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Levelties. Management includes the establishment andimplementation of effective protective legislation at
the national, provincial or municipal level, the maintaining of contractual or traditional protection, andthe development of appropriate conservation andmonitoring policies for each of the property concerned. The following set of questions allowed an assessment of the management systems in place at the site
level.

2

2.1. Legal and institutional framework
The adequate preservation of World Heritage requires theexistence of adapted legislation and capable responsible
institutions within each of the States Parties, designed
according to the needs of each of the properties. In the
Periodic Reports, property managers were invited to comment on existing legislation and to assess the effectiveness of the management mechanisms.

2.1. Legal and institutional framework
Legal and institutional framework

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Is the property inscribed within an effective legal or institutionalframework, including contractual or traditional protection, specificmanagement mechanisms and/or planning control?

39

0

0

100%

Are there any measures foreseen for the preservation of values
described in the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value?

35

0

4

90%

According to the answers received for this set of questions, all properties were inscribed within a legal and/or
institutional framework defining both the legal status of
the property and the management plan for the preservation of its World Heritage value. However, the answers
betrayed some confusion perhaps due to the phrasing of
the question in the Periodic Reporting questionnaire. The
responses faithfully described the legal framework inplace but offered no evaluation of the effectiveness of theexisting measures. One must recall that the Arab Region
was the first to undergo the Periodic Reporting exercise,
which may account for much of the occasional confusion
or lack of clarity of the questions.
The information received provided a survey of the legal
statuses of the properties. In most cases, the archaeological sites are the property of the State although they areoccasionally privately held. On the contrary, in the case ofhistoric cities, ownership is shared between private, State,regions and communities and, often, religious authorities or Waqf (endowment). The State is responsible both
directly and indirectly for the protection, management
and planning through specialised organisms or stateministries. Occasionally, the responsibility for heritage
may be shared with local authorities and communities,
especially for historic urban centres. Thus, in addition to
the national law for Antiquities and Museums, the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List can also beprotected by safeguarding measures at the local andcommunity level in the framework of development andurban plans.
Progress was reported on some aspects of the legislative
framework related to the preservation of World Heritage
properties, and general efforts to enhance legislation
were noted. In Tunisia, legislation was improved with the

Heritage Code (1994), comprising safeguarding clauses
for historic cities, with specific statutes and protective
measures. The new Algerian Law of 1998 also constituted
an important progress in comparison to earlier legislation.
However, some reports noted that conflicts of authority
had arisen during decision-making and the elaboration ofcommon strategies. They reported a lack of cooperation
between all levels of the relevant authorities hampering
preservation efforts.
Thirty-five properties (90%) announced that measures
had been undertaken for the preservation of the values
for which the properties were inscribed on the World
Heritage List. Reports showed that the authors wereclearly aware of the need to elaborate management
plans, but the persons responsible for the heritage did
not always have tangible knowledge of their terms andconditions and the means to elaborate and implement
them. The measures stated included legal steps, restoration and presentation programmes, studies for future
management plans, and global strategies for safeguarding, economic integration and tourism development.
These measures were implemented through tangible
and permanent actions including strengthening ofguards and control of the access to the property, as well
as systematic actions for restoration, rehabilitation andpresentation.
The answers received regarding the legal and institutional framework for the preservation of heritage demonstrated that site managers were well aware of the importance of legislation for the correct management of theproperties although the means of implementation
varied. The plans for management, safeguarding andpresentation were, for the most part, described as envisaged or under preparation.

33

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

2.2. Management and planningManagement and planning are fundamental elementsof the preservation of properties and the values forwhich they were inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Through the following set of questions, the site mana-

gers were invited to recall the changes that have occurred since the inscription, and to provide information on
the level at which the management of the site was
exercised and on the existence and nature of management plans for each property.

2.2. Management and planningManagement and planning

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Have any notable changes occurred since the inscription in relation to:
1-Type of ownership
2-Legal status
3-Protection measures
4-Boundaries
5-Resources made available

8
8
18
8
14

12
9
6
11
3

19
22
15
20
22

21%
21%
46%
21%
36%

Is management organised at:
6-the site level
7-the local level
8-the central administration level

19
9
14

1
1
0

19
29
25

49%
23%
36%

6

1

32

15%

8
17
15
9

6
3
4

31
16
21
26

21%
44%
38%
23%

The most common changes regarding management andplanning at the site level concerned protection measures,in 46% of cases, and the resources made available forthe protection and conservation of the site (36%). Otherchanges involved the boundaries, the type of ownershipand the legal status of the property, in 21% of cases respectively. In the majority of cases, the replies reflected adecrease in available resources, and a critical lack offunds. Only Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia reported an
improvement in the resources available, and the Bancd’Arguin National Park declared that government funding had almost doubled from 1999 to 2000.
In Algeria, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic, expropriation or legal measures had been undertaken for abetter definition of the limits of the properties or the
buffer zones. The Ancient City of Bosra and the Site of
Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic), for instance, witnessed
numerous expropriations. However, several privatisationsof properties were also reported, such as in the Old
Walled City of Shibam (Yemen). Improvements regarding
the legal status of sites were mentioned by Tunisia (theSite of Carthage), the Syrian Arab Republic (reinforcement of protection measures), and Algeria (creation of
the 1998 law). Byblos and Baalbek (Lebanon), theAncient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic), Petra(Jordan) and the Medina of Fez (Morocco), also noted
municipal measures to increase control of construction
permits.

34

Some authors provided documentation to complete theiranswers concerning legal texts or relevant management,
conservation, or development plans. Morocco, Lebanon,
Yemen and Tunisia provided legal texts while others,
such as the Medina of Fez, the Medina of Marrakesh(Morocco), Islamic Cairo (Egypt), and Jordanian and
Yemeni properties attached documentation on conservation, and tourism development plans.
The documentation provided revealed that several management plans were being envisaged or in the process of© UNESCO

Is the author of the periodic report aware of any relevant
documentation, such as:
1-Legal texts,
2-Management plans and/or work plans (annual) for site
administration and management
3-Conservation plan
4-Authority plans (national, local, regional)
5-Tourism development plan?

Inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1987, Bahla Fort
(Sultanate of Oman) is being carefully restored. A management plan is
also being prepared to control development in the surrounding oasis.

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

being designed. These include plans, occasionally specific to a property, for restoration, presentation, the setting up of new local management and monitoring structures. Examples cited included management plans fordevelopment and urbanism in Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad,
Timgad and Djemila (Algeria), with a permanent safeguarding plan for the latter; conservation measures inMemphis and its Necropolis (Egypt), and Byblos(Lebanon); a rehabilitation study in Baalbek and Tyre
(Lebanon); a risk-preparedness map in Islamic Cairo(Egypt); a development plan at the Ksar of Ait Ben
Haddou, the Medina of Fez (Morocco) and the Site ofCarthage (Tunisia), and a tourism development plan in
Anjar (Lebanon).
The answers received for this set of questions revealed
general concern regarding management and planning at
the site level, despite some very positive changes such as
the reinforcement of protection measures and legal sta-2

tuses for some properties. However, a majority of sites
reported a lack of funds for the implementation of management plans and a decrease in available resources as will
be further discussed in Chapter III.
2.3. Management plan of the site
A management plan, usually adopted for a period of fiveto ten years, is a fundamental instrument designed toorganise the conservation of properties and to orchestrate development and preservation measures specific to theneeds of each property. Managers were requested toassess the effectiveness of the management plan of theirproperties, with regards to the legal and financial aspects
of preservation, consultation with the population, cooperation with relevant organisms and institutions, the development of training and monitoring, and the definition ofpriorities in relation to the various uses of the property(tourism, etc.).

2.3. Management plan of the site and statement of the objectives
Management plan of the site and statement of the objectives

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Does a functional management plan exist?
• Is it under preparation or being updated?

6
20

19
7

14
12

15%
51%

Does the management plan:• involve consultation with the local population;• take into account existing human resources;• take into account existent funding resources;• include the problem of staff training;• take into account zoning and multiple uses of the property;• take into account defined buffer zone;• include regular monitoring activities of the property?

9
14
19
14
18
22
23

17
15

13
10
20

25
11
7
4

10
10
12

23%
36%
49%
36%
46%
56%
59%

Is the local population involved in the implementation of
the management plan?

13

10

16

33%

This set of questions revealed that a total of 76% of properties had developed a management plan described aseither completed or, in the majority of cases, in the process of being prepared or updated. However, management plans were operational in only 15% of cases, including the Archaeological Site of Cyrene, theArchaeological Site of Sabratha, and the ArchaeologicalSite of Leptis Magna (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), the M’Zab
Valley (Algeria) and the Banc d’Arguin National Park
(Mauritania). Occasionally, reports mentioned the existence of a management plan for one aspect of the site, andthe preparation of one or several other plans related toother aspects. The report for the M’Zab Valley, forexample, indicated that a management plan existed for
Ksar d’El-Atteuf, and that three more preservation plans
were under preparation for the Ksar of Bounoura, theKsar of Ghardaia and the Ksar of Melika. Management
plans were only succinctly described. This lack of precisionin the answers reflected some misunderstanding in thedefinition of the objectives, methods and means of actionof Management Plans, perhaps due to the fact that, in
51% of cases, these plans were still in the process of
being prepared, updated, or modified, and were therefore incomplete.
Most reports mentioned that managers had experienced
difficulties -sometimes overwhelming- in the drafting of
the management plan, regarding the technical, legal,financial, methodological aspects of its preparation. Suchdifficulties hampered the elaboration of management
plans in the Medina of Tunis, Kairouan (Tunisia), theAncient City of Damascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo(Syrian Arab Republic), the Old City of Sana’a, the Old
Walled City of Shibam (Yemen). Several States Parties called for bilateral cooperation or assistance through UNESCO, the UNDP and other international organisms.
The answers received showed that the Conservation
Services and property managers often lack communication policies and capacities as regards the links with the35

2Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

According to the information received, several sourcescome into play to finance preservation programmes ofWorld Heritage sites. They include national contributions
from the state budget, usually through the ministries ofCulture, complemented by the provincial and local authorities, especially for properties situated in heavily populated
and/or predominantly urban areas. Some additional income is provided by Associations, Foundations and private
individuals, or by foreign missions engaged in historicaland archaeological research and excavations. However,these sources are sporadic and irregular. With the exception of Bahla Fort, the authors of the Periodic Reports
agreed that financial resources were highly insufficient.

different local actors and concerned parties. This is all themore a reason for concern as the governments and otherlocal institutions play a very important role in the management of most of the World Heritage properties by
being, in certain cases, directly involved in the conservation activities. Sometimes, the relationships between
these local institutions and the Conservation Services
were even described as conflictual.
Site managers were also requested to assess the involvement of the population in the implementation of management plans. The consultation of the local population for
the elaboration of management plans did not appear as
common practise since only 23% of reports declared that
populations had been consulted, and the local population
was directly involved in the implementation of the management plan in only 33% of cases. The population was
therefore only rarely involved in conservation and presentation actions, notably as regards historic cities.

Management income, such as entrance fees, was alsomentioned in several reports including Islamic Cairo, theNubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae (Egypt),
Quseir Amra, Petra (Jordan), the Archaeological Site ofCyrene, and the Archaeological Site of Sabratha (Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya). In Algeria, (Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad,
Timgad, Djemila, Tipasa), management income was said
to be transferred to the National Agency for the Protectionof Historic Sites and Monuments (ANAPSMH), while, in
Tunisia, it went to the National Agency for Heritage andCultural Development and was invested in projects related
to heritage and cultural development.

The answers received for these questions revealed that sitemanagers had understood the importance of developing
adequate management mechanisms. Management plans
had been drafted for a majority of properties and were in
the process of being implemented or updated to meet theneeds of the sites, despite some shortcomings and occasional obstacles identified by the authors, which still
remain to be solved.

Although, with the exception of Yemen and Mauritania,
no figures were provided to evaluate the real budget
levels, a majority of reports stressed the fact that the inscription of these sites on the World Heritage List had not
significantly contributed to the mobilisation of substantial
budgets for their preservation at the national level. These
reports demonstrated that the scarcity of financial sources
remained a considerable handicap in the development of
a conservation strategy as repeatedly mentioned in Section
I and Section II reports.

2.4. Capacities in financial and human resources atthe property level© UNESCO/Claude Michel

While the previous set of answers demonstrated general
concern amongst the authors of the reports regarding
financial resources available for the elaboration and implementation of their management plans, this section allowed a more specific assessment of the capacities in humanand financial resources at the property level. Site managers
were requested to give specific details on human resources
including staff training needs, fields in which training isrequired, and financial resources, including managementgenerated income and other funding sources related tosite management.

The preservation and restoration of World Heritage properties
requires the knowledge and skills of experts from various disciplines.

36

Answers received for the question on human resources
engaged in management activities included several complaints concerning the insufficient level of training for personnel as well as the number of staff available. In a majority of cases the expertise required for the protection andconservation of World Heritage properties was insufficientat the local level. The Directorates of Antiquities, Heritage
Institutes and specialised National Agencies cooperatewith the national universities, research and professional
training institutes and laboratories in the country to
respond to the need for ongoing or occasional training.
Specialised institutes for heritage sciences and techniques
remained rare in the Arab World and usually failed tocover all the fields of preservation or to respond to theneeds of property personnel. This explains in part the difficulties encountered in the accomplishment of preservation projects at the site level, including the most basic
conservation tasks.
Eighty-five per cent of the reports provided details on thenumber of professional staff (architects, archaeologists,

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

administrators...) and non-supervisory personnel, formaintenance, control and surveillance. A majority ofauthors stressed the need to increase the staff and personnel numbers judged insufficient, and reported a needto multiply training schemes to improve professional qualifications. Only the report received from Bahla Fort described its personnel as satisfactory in both numbers andcompetence.

wooden, earthen, plaster, constructions, mosaics, ceramics, and work managers. Requests for short-term training included seminars, round-table refresher courses
for local staff or the training of young recruits, but several reports also called for long-term training programmes. However, only few reports clearly evaluatedthe number of professionals to be trained at short-,
medium- or long term.

The answers received conveyed a wish for training andtechnical assistance in several fields including heritage
sciences and techniques for the conservation of monuments, land and underwater excavation techniques,urban and/or property management, maintenance, presentation and exploitation of properties, computer skills
and documentation, and legal matters. Most reports
indicated the need for training of high-level techniciansin restoration of monuments and objects: stone masons,

2.5. Cooperation on protection/conservation

2

In this section, property managers were requested toprovide information on external sources of assistanceor existing programmes regarding funding, training,protection and conservation, technical assistance, andon forms of bilateral cooperation at the local andnational levels.

2.5. Additional information concerning protection and conservation
Additional information concerning protection and conservation

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Has the property benefited from external assistance concerning:
1-Sources of expertise and training techniques;
2-Protection measures and implementation means;
3-Established local programmes;
4-Policies and programmes for safeguarding the site;
5-Funding (origin, amount)?

23
24
19
21
18

6
1
2
4
2

13
14
18
14
19

59%
62%
49%
54%
46%

Has the property benefited from:
1-Technical assistance through United Nations system;
2-Technical assistance provided by bilateral cooperation?

22
20

6
5

11
14

56%
51%

This section of the Periodic Reporting exercise revealed thatsite managers were concerned with the urgent need forthe strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation
amongst States Parties, including additional multilateral
staff training programmes.
Several training programmes have been developed torespond to this need for increased expertise, such as thethree long-term training courses in the Medina of Tunis(Tunisia), Algiers (Algeria), and Rabat (Morocco), organised
by ICCROM, in collaboration with UNESCO (WHC) andother organisations, foundations or European institutions,designed to train architects and specialised scientific personnel from the Maghreb Region in restoration and conservation techniques. These courses are exemplary and could
be multiplied and developed in order to offer specialised
training courses adapted to the various fields of preservation. Several authors mentioned international funding andassistance provided by the World Bank, UN agencies suchas UNESCO and UNDP, Arab Fund for Economic and Social
Development (FADES), Arab Cities Organisation.
Occasionally, the local authorities responsible for the heritage may request technical and scientific assistance, either

through bilateral or multilateral programmes. Such collaboration and assistance were at the origin of successful international preservation campaigns in the Site of Carthage(Tunisia), the Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to
Philae (Egypt), the Old City of Sana'a (Yemen) and Tyre
(Lebanon). These campaigns have not only contributed tothe safeguarding of these World Heritage properties, butalso increased awareness of World Heritage values within
the Arab Region. Other fruitful cooperation programmes
included bilateral agreements and partnerships, or multilateral programmes with France, Italy, Germany, the United
Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States etc. Some authors
reiterated their interest in developing training opportunities
within the framework of bilateral and multilateral relations,especially with Europe.
On average, the reports demonstrated that regional cooperation for conservation remained still very limited. However,some exceptions were reported. Thus, productive cooperation has existed for many years between the Sultanate of
Oman and Morocco, which allowed the restoration ofseveral Omani monuments, including Bahla Fort, throughcooperation programmes.

37

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

Answers received for this set of questions highlighted theexistence of a network of multilateral partnerships achieved through cooperation programmes with international
institutions or foreign countries. The reports showed thatthe regional cooperation programmes were few but fruitful, and could perhaps be multiplied.
2.6. Scientific, technical and educational studies
Research in the scientific and technical fields is acentral tool of management allowing the identifica-tion of the needs of properties and the designing ofadequate protection measures. In parallel, educational activities addressed to young people or to thegeneral public must be developed to increase popular awareness and the transmission of World
Heritage values. Site managers were invited toassess the efficiency of ongoing studies and activities in these two areas, as well as the means andfacilities available, and the response of the local
population.

2.6. Scientific, technical and educational studies
Scientific, technical and educational studies

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Has the property hosted scientific studies?

8

30

1

21%

Has the property hosted research/development programmes?

20

12

7

51%

Have new management techniques been applied to the property,
including computer equipment, electronic mail, Internet access and GIS?

8

30

1

21%

Are educational activities offered at the property level, including school
visits, educational programmes targeted at schools, environmental
education policy, or education policy for Cultural Heritage-themes?

34

1

4

87%

Are efforts made to promote public information targeted at both the
public at large and the local residents?

34

4

1

87%

Are efforts made to promote awareness-raising and the transmissionof WH values to residents and visitors?

3

35

1

8%

The answers received regarding the scientific studies carried out at World Heritage sites, and the existing research
projects and programmes, did not appear to reflect reality as such projects are known to be more numerous thanadmitted. Negative answers were received from properties known to have been the object of reports or development programmes such as the Medina of Fez, the Siteof Carthage, Qusaïr Amra, etc. The authors of the reports
may simply not have been aware of programmes thatwere perhaps undertaken before their taking office. In
fact, only few reports referred to scientific studies carriedout on the properties, while most mention only expert
missions. A majority of the authors of the Periodic
Reports agreed that the lack of human resources andscientific materials hampered efforts to undertake suchstudies, and called for the development of bilateral
cooperation as a solution to these shortcomings.
Several scientific studies were undertaken through bilateral cooperation. In Lebanon, for instance, Tyre hosted six
research programmes, while three more were undertaken
in Byblos and Baalbek in cooperation with the Institut
Français d’Archeologie du Proche-Orient (IFAPO). In
Algeria, a study of the irrigation system, and a program-38

me of archaeological research using geophysical and seismic methods, were undertaken in Al Qal'a of Beni
Hammad and Tipasa, respectively. Further research programmes were cited concerning biodiversity and hydrology studies in Petra (Jordan), and research on amphitheatres in the Amphitheatre of El Jem (Tunisia).
According to the Periodic Reports, new information
management techniques such as computerised management, data-bases, use of electronic mail, access toInternet or GIS, remained at an embryonic stage. Whilemost sites possessed computer equipment, no real computer databases had yet been set up. Byblos and Anjar(Lebanon), the Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania),
the M'Zab Valley (Algeria) and Kairouan (Tunisia) possessed electronic mail. The Banc d'Arguin National Park
(Mauritania), Islamic Cairo and Memphis, and its
Necropolis (Egypt) reported that GIS was being installed.
GIS was also under consideration at Bahla Fort (Oman).
Site managers were also requested to provide information
on educational activities aimed at school children, andawareness-raising campaigns targeted at the public atlarge. The responses received regarding the educational

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

activities and awareness-raising campaigns confirmed theinformation received in Section I reports that these werelargely insufficient and that efforts should be made bynational authorities to encourage information and communication programmes.
No property presented any real educational activities
addressed to young people, besides the occasional mentioning of school visits. Statistics concerning the numberof school visits and students are scarce. Such visits may beseasonal such as in the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou(Morocco); may number several hundred individuals in
Hatra (Iraq) or several thousands in the M'Zab Valley(Algeria); may even be sporadic in the Ancient City ofDamascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo, the site of
Palmyra, or the Ancient City of Bosra (Syrian Arab
Republic), the Old City of Sana'a and the Old Walled Cityof Shibam (Yemen) or inexistent in Islamic Cairo,
Memphis and its Necropolis, Ancient Thebes, Abu Mena
(Egypt) or the Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania).
On average, the remaining educational programmes andthe awareness-raising policies for environment and heritage mentioned correspond to the normal national education programmes. Most authors of the Periodic Reports
understood the need to establish and promote such programmes. Islamic Cairo, Memphis and its Necropolis, andAncient Thebes (Egypt), for instance, mentioned theirwish to cooperate with international authorities on suchmatters.
Several reports cited actions for the promotion of
information for the general public and for the streng-2

thening of public awareness, indicating that property
managers were well aware of the need to promote dialogue with the local population. Most reports mentioned the use of the media (radio, T.V., newspapers), andcooperation with the national authorities and specialised national institutions to facilitate the disseminationof information through guides, brochures, short documentaries, scientific publications, exhibitions, conferences, congresses, and festivals. Other actions included Internet resources, such as Tipasa (Algeria) which
possesses a Web page. Local associations for the
defence of World Heritage properties may also be
involved in awareness-raising programmes -such as theassociation for the Safeguarding of the Medina in
Tunisia- and whose influence vary from one property to
the next.
The reports demonstrated that not all authors had
understood the importance of research for the designing of management programmes targeted at the
specific needs of each property. In most cases researchstudies were hampered by lack of means, not lack ofwant. Similarly, educational activities and awarenessraising campaigns remained scarce or limited in scope.
2.7. Facilities, tourism and promotion
This section aimed at assessing the effects of inscription on the World Heritage List in terms of sustainable
tourism development at the property level. Property
managers were requested to provide details on visitor
facilities, and on promotion and presentation efforts.

2.7. Facilities, tourism and promotion
Facilities, tourism and promotion

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Does the property:• hold a World Heritage plaque;• host events and exhibitions?

15
7

17
2

7
30

38%
18%

Does the property have:• information/interpretation centres for visitors;• a Site Museum;• discovery trails;• hotel structures;• a parking lot;
• convenience areas;• first aid centres?

17
20
10
26
29
24
22

13
9
9
2
2
2
6

9
10
20
11
8
13
11

44%
51%
26%
67%
74%
62%
56%

Is information material available?

25

2

12

64%

Does the property host:• Open house days;• Communication actions?

11
23

8
7

20
9

28%
59%

Is there a need to revise tourism-related legal and administrative
measures for the property?

11

20

8

28%

39

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

The answers provided to the above questions demonstrated that properties were not yet fully equipped with thenecessary facilities for the promotion of the heritage andthe reception of visitors. Only 38% of sites mentioned theexistence of a World Heritage logo, and very few sites
have appropriate signposts announcing access to a site
listed as World Heritage. According to these reports theinscription of the property on the World Heritage List had
only little effect on multiplying information and awareness-raising activities at the local level, or on developing
the receptivity of the local population to World Heritage
values. Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad (Algeria) judged World
Heritage listing "positive" regarding the multiplication of
information and awareness-raising activities at the local
level. Similarly, it was judged "very beneficial" at theMedina of Tunis (Tunisia) and reportedly, "drew a greaternumber of visitors" at the Archaeological Site of Leptis
Magna (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) and the M'Zab Valley(Algeria).

and Abu Mena (Egypt). Revision was underway in Ancient
Thebes (Egypt). Reports from Bahla Fort (Oman), Baalbek(Lebanon), the Amphitheatre of El Jem, the Punic Town of
Kerkuane and its Necropolis (Tunisia) or Quseir Amra
(Jordan) indicated that no such revisions were necessary. In
fact, serious conservation/restoration work and presentation
had been carried out since their inscription -and sometimes
well before inscription- and consequently fundamental
changes in the institutional and legal framework were notrequired.
The Periodic Reports indicated that the benefits to be reaped from World Heritage inscription in terms of tourism andsocial and economic development, had not been
capitalised, or perhaps fully grasped. World Heritage Listing
seemed to be considered a constraint entailing additional
expenses, rather than as a source of development andemployment. Properties were yet to be considered within
the framework of a sustainable development policy, in
addition to short-term, seasonal or sporadic activities suchas tourism. Occasionally, the presentation of properties tothe visitors may have been undertaken by organisations
other than the conservation services, which entailed a lackof coordination and gave rise to an inadequate distributionof resources that failed to reflect the true needs at the property level.

Reportedly, visitor facilities and site management werestill inadequate to handle the effects of tourism.
Information/interpretation centres for visitors were available
in 44% of cases, and 51% of properties possessed a
museum, but information and communication material
were still described as insufficient. Parking lots and hotel
structures had been built in 67% and 74% of properties respectively, and most sites declared that the building of further visitor facilities or discovery trails and the creation of
information material, were under consideration or preparation. The Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania) reported
fruitful efforts to promote the safeguarding of the heritage
through local, national and international promotion campaigns and festivals.

3 Factors affecting the property
Several factors may negatively affect World Heritage properties and jeopardise their preservation. These include economic development, environmental pressures, natural catastrophes, and social factors linked to tourism or to local
human activities. These factors, whether representing aminor impact or a serious threat to the integrity of the property, are to be fully assessed in order to allow the adoptionof preventive or protection measures. Site managers wereinvited to evaluate the impact of changes or threats to thevisual, structural or functional integrity of the heritage.

© UNESCO/Michel Claude

Twenty-eight per cent of reports stressed a need to revise
legal and administrative measures relating to tourism. The
report from Timgad (Algeria) insisted that a global revisionof these measures was necessary due to the absence of anational conservation policy and of a clear definition of theroles and competencies of the institutions involved inconservation. The report also called for increased budgets
taking into account management needs. The same situation
was recorded in Islamic Cairo, Memphis and its Necropolis,

Site museums are an important aspect of promotion, both in terms of attracting tourism and increasing awareness of the local population to
the values and richness of World Heritage sites. The above pictures show fine examples of wall paintings at the museum of Sabratha and asculpture of Diana the Huntress at the site museum of Leptis Magna (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya).

40© UNESCO/E. Barrios

2Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

3.1. Degree of threat linked to development and to
the environment
The preservation of World Heritage depends on the maintaining of a fragile equilibrium between human needs andactivities, including the spread of urbanisation, industries2

and related infrastructures, and the maintaining of World
Heritage standards indispensable for the protection andsafeguarding of properties. In this section, authors wererequested to report on the impact of development on theproperties, and to assess the risk of natural catastrophes
affecting the heritage.

3.1. Degree of threat linked to development and to the environment
Degree of threat linked to development and to the environment

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Is the property subject to development pressures affecting its:
• Visual aspect/integrity;• Structural aspect/integrity;• Ability to function (functional integrity)?

23
21
10

5
5
14

11
13
15

59%
54%
26%

Is the property subject to environmental constraints affecting its:
• Visual aspect/integrity;• Structural aspect/integrity;• Functional integrity?

6
6
5

13
13
11

20
20
23

15%
15%
13%

Could natural catastrophes affect the integrity of the site?

26

7

6

67%

The Periodic Reports demonstrated that the authorities
responsible for the heritage at the property level were largely concerned by the effects of development on thevisual and structural integrity of the properties, in 59%
and 54% of cases respectively. Amongst the factors affecting the visual integrity of the site, the reports often mentioned illegal constructions and the deterioration of natural landscapes surrounding the properties.
Urban pressure and illegal constructions were reported
around Bahla Fort (Oman) and the Site of Carthage(Tunisia), and within the World Heritage properties of
Byblos, Anjar, Baalbek, Tyre (Lebanon), Tipasa, the M'Zab
Valley, the Kasbah of Algiers (Algeria), Islamic Cairo, andMemphis and its Necropolis (Egypt), affecting not only thevisual integrity of the properties but also, potentially, thepreservation of the values for which they were inscribedon the World Heritage List. Other properties reportedchanges to the visual integrity of the sites including in the
Medina of Marrakesh (Morocco) and the ArchaeologicalSite of Sabratha (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya); the deterioration of gardens within and/or around the site in the
Medina of Marrakesh (Morocco), the M'Zab Valley, theKasbah of Algiers (Algeria), the Old City of Sana'a and the
Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen); or even the spoilingof fallow land with rubbish around the Site of Carthage(Tunisia) and several properties in Algeria.
A majority of reports mentioned threats to the functional
integrity of properties. Poorly integrated infrastructure
were the most commonly cited, and involved the spreading of automobile and motor traffic within the site, thebuilding of new roads or motorways, and the degradationof networks in Baalbek (Lebanon), Quseir Amra (Jordan),the Site of Carthage, the Medina of Tunis (Tunisia), theAncient City of Aleppo, the Ancient City of Bosra, the Siteof Palmyra, the Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab
Republic), Islamic Cairo, Memphis and its Necropolis,
Ancient Thebes (Egypt), the Old City of Sana'a, and the
Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen). Threats of fires due
to human activities were reported in the Ancient City ofDamascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian Arab
Republic), the Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya), the Old Walled City of Shibam (Yemen), theMedina of Fez (Morocco), Byblos (Lebanon), and the
Kasbah of Algiers (Algeria). Other reports mentioned the
problem of illegal settlements on properties such as in
Petra (Jordan), Ancient Thebes, Memphis and its
Necropolis (Egypt), and the Ancient City of Bosra (Syrian
Arab Republic).

Like all World Heritage properties located in or nearby great cities,
the ksour of the M’Zab Valley (Algeria) have to face up to thepressures of urbanisation and growing demography.

41

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

The most preoccupying threats linked to development
and urbanisation concerned polluting industrial activities, such as air pollution in Ancient Thebes (Egypt); thedevelopment of industries in the areas of the Ancient
City of Damascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo (Syrian
Arab Republic), the Medina of Marrakesh, the Medina
of Fez (Morocco), and the Kasbah of Algiers (Algeria).
The activities of oil companies in the Rock-Art Sites of
Tadrart Acacus (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) were also considered as threatening the property. Other threats werelinked to the spreading of local economic activities, suchas the 'soukisation' or the development of arts andcrafts shops or other traditional commercial activities in
the Old City of Sana'a (Yemen), the Medina of Fez(Morocco), the Medina of Tunis (Tunisia), and Byblos(Lebanon). The Archaeological Site of Cyrene also reported the occasional use of the property by the population
for cattle grazing.
Multiple threats related to the environment werereported in various properties. Although the impact ofenvironmental threats may, at first sight, be lessobvious to observers, these natural factors may, in thelong term, affect and endanger the preservation ofproperties. Commonly cited natural factors affecting
heritage, for instance, include wind erosion in the Siteof Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic) and Petra (Jordan);sand storms in the Old Town of Ghadames and theArchaeological Site of Sabratha (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya); desertification, the drying up of springs,
and climate changes in the Archaeological Site of
Leptis Magna, the Old Town of Ghadames (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya), the Site of Palmyra, and the Banc d'Arguin
National Park (Mauritania); and the loss of animal species affecting the biodiversity of properties in Quseir
Amra (Jordan) and the Banc d'Arguin National Park
(Mauritania).

The Periodic Reports listed several potential natural
catastrophes that may affect properties, or had affected
them in the past. Earthquakes threaten the Kasbah of
Algiers (Algeria), the Medina of Fez (Morocco), Petra(Jordan), Byblos (Lebanon), the Site of Palmyra, theAncient City of Damascus, the Ancient City of Aleppo,
and the Ancient City of Bosra (Syrian Arab Republic).
Other natural catastrophes cited involved violent rains
and floods in the Archaeological Site of Cyrene (Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya), the Old City of Sana'a, the Old Walled
City of Shibam (Yemen), Kairouan (Tunisia); land slides inPetra (Jordan), Anjar (Lebanon), the M'Zab Valley(Algeria); waves against cliffs in the Punic Town of
Kerkuane and its Necropolis (Tunisia); cliff rock falls in theKsar of Ait Ben Haddou (Morocco); erosion and corrosion
by sea water in the Archaeological Site of Sabratha, theArchaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya); and droughts in the Medina of Marrakesh,
and the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (Morocco).
The answers received concerning threats likely to affect
the World Heritage properties for the Arab Region revealed that these threats were numerous and varied. Regularassessments are necessary to develop protection measures and minimise their impact on the properties.
3.2. Degree of threat linked to the development of
tourism and to local human activities
Human activities often represent the greatest threat tothe preservation of heritage, and are at the root of manyfactors of modification at the property level. Threats may
originate from demographic growth or from the pressure of tourism in and around the property, affecting
conservation in various ways. Site managers were invited
to assess the impact of threats posed by these humanactivities on the state of conservation of the properties.

3.2. Threats linked to external and local human activities
Threats linked to external and local human activities

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Is the preservation of the property affected by the pressure of tourism?

11

17

11

28%

Are statistics available regarding the number of visitors?

34

1

4

87%

Has the local population been evaluated in terms of numbers, thedistribution of human habitat, cultural and socio-economic
characteristics, threats and insecurity?

25

0

14

64%

14

0

25

36%

Were measures undertaken to counter these threats at
the property level?

23

5

11

59%

Has the tendency/impact of these factors been evaluated?

15

12

12

38%

Are there other factors linked to human activity affecting
the property?

Several reports, such as the Ancient City of Bosra (Syrian
Arab Republic), Baalbek, (Lebanon) the Punic Town of
Kerkuane and its Necropolis (Tunisia), Timgad, and Tipasa(Algeria) recorded their concern over the effects of the
trampling of vestiges by visitors. This type of damage is42

indicative of the lack of tourist facilities, such as the absence of visitor circuits and discovery trails, which was noted
earlier. Uncontrolled access to the properties may cause
erosion, overcrowding, damage, and render protection,conservation and monitoring more difficult.

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

However, local human activities were judged a more important threat to the preservation of heritage than the pressure of tourism. Thirty-six per cent of reports claimed that
local human activity entailed negative effects on conservation. The report from the M'Zab Valley (Algeria) recorded
the development of illicit construction or modification ofexisting structures in or around the property. Other factors
cited included the illicit use of properties for the grazing of
cattle, and the existence of poaching and illicit fishing.
Similarly, vandalism, looting, and thefts were reported in
the Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus, the ArchaeologicalSite of Cyrene (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Hatra (Iraq), theMedina of Fez (Morocco), Baalbek, Anjar (Lebanon), Al
Qal'a of Beni Hammad, Timgad, and Tipasa (Algeria).
Several properties witnessed an increase in local insecurity,
such as Hatra (Iraq), Baalbek, and Anjar (Lebanon).
Complaints concerning the presence of waste and rubbish
in or around properties emanated from Islamic Cairo,
Memphis and its Necropolis (Egypt), Petra (Jordan), the Old
Walled City of Shibam, the Old City of Sana'a (Yemen), theAncient City of Bosra, the Ancient City of Aleppo, theAncient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic), Byblos,Anjar, Baalbek, Tyre (Lebanon), Timgad, Tipasa (Algeria),
the Medina of Tunis, the Site of Carthage (Tunisia), andQuseir Amra (Jordan).
Several reports had adopted specific measures designed tocounter these threats to the properties. The Ancient City of
Aleppo, the Ancient City of Damascus (Syrian Arab
Republic), Byblos (Lebanon) announced the adoption of
measures to prevent fire. Similarly, the Medina of Marrakesh(Morocco) claimed that it had taken measures to halt deforestation in the oasis. Petra (Jordan), Baalbek (Lebanon), theArchaeological Site of Leptis Magna (Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya), Kairouan (Tunisia) and Ancient Thebes (Egypt)announced increased protection against flooding. The renovation of existing networks was under way in the Old Cityof Sana'a (Yemen), and efforts were undertaken to reduce
automobile traffic in the Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab
Republic) and Petra (Jordan). Djemila, and Tipasa (Algeria)stressed their desire for an increased control of constructions
and for a more rigorous application of legislation.
In order to be effective, these measures must be based on
a careful study of demographic pressure. Sixty-four per cent2of reports provided details on the population, including
approximate figures. In most cases, the figures cited had
not been updated for several years and the analysis of thesocial background indicated that no serious studies had
been undertaken in the recent past regarding the socioeconomic context of local populations.
Similarly, measures were adopted to monitor tourism andreduce the negative effects of visitors on the preservationof properties. Surveillance was being strengthened in Hatra(Iraq), Petra (Jordan), the Amphitheatre of El Jem and thePunic Town of Kerkuane and its Necropolis (Tunisia). Quseir
Amra (Jordan) and Tyre (Lebanon) pledged a better control
of tourism-related activities. The Punic Town of Kerkuane
and its Necropolis (Tunisia), the Archaeological Site of
Sabratha and the Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna(Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) announced specific efforts to
reduce trampling.
In conclusion, the answers received regarding threats linked
to the development of tourism and local human activities
demonstrated that site managers had, for the most part,
understood the importance of identifying and countering
these threats through adequate protection measures.
Adequate monitoring techniques are necessary to assess
the impact of these threats on conservation.

4 Monitoring and preventive conservation
Numerous factors may hamper conservation efforts andgenerate irreversible degradation to the properties. The
monitoring of the impact of these threats on the state ofpreservation of the properties, and the corresponding design of preventive conservation programmes where applicable, are therefore essential. The following set of questions focused on the site managers’ assessment of the efficiency of monitoring systems at the site level.
4.1. Regular monitoring
The regular monitoring of the state of conservation of theheritage is a means of ensuring that the values for which
they were inscribed on the World Heritage List have been
maintained over time, and is essential to plan the appropriate conservation measures that might be required.

4.1. Regular monitoring
Regular monitoring

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Are regular monitoring activities undertaken on the property regarding
the flora and vegetation, the local fauna, the landscape, constructions,buildings and cities?

33

3

3

85%

Are key indicators used to assess the situation at the property level?

21

6

12

54%

Have monitoring activities involved:
1- Monitoring partners
2- Administrative arrangements for monitoring
3- Evolution of methodology

16
15
1

5
4
7

18
20
31

41%
38%
3%

Were measures undertaken following the observations and/or
recommendations of the World Heritage Committee and its Bureau?

8

5

26

21%

43

2

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

The reports showed that most of the properties possessed
technical and scientific teams to carry out maintenancework and to ensure continuous monitoring on the stateof conservation at the property level. In the majority ofcases, monitoring was said to be "regular," carried out by
full-time staff from the central administration or the local
municipality, urban agencies, specialised centres andorganisations, and local or national laboratories and universities. However, these teams engaged mainly in sporadic or emergency restoration work such as reinforcing
walls and ceilings threatening to collapse in isolatedmonuments and archaeological sites. Representatives offoreign institutions cooperating with the national authorities were also sometimes cited as monitoring partners,
as well as UNESCO and World Heritage Centre consultants and experts in the context of their reactive monitoring missions to the properties in collaboration with thenational authorities.
However, several properties, including the M'Zab Valley(Algeria), Islamic Cairo, Ancient Thebes, Abu Mena
(Egypt), the Medina of Fez (Morocco), and the Old Walled
City of Shibam (Yemen) indicated that they did not possess any monitoring system. Others, such as the Site ofCarthage, the Amphitheatre of El Jem (Tunisia), Hatra(Iraq), Bahla Fort (Sultanate of Oman) did not respond to
this question, which probably indicated that they had not
developed a monitoring system or that it was not yet fully
functioning. Monitoring remained "weak because of the
low level of means and budgets" in Timgad and Djemila(Algeria), and "insufficient" in the Medina of Fez(Morocco) for lack of appropriate means.
Only 21% of reports claimed that the States Parties had
undertaken measures regarding monitoring following therecommendations of the World Heritage Committee. This
low response rate may be explained by the fact that therecommendations of the World Heritage Committee did
not apply to all properties since some had already spontaneously implemented the recommended measures forthe preservation of heritage. Occasionally, in cases where
the property had been subject to recommendations, theinformation failed to reach the local authorities responsible for conservation, due to lack of communication andcoordination at the State Party level, as was the case for
the Old City of Sana’a and the Old Walled City of Shibam(Yemen). The archiving and updating of information andthe organisation of documentation systems concerningWorld Heritage properties are crucial for adequate preservation and monitoring activities.
The concept of key indicators was perhaps not wellunderstood or implemented, since very few key indicators
were cited, presenting only basic and limited techniques.
These included plaster witnesses used to measure themovement of cracks in monuments, direct visual observations of cracks, land slides, rock subsidence, salinity, anderosion, but only little detail was provided on the use of
the equipment to assess these phenomena. Visual observations were often the only means for the local staff tomonitor the progress of damage, when measuring tools,
laboratory analyses, statistics or other means of detection
and scientific control of the phenomena were unavailable.
Usually, although the property managers and authorities
in charge of preservation were aware of the importanceof monitoring and key indicators, the lack of financial
resources, staff and technical means had hampered thedevelopment of monitoring activities at the property level.
In addition, only very few properties possessed what canbe called a “base-line survey” at the time of inscription
against which to measure the possible changes which had
occurred over time. This lack of data represented a great
handicap to monitoring.
In conclusion, although 85% of reports claimed thatmonitoring systems had been developed on the properties, it appeared that the efficiency of these systems
remained limited, with lack of coherence, and appropriate documentation.

4.2. Prevention of human and natural threats ans pressures

44

Prevention of human and natural threats and pressures

Yes

No

No Response% of positive
answers

Have preventive methods for threats and pressures been applied tothe property, regarding:
1- Natural catastrophes
2- Industrial pollution
3- Vibrations
4- Vandalism, theft, looting
5- Modification of the physical context
6- Industrial infrastructures
7- Constructions
8- Urbanism
9- Tourism

16
4
4
14
5
1
4
11
17

1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

41%
10%
10%
36%
13%
3%
10%
28%
44%

Is an assessment of the increase or reduction of the impact of thesefactors on the property provided?

17

7

7

44%

Are any measures undertaken or foreseen in the future to remedy thissituation?

20

2

2

51%

Implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Property Level

4.2. Prevention of natural and human threats andpressures
Protection measures regarding natural and human threats
to the heritage should be inscribed within long-term planning and designed to meet the specific needs of each property. Site managers were requested to assess the effectiveness of protection planning efforts, based on the identification of threats linked to human activities or natural factors, and the evaluation of their potential impacts on sites.
As discussed earlier, threats to the heritage vary according
to the nature and characteristics of the properties. The
reports indicated that archaeological sites were mainly
subject to threats and pressures such as natural catastrophes, vandalism, theft and looting, and tourism, and,to a lesser degree, pollution and the modification of thephysical context. The situation is different in historic cities,
where the principal threats and pressures concernedvisual encroachment, uncontrolled building activities,
vibrations and pollution. Natural catastrophes were only
rarely stated as threats likely to affect historic cities.
Natural heritage was also subject to several threats, including pollution, wastes, tourism, mining and natural
catastrophes.
Despite the multiplication of threats, the reports showedthat only a minority of countries had adopted specificmeasures for the preservation of heritage. However, 51%of reports indicated that such measures were either foreseen or under way -although only little detail was provided. The main areas of action included tourism (44%),
natural catastrophes (41%) and vandalism (36%).
Although in the previous set of questions 36% of authors
had declared that factors linked to human activity wereaffecting the property, protection measures for threats linked to urbanism and local human activity remained relatively rare (3% to 28%). The answers received showedthat site managers were aware of the need to improveand diversify preventive measures in order to adapt themto the reality of the threats likely to affect the properties.
Several reports indicated that a positive effect on the preservation of properties had been noted following the
adoption of specific measures. Heightened security, intensification of visitor control, increased public awarenesswere amongst the positive changes recorded in Kairouan,
the Medina of Tunis (Tunisia), the Medina of Fez, theMedina of Marrakesh (Morocco), and Bahla Fort (Oman).

2

ting as a result of armed conflict, or degradation due toan unforeseen increase in visitor numbers. In the light ofthese difficulties, several authors of the Periodic Reports
claimed the protection measures to be insufficient.
Other properties such as the Site of Palmyra, the Ancient
City of Bosra (Syrian Arab Republic), the Punic Town of
Kerkuane and its Necropolis (Tunisia) and Djemila considered the situation to be stationary. Details provided on
the issues of protection measures, and the existence andfunding of local policies and programmes for the safeguarding of properties, were scarce. Several authors
regretted the lack of an adequate budget and of appropriate equipment to implement the protection measureson the properties, mainly in Timgad (Algeria), the Ancient
City of Bosra, the Site of Palmyra (Syrian Arab Republic),
Abu Mena (Egypt), the Archaeological Site of Cyrene(Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), and the Old City of Sana’a(Yemen). However, the policies and programmes were
described as very restricted, keeping within the framework of the allocated budgets. Occasionally, in the absence of specific programmes, some reports referred to dayto-day protection measures. Only Yemen provided detailsof the financial resources available for the preservation of
its heritage and produced annual budget figures.
In conclusion, the answers provided in this section
demonstrated that it is easier to identify the threats to theheritage and to prescribe remedies, than to measure theeffects of these remedies and protection programmes on
the state of conservation. The difficulty increases whenfactors of degradation are multiplied and interlocked,
requiring the establishment of precise and reliable key
indicators.

However, some experiences were less successful. Several
authors reported that the protection measures undertaken had not halted the impacts of threat factors on theheritage, heightening the risks of damage to the properties. This increase in negative tendencies was recorded in
Hatra (Jordan), the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou (Morocco), Al
Qal'a of Beni Hammad, Timgad, and Tipasa (Algeria), but
remained a relatively rare phenomenon. According to thereports, this aggravation of conservation conditions was
restricted to limited aspects of preservation, and did notquestion the legitimacy of the inscription of the propertyon the World Heritage List. This included thefts and loo-45© UNESCO© UNESCO

Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (Sudan) and
Ashur (Iraq) were added to the World Heritage List in 2003.

3
Follow-Up Actions

47

3

Follow-Up Actions

This chapter aims at presenting the specific actions
undertaken by the World Heritage Centre since theadoption of the Periodic Reporting on the ArabStates in the year 2000, further to the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee. These
actions took also into account the general policies
concerning World Heritage formulated by the
National Commissions for UNESCO of the Arabcountries (Medium-Term Strategy for the Arab
Region) and by the World Heritage Committee
through its Strategic Objectives, approved in 2002.
In particular, this chapter shall present the mainconcepts and substance of the Regional Programme
for the Arab States, as approved by the World
Heritage Committee in June 2003.
Recommendations
Committee

from

the

World

Heritage

A report (WHC-2000/CONF.204/7) presenting an analysisof the answers received in the Periodic Reports was presented to the World Heritage Committee during its twenty-fourth session in December 2000 in Cairns (Australia).
The World Heritage Committee congratulated theauthors of the reports, as the Committee members successively took the floor to express their satisfaction withthe report, which, it was stressed, would serve as a prototype for the other regions.
In Cairns the World Heritage Committee questioned theexistence of a system for inventories and queried the reasons why some Arab States had advocated the revision of
the statement of value in the nomination forms, or theelaboration of new statements of value. The Committee
further underlined the need to take into account, at thetime of the revision of the Operational Guidelines, thespecific issues arising from changes to the boundaries of
the inscribed sites or their buffer zones. The Committee
also emphasised the need to evaluate, prior to the inscription of new sites, their management plans and suggested the integration of monitoring into the frameworkof the global approach to site management.
In concluding, the Committee invited the Director of theCentre to study the proposals contained in the Report, as
they were unanimously supported by all delegates, wholooked forward to their implementation, in cooperation
with the States Parties concerned. In this respect, theCommittee requested that a meeting with the Permanent
Delegates to UNESCO take place to inform them of theresults of the Periodic Reporting exercise. This meeting, towhich all permanent delegates were invited, took place at
UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in April 2001.

1 Actions undertaken since the Periodic
Reporting exercise (2000-2003)
The following paragraphs describe several activities thathave taken place since the Periodic Reporting exercise of2000 according to the recommendations of the Committee
expressed during the Cairns meeting. These activities aimed

48

at offering solutions to the problems identified in the
Periodic Reports. Other sporadic activities organised at thenational levels, were not included in this list.
1.1. National meetings
The Periodic Reporting exercise allowed the identificationof a certain number of problems affecting World Heritage
sites in the Arab Region, especially with regard to thelegal framework and conservation practices. States Parties
were therefore consulted with a view to discuss andreview their problems on an individual basis, in order to
identify the appropriate solutions. It was decided that
National Review Meetings between local technicians andWorld Heritage experts would have served the purpose.
Thus, three pilot national workshops were held in Algeria,
the Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen. The objective of
these meetings was to understand the problems that theStates Parties faced regarding the protection and conservation of heritage as expressed in their Periodic Reports.
They provided an opportunity for clarification and a better understanding of practices, especially on the issues oflegislation and conservation. They also enabled a frankexchange on the States Parties’ obligations regarding theConvention. Furthermore, concrete solutions were foundwith regard to some of the more urgent problems linked
to tentative lists and new inscriptions, legislation, management plans, conservation practices and the boundaries
of properties.
1.2. Activities undertaken within the framework of
the Global Strategy
Regional Thematic Expert Meeting on desert
Landscapes and Oases Systems in the Arab Region(Kharga Oasis, Egypt – 23-26 September 2001)
The World Heritage Thematic Expert Meeting on “Desert
Landscapes and Oasis Systems in the Arab Region” wasorganised by the World Heritage Centre in collaboration
with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities of the
Ministry of Culture, and was held at the Oasis of Kharga.
The meeting confirmed the relevance of the cultural landscape concept in the implementation of the World
Heritage Convention and highlighted the potential ofdesert landscapes, comprising one fifth of the Earth’s surface, for World Heritage listing. The meeting recommended that cross-cultural and interdisciplinary studies be carried out in the identification of desert landscapes. The
meeting furthermore encouraged States Parties to include
desert sites and oasis systems on their tentative lists andto prepare nominations for potential World Heritage listing. The participants considered that the concept oftrade routes and itineraries is particularly relevant fordesert areas and recommended that States Parties collaborate at the regional level to identify and protect suchextended linear sites. As a result from that Meeting, anumber of desert landscapes were included in Tentative
Lists of Arab countries, including Mauritania, Algeria andOman.

Follow-Up Actions

Arab Meeting for the Harmonization of Tentative
Lists of Natural World Heritage Sites in the ArabCountries (Cairo, Egypt – 17-20 February 2003)
A meeting was organised in Cairo in collaboration with
the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, withthe aim of drawing attention to the need to harmonise Tentative Lists of Arab Natural Heritage sites, and ofincreasing the number of nominations of Arab Natural
Heritage sites on the World Heritage List. As noted in
the Periodic Reporting exercise, only four Arab Natural
Heritage sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List,
representing a mere 2.3% of the total 172 sites withnatural heritage values currently inscribed on the List.
The Global Strategy of the World Heritage Committee
plans for the recognition and inscription on the World
Heritage List of the types and categories of properties
currently non-represented or under-represented in the
List. Within this framework, the harmonisation of
Tentative Lists for the Arab Region and the identification of sites of natural heritage value for this region areof primary importance.
1.3. Activities undertaken regarding CapacityBuilding
Training Workshop on the Application of theWorld
Heritage
Convention
andtheHarmonisation of Tentative Lists in the Arab
Region (Amman, Jordan – 5-9 May 2002)
A regional training seminar on the implementation of
the Convention, funded by the Government of Italy,
was held in Amman in 2002. The workshop was basedon the case study of the Umayyad sites of Jordan(Qastal, Mushatta, Kharraneh, Quseir Amra, Azraq andits natural reserve, Allabath).
This Workshop was conceived for officers from public
institutions in charge of World Heritage sites (generally from the Department of Antiquities and the Ministryof Environment, or equivalent), who would become
focal points for the World Heritage Centre activities intheir country. Most of the participants participating in
the workshop were in charge of cultural heritage properties, and only a few countries sent participants fornatural heritage sites (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi
Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia). Except for the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, all the Arab States Parties were represented
at the workshop -i.e. 16 out of 17 countries signatory
to the Convention at the time. A participant of thePalestinian National Authority was also present as anobserver.
The aim of this workshop was to increase awareness of
the Convention, its concepts, objectives and procedures, and of issues related to the representation ofWorld Heritage and Tentative Lists in the Arab Region.
It increased the capacity for the identification of poten-

3tial World Heritage sites (Tentative Lists, Nomination
Files) and brought to light the importance of Site
Management Plans and protection in view of World
Heritage listing. Finally, it consolidated the regional
network of cooperation for the implementation of theConvention, and increased motivation for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
Workshop: “Information course on the World
Heritage Convention for Palestinian experts”(Rome, Italy – 8-13 September 2003)
This information course was organised in collaboration
with ICCROM and the UNESCO Office in Ramallah. It
aimed at acquainting the participants with the generalframework of the World Heritage Convention, and at
providing them with a plan of action for incorporating
World Heritage concerns into ongoing conservation
work. A total of 16 experts from various regions ofPalestine (Rammallah, Gaza, Hebron, Nablus andBethlehem) attended the five-day course. The experts
came from both the natural and cultural heritage fields
and from various backgrounds (archaeologists, planners, architects, ecologists and civil engineers).
The key issues treated during this workshop included
an introduction to the Convention, a presentation ofcurrent trends in the Convention, nominations (definitions, tentative lists, preparing and assessing nominations, post-nomination activities), Periodic Reporting,statements of significance, and effective monitoring
for management. Two visits around the Roman neighbourhood of Trastevere and the World Heritage site ofAssisi introduced the participants to the concept ofreading changes in the urban fabric as a means ofunderstanding the development of a historic neighbourhood and gave a concrete demonstration of manyof the concepts that had been discussed as part of theearlier class work.
Workshop: “Contribution of Remote Sensing to
the Management of Cultural and Natural Heritage
Sites” (Beirut, Lebanon – 15-17 December 2003)
This workshop, in collaboration with the European
Space Agency, EURISY and the National Council for
Scientific Research of Lebanon, took place inDecember 2003 at the facilities of the National Council
for Scientific Research located in Beirut. The aim of thisworkshop was to bring together site managers fromthe East Mediterranean and Arabian Peninsula to
update their knowledge on the potential of satellite
images for the management of Cultural and Natural
Heritage sites. The applications of this workshop focused mainly on the use of satellite images to assist in the
management, development and planning for areas surrounding World Heritage sites as well as for theirconservation.

49

3

Follow-Up Actions

Training
Workshopon“WorldHeritage
Information Management for Cultural Sites in the
Arab Region”: 18 February-4 March 2004 (Cairo,
Egypt)
This workshop was developed within framework of project “Development of World Heritage Capacity in the
Arab States” developed in collaboration with theFlemish authorities and the UNESCO-Flanders Funding
Trust for the Support of UNESCO’s activities. This training workshop was organised in collaboration with theCentre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural
Heritage (CULTNAT) and the Supreme Council of
Antiquities. The thirteen participants (Egypt,
Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, Oman,
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan) were trained on the useofinformation
technologies
(GIS,
GPS,
Photogrammetry, Total Station…) in collecting data andinformation, producing 3-D models and maps andimplementing monitoring systems in order to improve
preservation and the management of the World
Heritage Sites in the Arab Region. This enabled them tobecome acquainted with existing tools and technologies, to understand their specificities and their application for the preservation of heritage.
Other activities foreseen
Further activities will be developed aiming at increasingawareness of the World Heritage Convention and its
concepts, and at providing solutions to the problems
identified during the Periodic Reporting exercise of2000.
For instance, a workshop is planned for 2004 involving
the six countries of the Gulf Region (and perhaps
Yemen), in collaboration with ICOMOS and IUCN. As
discussed in the previous chapters on the findings of
the Periodic Reporting exercise of 2000, some countries
in the Gulf Region have not yet submitted any Tentative
lists and, apart from the Sultanate of Oman, do not yethold any World Heritage properties. This workshop will
therefore include an introduction to the World Heritage
Convention aiming at increasing these countries’ capacity for its implementation including encouraging thepresentation of new sites for nomination (definition ofWorld Heritage concepts, inventories, tentative lists,
preparing and assessing nominations, post-nomination
activities).
A second workshop, funded by the Government of
Norway in collaboration with the Nordic World Heritage
Foundation, will take place in 2004, probably in Jordan,
and will focus on the preservation of World Heritage in
Iraq. Iraqi experts and site managers will be invited totake part in a four to five day workshop including
courses on the World Heritage Convention and its
implementation, and visits to the World Heritage sitesof Hatra and Ashur.

50

2
The Regional Programme for the
implementation of the World Heritage
Convention in the Arab States
Since the Periodic Reporting exercise for the Arab Region
was undertaken in the year 2000, UNESCO has defined
general strategies and programmes aiming at maximisingpreservation and conservation efforts for World Heritage.
These include the UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for the
Arab Region, as established by the UNESCO National
Commissions, and the Strategic Objectives and Global
Training Strategy adopted by the World Heritage
Committee in 2001 and 2002. The Committee, moreover,by its decision 26 COM 17 B requested that Regional
Programmes be developed to apply in practice the abovementioned Strategic Objectives and Global Training
Strategy. The present section presents the Regional
Programme for the Arab States developed by the World
Heritage Centre, as approved by the World Heritage
Committee at its 27th Session in Paris (June 2003), in thecontext of the above-mentioned policies.
2.1. Background
Specific problems identified by the Periodic Reporting
Exercise and Fields of Action for a Regional
Programme
The Periodic Reporting exercise for the Arab Region of 2000
not only allowed the updating of information for an overall
assessment of the state of conservation of World Heritage
properties in the Arab States, but also enabled the identification of a number of priority conservation needs of States
Parties at the national, local and regional levels. In responseto these needs, five distinct fields of action were determined, in the framework of the elaboration of the Regional
Programme for the Arab States. The main identified needs
and corresponding five fields of action, which refer also to
the Strategic Objectives of the Committee (see paragraph
2.3 below) are summarised again hereafter for the benefitof the reader:
1- Application of the Convention (Credibility):
The application of the World Heritage Convention is dependant on the knowledge of its concepts and on the correct
application of the specific procedures of this Convention
such as the preparation of Tentative Lists, Nomination
Dossiers, International Assistance Requests and Periodic
Reports. As mentioned earlier, the percentage of Arab properties on the World Heritage List was in decline at the timeof the Periodic Reporting exercise, indicating a lack of knowledge of the Convention and its values. Therefore it seemedvital to encourage the presentation of Nomination dossiersfrom the Arab Region, to reiterate the concepts, values andprocedures of the Convention, and to strengthen the States
Parties capacities for its application. The exercise also revealed that the true diversity, wealth and characteristics of thecultural and natural heritage of the region were not represented in the inventories mentioned in the reports.

Follow-Up Actions

2- Institutional and legislative framework (Conservation):
The study of the legislative and institutional framework
for the preservation of World Heritage in the Arab Region
revealed that properties were only rarely integrated into amodern concept of heritage management presenting
heritage as a resource in the context of social and economic development. However, the Periodic Reporting exercise indicated positive changes, such as a growing awareness, amongst the local communities, of the impact of theheritage on their development, on the local sharing of
benefits gained from eco-tourism resources, on training,on skills transfer and on management. Nonetheless, heritage management still remained too focused on sporadic
protective measures, usually privileging ad-hoc restoration
activities as opposed to daily maintenance. Further efforts
were also needed to increase and strengthen legislation
for the safeguarding of urban heritage, and to develop
the institutional and legislative framework for the protection of natural heritage.
3- Management and conservation of the World Heritage
Sites (Conservation):
Observations recorded on the management and conservation of the World Heritage properties showed that an
appropriate and long-term management approach basedon the identification of values, planning, continuous
maintenance, presentation and monitoring was still lacking for most properties. The Periodic Reporting mentioned the lack of capacity -both financial and human- forthe development of conservation techniques and monitoring activities. In addition, the reports revealed that theauthorities responsible for heritage still lacked policies
and coordination procedures regarding cooperation between conservation agencies and other governmental
bodies whose mandate impacts on the state of conservation of the heritage resource.
4- Education, awareness-raising and support, throughcommunication (Communication):
Progress was recorded in the fields of education, communication and awareness-raising, but the existing measuresremained insufficient. The reports indicated that further
efforts were needed to increase awareness and involvementof the civil society, and especially young people, on theissues of heritage values and the conservation of properties.
The reports emphasized the need for increased capacities incommunication skills within Conservation Services, for themobilisation of civil society, donors and public authorities tothe benefit of heritage properties.
5- Information Management(Communication/
Conservation):
Adequate communication, coordination and conservation,require appropriate information management in order toenhance the monitoring and promotion of World Heritage
properties. As yet, documentation available at the property
level remained scarce and World Heritage management andinformation exchange capacities were still limited. While all
Periodic Reports mentioned the existence or recent creation

3of documentation and research centres (centralised at thenational level), information was not easily available and theuse of such centres remained limited. Most of the documentation was produced and held by scientific or academic
institutions (often foreign ones) and did not contribute to
the establishment of management or site conservation policies. The Conservation Services did not possess an integrated information management system although in somecases the national and heritage services were beginning todevelop websites. Information was not exchanged at theregional or international levels, and it appeared that the useof information technology was not widespread.
UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy (2002-2007) for the
Arab Region
A regional consultative meeting was held in Rabat(Morocco) in June 2002 with the participation of all the
National Commissions of the Arab States, as part of the process for the elaboration of UNESCO’s new Medium-Term
Strategy (2002-2007) and in agreement with the new
decentralisation policy adopted by the Organisation. The
final document sets out the Medium-Term Strategy for the
Arab States. The National Commissions identified the following three objectives, with some relevance to the aims of
the World Heritage Convention, as priority actions for
UNESCO:
1. To promote the elaboration and application of normative
instruments in the field of culture.
In the framework of the World Heritage Convention, theNational Commissions stressed the need for capacity-building in the field of site conservation and protection, particularly concerning the appropriate management and development of tourism. Moreover, the final document stresses
the need to increase the number of natural heritage properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, and to strengthen the capacity for the preparation of the Nomination
Dossiers.
2. To ensure cultural diversity and encourage the dialogue
between cultures and civilisations.
Whenever the protection of intangible heritage was considered a priority, the National Commissions recalled the need
to identify and enhance the value of the links between tangible heritage, cultural identities and living traditions. The
importance of strengthening inter-regional cooperation wasunderscored.
3. To strengthen links between culture and development,
through the exchange of knowledge and capacitybuilding.
As concerns this strategic objective, the National
Commissions insisted that UNESCO should alert all levels ofsociety of the Arab Region to the potential socio-economic
benefits of appropriate management of cultural and natural
heritage. To this end, UNESCO’s efforts will primarily focus
on capacity-building and involvement of the local communities in participative activities.

51

3

Follow-Up Actions

Heritage

Region in compliance with this decision is described in thepresent chapter.

The Strategic Objectives
To follow-up on the Strategic Guidelines adopted at the
16th session of the Committee in 1992, and to the analysis of International Assistance, the 25th session of theCommittee, in 2001, discussed the finalisation of theso-called “Strategic Objectives,” taking into accountthe need to draw closer links between the results of the
Periodic Reports and the policy for cooperation foreseen in the framework of the Convention. These
Objectives, entitled the 4Cs, were formulated andadopted at the 26th session in Budapest, in June 2002.
The 4 Cs consist of:

Global Training Strategy
Another important policy adopted by the Committee, andwhich has been taken into account by the Centre in shaping its approach for the Arab Region, is the Global
Training Strategy, adopted by the Committee at its 25th
session, in December 2001, in Helsinki.

Strategic Objectives of the World
Committee and Regional Programmes

1. To strengthen the Credibility of the implementation of
the World Heritage Convention;
2. To ensure the Conservation of the World Heritage
Properties;
3. To promote Capacity-building for conservation;
4. To increase public-awareness, involvement and support
for World Heritage through Communication.
These objectives are set out in the “Budapest
Declaration" adopted by the Committee on 28 June
2002, and were also incorporated in the new budget proposal of the World Heritage Fund. The Committee further
requested the Secretariat to draw up a series of “instruments” entitled the 3Ps aiming at the above objectives.
These instruments include:
1. A new document on the “Principles,” guidelines forthe conservation of the World Heritage;
2. The reorientation of International Assistance using a“Programme” approach;
3. A new “Partnership” initiative to strengthen support
for the conservation of World Heritage.
According to this new framework, the establishment of“programmes” for the implementation of the Convention
should therefore be based on the results of the Periodic
Reports, while simultaneously responding to the priorities
established by the Committee. Although the partnershipprinciples and means remain to be defined, theCommittee approved, during its 25th session in Helsinki,
the continuation of assistance upon request, and four
Programmes on Sustainable tourism, Forests, Cities, andEarthen constructions representing 10.5% of the budgetof the 2002-2003 biennium.
Additionally, in its Decision 26 COM 17 B, the Committee
invited the Director-General of UNESCO to "develop new
Regional Programmes, based on the needs specifically
identified through the regional Periodic Reporting exercise, with a view to achieve the new Strategic Objectives
and to submit these programmes for consideration andadoption at the 27th session of the Committee (June/July2003)." The Regional Programme developed for the Arab52

The Strategy stresses the need for a pro-active approach
towards capacity-building, and recommends that, in theevaluation of the International Assistance requests, “preference should be given to pro-active approaches that
result in training modules and long-term strategic programmes designed to respond to priority needs.”
Amongst the sectors identified as priorities for training
are: 1) the implementation of the Convention; 2) the
management of the World Heritage sites; and 3) thestrengthening of technical, scientific and traditional capacities for the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. Although the Global Training Strategy was adopted
by the Committee in 2001, i.e. prior to the Strategic
Objectives (2002), three of the 4 Cs were in fact alreadytaken into account by the above-mentioned priorities,
and namely Credibility, Conservation and CapacityBuilding.
In order to attain these objectives, amongst other initiatives, the Global Training Strategy foresees “the development of ready-to-use Training Modules, designed to beadaptable to specific regional and national contexts.”
Finally, the Global Training Strategy encourages the States
Parties to include training components in their Technical
Assistance requests concerning in situ activities.
2.3. The strategy of the Regional Programme
The strategy of this Regional Programme is directly linked
to the guidelines set by the Medium-Term Strategy for the
Arab States Region (2002-2007), and the strategic
Objectives of the World Heritage Committee (including
the Global Training Strategy), described above.
As already mentioned, the actions proposed in thisRegional Programme are established in respect with thefindings of the Periodic Reporting, including the needs
identified by the States Parties and properties and theensuing recommendations. The following paragraphs
attempt to explain how the 4 “C”s are integrated into its
strategy, how the pro-active principle is interpreted, andhow the Programme proposes to mobilise regional andinternational partners to ensure the sustainability of its
impact.
The Synthesis Report on the Periodic Reporting exercise
presented in Cairns in 2000 identified the principal points
and indicated the objectives to be achieved. However, theFollow-Up Actions

Regional Programme for the Arab Region proposes animportant new element, by integrating operational
mechanisms into its strategy. The three main tools for execution are: the International Assistance Modules, Projects
and National Programmes. A mechanism for evaluation
and revision (represented by a Monitoring Committee) is
also included in the Regional Programme. The following
sections explain how these tools are linked to each otherin the implementation mechanism, and describe theappropriate steps to attain the expected results.
International Assistance Modules
Taking into account the present mechanisms forInternational Assistance granted in the framework of theWorld Heritage Fund (attributed upon request of States
Parties), the Regional Programme presents a series of“assistance kits” ready for use and conceived as modules
to be reproduced. These kits, which will be referred tohere as “International Assistance Modules,” respond toeach of the needs identified in the Periodic Reporting andare organised in accordance with the five fields of action
identified in section 2.1 above11.
These modules will be presented to States Parties in theframework of International Assistance, in a pro-active
manner and in accordance with priorities, in a “menu”
form. For example, to respond to the problem of lack ofunderstanding of the procedures for the nomination ofproperties to the World Heritage List, a specific training
workshop is developed and presented in this Regional
Programme (see Table 8 below). The module in question
will contain information on its duration, the number ofbeneficiaries, a cost estimate and the responsible training
institution. These modules will be carefully devised toensure a long-term approach to the activity and to identify the regional partners and involve them from its conception to its completion.
The International Assistance Modules correspond to thegeneral categories (preparatory assistance, technicalcooperation, training) and to the average financial ceilings presently established by the Operational Guidelines
for normal International Assistance projects. However,they will be conceived as to be immediately implementable, following the approval of the corresponding
request by the Committee, thus considerably improving
the efficiency of the World Heritage Centre in the use of
the World Heritage Fund resources12.
Tables 1 to 5 below provide a preliminary list ofInternational Assistance Modules that, for the time being,
are simply presented with their title. However, thesemodules will be entirely developed in collaboration withthe advisory bodies (ICCROM and ICOMOS for cultural
heritage, and IUCN for natural heritage) with fully detailed and operational proposals, including work plans,
human resource requirements, budget and timetable.
Furthermore, the most appropriate partner will be identi-

3

fied for each module and integrated into the activity, after
having first taken into account existing national andregional capacities. A complete description of thesemodules will be available on the World Heritage Centre
website, with a link to the partners concerned, in order tofacilitate the States Parties’ consultation and use of theModules.
Once completed, these modules will become the basis forlong-term partnerships between the World Heritage
Centre and a certain number of institutions, professionals,
scientists and academics, chosen for their competencesand experience in the region and elsewhere, thus benefiting from existing resources.
More importantly, States Parties will have access to a wide
variety of assistance activities, ready for implementationand fully explained and tested, from which they may
choose depending on their needs. The donors will be able
to “envision” the activities, to consider, in advance, which
activity would be most appropriate to receive their funding, and to negotiate funding directly with the beneficiary. Of course, States Parties will also be able to request
international assistance in the framework of the World
Heritage Fund for a specific activity that is not available asa module in the framework of the Regional Programme,
as long as its objectives and execution modalities are compatible with the principles indicated in the Guidelines.
Projects
In addition to International Assistance Modules, theRegional Programme envisages the development of a certain number of larger scale activities, or Projects. These
projects, aimed at extra-budgetary funding and often targeted at more than one country (sub-regional and regional activities), are developed to complete and strengthen
the impact of the international assistance modules already described. They are also in line with the recent decisionof the Committee to allocate a percentage of the World
Heritage Fund for the execution of specific programmes,
thus reinforcing its pro-active principle. As an example ofcomplementarity, the Regional Programme for the development of World Heritage information management
capacities in the Arab States, now being executed thanks
to funding from the Flemish authorities, could provide a
basic infrastructure, whilst an international assistancemodule could assist a State Party in the preparation ofhigh quality mapping for all its World Heritage sites.
While the assistance modules may be reproduced and
11. The fields of action cover the 4 “C ”s identified by the Committee as
Strategic Objectives, but organise them in relation to the types ofaction envisaged in this Regional Programme.
12. Over and above the lack of human and financial resources, whichconstitutes a significant constraint in the use of the World Heritage
Fund, lies the inherent difficulty in executing a large variety of technical assistance operations based on a “reactive” approach, because
they require the continual redefinition of objectives, the choice of partners and adjustment of modalities for their implementation. The proactive approach described here is a proposal to rationalise andimprove the efficiency of the system.

53

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Follow-Up Actions

focus mainly on capacity-building and specific national
needs, Projects are generally conceived for one-time
implementation, with the aim of strengthening regional
and inter-regional cooperation in the framework of theConvention. However, long-term activities requiring substantial investment (such as the preparation of urban
conservation plans) may be included in this category. All
the projects listed in section 4.3 below will constitute themain ‘catalogue’ of the Centre’s fund raising activities for
the Arab Region, as approved by the Committee. Somehave already been submitted to donors and have received
some funding.
National Programmes
The third component of the strategy for the implementation of the Regional Programme is the definition of
National Programmes for each State Party of the region.
A national implementation programme will compriseInternational Assistance Modules and Projects selected by
the States Parties amongst those proposed in the
Regional Programme according to the specific requirements of each country. These National Programmes willthus represent the planning instrument through which
potential activities described in the Regional Programme including the adaptation and refining of modules andprojects dependent upon prevailing conditions in eachcountry- can receive international assistance should theState Party so request. A specific Assistance Module has
been designed to support the elaboration of such
National Programmes (see section 4).
Another objective of the National Programme includes
the establishment of national focal points for World
Heritage and the creation of Working Groups for World
Heritage in each country of the region, in accordancewith the recommendations of the Committee (paragraph
VII.32 of the 25th ordinary session, Helsinki, December2001). These focal points should not be conceived as new
institutions, but rather as a means of strengthening national and regional cooperation and coordination for the
implementation of the Convention. As an example, tables
7 and 8 illustrate the mechanisms of a possible national
programme for the implementation of the Regional
Programme, and a form containing a fully developed possible activity module, respectively.
The Monitoring Committee
The Regional Programme plans for the organisation every
three years (each year following the submission of periodic reports and again three years later) of regional meetings during which the World Heritage coordinators foreach country of the region (see above) and the representatives of the Conservation Services of the cultural andnatural World Heritage sites, will meet in order to review
the progress made in the application of the Convention in
the Arab Region. This group may also act as a Monitoring
Committee for the evaluation and revision of the Regional

54

Programme. The technical partners and the representatives of the donor countries will be also invited to participate. The meeting, coordinated by the World Heritage
Centre, will provide recommendations to the World
Heritage Committee for possible modifications of theProgramme. These regional meetings could be financed
through the World Heritage Fund as an integral part of
the follow-up to Periodic Reporting. The first meeting of
the Monitoring Committee is foreseen for 2005 to present the strategy for the Regional Programme to thenational authorities. Following this meeting, theMonitoring Committee will meet at regular intervals, in
the Periodic Reporting year to revise the Programme inthe light of this exercise and make recommendations to
the World Heritage Committee. Follow-up meetings willthen take place every three years.
2.4. Objectives of the Regional Programme for the
Arab Region, expected results and indicators
Global Objective
The global objective of the Regional Programme is a more
effective implementation of the Convention in the Arab
Region, the enhancement of the role of World Heritage as
an instrument for identity and a vector for sustainablesocio-economic development, promotion of pluralism andinter-cultural dialogue.
Objectives of the Regional Programme
The Regional Programme aims at responding to the needsof the States Parties as identified in the Periodic Reporting
exercise, according to the five fields of action defined inparagraph 2.1. Thus, the Regional Programme aims at:- strengthening the application of the Convention;- contributing to the revision of the legal and institutionalframework;- improving conservation and the management of sites;- promoting education, awareness and support of World
Heritage values;- improving information and documentation management
capacity relating to the World Heritage sites.
As explained above, these objectives correspond to theStrategic Objectives of the World Heritage Committee(the 4 “C”s), recognising that capacity-building is integrated into the Regional Programme as an essential tool
to attain the expected results.
Expected results, activities and indicators
The results expected from the Regional Programme
depend directly upon the major problems identified
during the Periodic Reporting exercise and are structured
around the five fields of action defined in paragraph 2. Inorder to attain these results and to respond to the problems identified by the Periodic Reports, a series of activi-

Follow-Up Actions

3

ty modules, projects and indicators has been conceived
for the evaluation of the progress of the Regional
Programme in respect to its objectives, in conformity with
the Regional Programme Strategy described above.
For each of the fields of action, the following five tables
present an overall view of the problems, results, activities (modules and projects) and indicators. These should
facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms of theRegional Programme. The proposed modules and projects are based on the Secretariat’s experience in identifying the most important needs and recurrent difficulties
encountered in the implementation of the Convention.
However, they are not exhaustive. Other types of activities can be developed and added to the list if deemed
appropriate.

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Table 1. Application of the Convention
Problems

Expected results

Assistance Modules
and Projects

Indicators• Lack of understanding of
the Convention’s concepts
and procedures, andinsufficient capacity for its
application;

1. Submission of Tentative Lists
and Periodic Reports by all theStates Parties;■ Project 1.1
Regional Meeting of the Monitoring
Committee (see Chapter 3.4 above)
for the evaluation of the progressof the Regional Programme• Number of States Parties
having submitted a Tentative
List;• Gaps in the World Heritage
List with regard to the sites
inscribed, and in the Tentative
Lists incomparison to thewealth and diversity of thecultural and natural heritageof the region.

2. Increase, in number andquality, of the nomination
dossiers and requests forInternational Assistancesubmitted by the Arab States;
3. Better representation of thewealth and diversity of the cultural and natural heritage of
the Region on the World
Heritage List;
4. Establishment of the focal
points for the application of
the Convention within the
Governmental Institutions ofeach country of the region;
5. Development of National
Programmes for the implementation of this Regional
Programme;
6. Review of progress andupdating of the Regional
Programme every three years.

■ Module 1.1
National Workshop on theConvention’s concepts andprocedures■ Module 1.2
National Training Workshop on
the procedure for nominating
properties for inscription on theWorld Heritage List
■ Module 1.3
National Training Workshop on
drafting Periodic Reports■ Module 1.4
Preparatory Assistance fordrafting a nomination dossier
for a serial, transborder orcultural landscape property■ Module 1.5
National Training Workshop for the
preparation of International
Assistance requests■ Module 1.6
Assistance for the establishment or
the strengthening of a national focal
point for the implementation of theWorld Heritage Convention and the
preparation of a National
Programme for the implementationof the Regional Programme56• Number of nomination
dossiers submitted by theStates Parties of the Region;• Percentage of natural sites(or serial, transborder, or
cultural landscape sites) in the
Arab Region of all the sites
inscribed on the World
Heritage List;• Number of States Parties
with a National Programme
for the implementation of theRegional Programme;• Number of requests forInternational Assistancesubmitted by the States
Parties of the Arab Region
and approved by theCommittee;• Number of States Parties
having established working
groups for the implementationof the Convention.

Follow-Up Actions

3

Table 2. Institutional and legislative framework
Problems

Expected results

Assistance Modules
and Projects

Indicators• Legislation and theinstitutional framework still
focus on sporadic protection
actions for the sites or monuments and are not adapted
to the modern notion ofheritage management
integrating the heritage as aresource in social andeconomic development;

1. Better integration of themodern concept of heritage
management, including
cultural and natural properties
as a resource for social andeconomic development inlegislation and the institutional
conservation framework;■ Project 2.1
Evaluation of the legal andadministrative frameworks of
the Convention• Number of legislation andinstitutional frameworks
developed for the protectionof natural heritage;■ Project 2.2
Development of specific legislation
for the protection of ahistoric city

• Number of legal protection
mechanisms developed andadopted for historic cities
listed as World Heritage in
the Arab Region;• Lack of policies andcoordination procedures
between the conservation
agencies and the otheractors intervening at the sites;• Legislation for thesafeguarding of the urban
heritage still insufficient;• Institutional and legislative
framework not sufficiently
developed for the protectionof the natural heritage.

2. Establishment of
coordination mechanisms
between the governmental,
national and local institutions,and the services responsible
for conservation;
3. Development of protection
mechanisms adapted to theurban contest;■ Module 2.1
Development of policies andcoordination procedures for the
management of a heritage site
■ Module 2.2
National Training Workshop on
legislation and policies for theprotection of natural heritage• Number of coordination
procedures developed andadopted between theConservation Services andother local and national actors.

4. Development of legislation
for the protection of natural
heritage in most of thecountries of the Arab Region.

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Follow-Up Actions

Table 3. Management and conservation of the World Heritage Sites
Problems

Expected results

Assistance Modules
and Projects

Indicators• Lack of an appropriate andlong-term methodology forthe management and conservation of the sites (identification of values, planning,ongoing maintenance, enhancement,
monitoring, evaluations, etc.);

1. Development of an appropriate and long term management mechanism (identificationof values, planning, enhancement, maintenance, monitoring, evaluation, etc.) at theWorld Heritage sites;■ Module 3.1
National Training Workshop on the
management of World Heritagesites• Number of Arab sites inscribed on the List of World
Heritage in Danger ;• Lack of capacities in conservation techniquesand monitoring;

2. Management capacitiesof the sites strengthened;
3. Development or improvement of capacities for conservation techniques and monitoring
methods.

■ Module 3.2
National Training Workshop on
Conservation Principles■ Module 3.3
National Training Workshop on
Conservation Techniques andMonitoring Methods13■ Module 3.4
Technical Assistance and advice forthe site management and conservation• Number of management
plans developed and adopted ;• Number of curators
trained in conservation
principles and techniques andthe use of traditional materials;• Number of documentation
and regular monitoring
systems established at theWorld Heritage sites.

■ Project 3.1
Preparation of a Management Plan
for a World Heritage site
■ Project 3.2
Training course in World Heritagesite management

13. Activity modules will be elaborated for each conservation technique, for example for stone, mosaic, earthen architecture, mural painting, etc.

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Follow-Up Actions

3

Table 4. Education, awareness-raising and support, through communication
Problems

Expected results

Assistance Modules
and Projects

Indicators• Lack of awareness ofheritage values and participation of civil society, especially
young people, in the conservation of properties;

1. Greater awareness of civilsociety, local communities, andespecially young people, of heritage protection themes.
Contribution of this group to
the conservationof heritage properties;■ Module 4.1
National training workshop in
communication skills forconservators• Number of partnerships
developed between secondary
schools and site Conservation
Services;■ Module 4.2
Short introductory seminar on
the World Heritage Convention for
local officials and decision makers• Number of conservators
trained in communication
skills ;• Lack of capacities, of those
responsible for theConservation Services, forcommunication techniques
to mobilise civil society andpublic authorities forheritage protection.

2. Establishment of partnerships
between schools and managersof the World Heritage sites;
3. Strengthening communication capacities of the conservation services for the protection
and support of heritage.

■ Module 4.3
National training workshop forsecondary school teachers in theuse of the educational kit “World
Heritage in Young Hands”■ Module 4.4
National training workshop forsite conservators for the creationand drafting of a project andnegotiating skills• Number of cooperation
projects negotiated andresources mobilised by
the site Conservation Services;• Number of projects having anegative impact on the valuesof the World Heritage sites
cancelled thanks to themobilisation capacities of
those responsible forconservation.

■ Module 4.5
Technical assistance for thedevelopment and implementationof awareness-raising campaigns
for heritage protection59

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Follow-Up Actions

Table 5. Information management
Problems

Expected results

Assistance Modules
and Projects

Indicators• Lack of adequate documentation at the sites;

1. Documentation on theWorld Heritage sites (cartography, state of conservation, etc.)
updated and integrated
in the Nomination Dossiers;■ Module 1.1
Digitalisation and updating of the
cartography of a property inscribedon the World Heritage List;• Number of World Heritage
sites with updated cartography
being used in the daily management of a property;■ Module 1.2
Assistance to the national authorities for the establishment of anational documentation and information centre on the Convention,and creation of a focal point on its
use• Number of sites inscribed on
the World Heritage List whose
perimeters and buffer zones
have been redefined since listing;• Lack of World Heritage
information and management exchange capacities.

2. Strengthened capacities forWorld Heritage information
management;
3. Establishment of a WEB site
in Arabic for better diffusionof information on World
Heritage.

■ Module 1.3
Development of procedures andassistance for the establishment ofa regular monitoring system for aproperty inscribed on the World
Heritage List
■ Project 1.1
Capacity-building for World
Heritage information managementin the Arab States14• Number of conservators
trained in information
management techniques (GIS,
databases, etc);• Number of monthly
contacts on the Arabic WEB
site containing information on
the World Heritage Convention
and the properties inscribed on
the List in the Arab Region.

14. This Project, due to take place over a period of 18 months, is currently being implemented, thanks to a contribution from the Flemish authorities. It includes
the development of a WEB site in Arabic on World Heritage and databases for better management of the sites and the implementation of the Convention.
The training of national specialists in the use of information management software, such as GIS or ACCESS is also foreseen.

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Follow Up Actions

2.5. Resources and calendar for the implementationof the Regional Programme
The logic of the Regional Programme is based on thevoluntary adhesion of the States Parties which can decide, in accordance with their priorities, if and when theywish to establish the national programme and, consequently, to benefit from the International Assistance
Modules and the proposed Projects. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately define the budgetary resources
required and the calendar for the implementation of
the Regional Programme.

3should be identified, in particular from regional donors
and partners, thus increasing the annual budget for the
Arab countries to US$ 600,000-700,000, or more.
In accordance with these calculations, Table 6 hereafter
illustrates the appropriate timetable for the implementation of the Regional Programme over a six-year period, corresponding to the Periodic Reporting cycle.

Based on past experience and taking into account the
recent figures of the World Heritage Fund, we knowthat each year approximately US$ 200,000 to 250,000
is allocated to the Arab States through international
assistance. Furthermore, the Committee approved a
special amount of US$ 200,000 for the execution ofSpecial Programmes15, a part of which could benefit
Arab countries, and US$ 100,000 (for 2004-2005) toassist the Palestinian Authorities in the protection of thecultural and natural heritage of Palestine (although thiswas on an exceptional basis). Additional amounts (US$30,000 to 40,000) are allocated each year by theCommittee for the follow-up to the Periodic Reports
and the Global Strategy.
In addition, extra-budgetary sources were mobilised tosupport activities in the Arab States. They include morethan one million US dollars in the framework of a WorldBank project for the rehabilitation of four ancient cities
in Mauritania; approximately US$ 280,000 for scientificcooperation for the World Bank cultural project in
Lebanon; approximately US$ 100,000 from the Italianfunds-in-trust to support expert missions and smallscale projects in Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya andSudan; US$ 40,000 from a Dutch funds-in-trust (Yemen
and this Regional Programme) and approximately US$
20,000 in the framework of the France-UNESCO
Agreement for expert missions to Mauritania, Syrian
Arab Republic, etc.
It is possible that, in the near future, some of the wealthier Arab countries of the Gulf Region might wish tocontribute towards the strengthening of the implementation of the Convention in the region. In the eventthat this tendency is maintained, and that the States
Parties are willing to participate in the activities of theRegional Programme by developing their own national
programmes, (as explained in paragraph 3.3 above), it
is conceivable that at least US$ 500,000 will be available each year to assist the Arab States. However, once
the Regional Programme is fully operational and all theassistance modules sufficiently developed and available
for immediate implementation, additional resources

15. To date, the Committee has approved four Programmes: Historic
Cities, Earthen Architecture, Forests and Tourism.

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Table 6. Provisional timetable for the implementation of the Regional Programme over a six-year
period16
2004

2005

2006

■ Approval of the Regional Programmeby the Committee (completed);■ First regional meeting of the Monitoring
Committee for the presentation of theProgramme Strategy17■ States Parties develop their national
programme for the implementation of
the Regional Programme;■ States Parties develop their national
programme for the implementation of
the Regional Programme■ Continued implementation of theRegional Programme.

■ Integrated and developed assistancemodules (nearing completion);■ Comprehensive projects defined(nearing completion).

■ Modules and Projects are refined inaccordance with the needs of thedifferent countries■ Additional resources are identified tosupport the projects■ Implementation of the Regional
Programme begins

2007

2008

2009

■ Continued implementation of theRegional Programme.

■ Arab States prepare and submit theirsecond Periodic Reports;■ States Parties develop their national
programme for the implementationof the Regional Programme;■ The Monitoring Committee (seeChapter 3.4) meets and evaluates the
progress of the Regional Programme.
Recommendations are made;■ Continued implementation of theRegional Programme.

■ Continued implementation of theRegional Programme.

16. Years of the Periodic Reporting and meetings of the Monitoring Committee are shaded.
17. As soon as the designing of the modules and projects will have been completed, the World Heritage Centre will organise the first regional meeting at
the regional level in order to present the programme to its counterparts for comments and feedback.

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Follow-Up Actions

3

Table 7. National programme
The National Programmes comprise a selection of assistance modules and projects, adapted according to the specific needsof the State Party. The definition of these Programmes could form a specific international assistance request.

Assistance modules
1

2

3

4

5

6

Projects
7

...

A

n

B

C

International Assistance forthe elaboration of a National Programme

National Programme(example)

2

4

5

B

Table 8. International Assistance Module (Example)

National training workshop on procedures for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List
Beneficiaries

10-15 national specialists in the heritage field, involved in the implementation of the Convention in theircountries.

Expected results

Upon completion of the workshop, the participants will have acquired a very good understanding of the concepts
and procedures relating to the nomination of a property to the World Heritage List, and will be capable ofpreparing a dossier satisfying the minimal requirements for acceptation by the World Heritage Centre. Thanks toprecise examples, the concepts of serial and transborder sites and site extensions will be addressed as well as
essential definitions and criteria.

Modalities for
execution

The week-long workshop is built around theoretical and practical sessions, including site visits. The participants
will be guided through the inscription process of a site thanks to the specific training Kit and following interactive
discussions with the Workshop Coordinator and three resource persons. At the end of the workshop,
the draft inscription dossiers will be prepared for selected case studies. Earlier nomination dossiers of World
Heritage sites will be examined and action plans will be established for their update.

Partnership

ICCROM has been chosen as the partner responsible for the execution of the Assistance Module because of its
experience of the Convention (as Advisory Body) and its long tradition in the field of training. Furthermore, at therequest of the Secretariat, ICCROM has recently produced a Training Kit specifically conceived for the nomination
process.

BudgetAn approximate cost of US$ 30,000 is expected for the execution of this Module. This budget includes travel andboard and lodging costs, the fees for four experts for the workshop week in addition to a preparatory week, aswell as the local logistical costs (meeting room, equipment, transport, board, etc.). Lodging and internal transport
costs for the participants should be covered by the local authorities. A more precise budget can be provided inaccordance with the context of the country benefiting from the activity.

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Conclusions

65

Conclusions

The Periodic Reporting exercise was introduced by theWorld Heritage Committee to "monitor the state ofconservation of World Heritage properties." The firstconclusion drawn from Periodic Reporting in the ArabStates, however, is that it does not, as it is conceived now,
conform to the idea that “experts” have of monitoring.
According to professional theory and practice, monitoringshould be a continuous process carried out at the site
level by local staff, and based on regular control of specific indicators against an established baseline condition.
Clearly, this is not the case for Periodic Reporting, whichtakes place every six years and discusses issues such aswhether the State Party considers that the site has maintained its original values and integrity, what statement ofsignificance would be more appropriate, which projects
are on going or are foreseen, what are the needs of thesite in terms of funding and human resources, etc.
Indeed, assessing the state of conservation of World
Heritage properties in the Arab States would be very problematic, even for those responsible at the site level, in
the absence of a survey of the condition of the property
since the time of its inscription on the List. In this respect
Periodic Reporting sheds light on one of the major weaknesses of the system, at least from its early years until
1993: the inadequacy of almost all the Nomination Filesin terms of the description of the properties and the justification for their inscription on the List.
It is important to understand, therefore, that the objective of Periodic Reporting is not so much the actual state ofconservation of the sites, but rather the way in which
States Parties manage them. This latter information wasof the utmost importance as it provided the Committeewith a general overview of the degree of implementationof the Convention in the Arab Region, which enabled thedefinition of a strategy of action and a more effective useof resources.
The Periodic Reporting exercise, in particular, allowed theidentification of the main issues and active factors affecting the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties of the Region. Among the various issues, whichwere recognised, one of the most important is certainly
the lack of an adequate capacity in managing and conserving the heritage resources, and particularly of knowledge of the WH Convention, its main concepts and procedures. This was apparent from the statements of theStates Parties in the Periodic reports, as compared withthe reality on the ground.
For this reason, the Regional Programme developed in
Chapter three, which introduces a very innovative andpro-active approach to the implementation of theConvention, focuses mainly on capacity building, with aview to facilitating as much as possible States Parties intheir interaction with the World Heritage Convention.

66

The lessons learnt from this Periodic Reporting will be certainly taken in due account in view of the next cycle. The
questionnaires, as an example, will have to be re-draftedand simplified in a language more easily understandable
to persons who are not entirely familiar with the jargon of
the Convention. More attention will have to be paid to
issues such as the definition of boundaries of the WH property and its buffer zone, the values that justified the inscription of the sites on the List and the specific measurestaken to ensure their conservation.
In general, this first exercise conducted for the ArabStates has provided a number of very interesting and useful indications, which have benefited the implementationof the Periodic Reporting for other regions in the following years. Through the feedback provided for the elaboration of the Regional Programme, moreover, Periodic
Reporting has initiated a completely new way of working
within the Convention and contributed to achieving significant progress in its implementation.

Map of World Heritage
properties in
the Arab Region: 2003

Appendix67Appendix

Map of World Heritage Properties in the Arab Region (2003)

68Legend:World Heritage Properties in Danger

69