Petra

• impact of new hotels under construction in the vicinity of the World Heritage site of Petra 
• insufficiency or non-existence of sewage disposal facilities
• uncontrolled development of villages in the vicinity of the site  
• proliferation of shops 
• insufficient conservation of antiquities 
• construction or road widening projects leading to the site 
• other encroachments upon the integrity of the site
• heavy floodings in 1996 (issue resolved) 
• lack of management plan for the property
• lack of clear boundary delimitations

Upon a request from the World Heritage Centre, due to information received concerning threats affecting the property, the State Party submitted a report on 12 April 2010 prepared by the Department of Antiquities. It indicates that the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority was established following a Governmental law (law no. 15) endorsed in August 2009, in order to develop Petra’s region in touristic, economic, social and cultural terms, as well as contributing to local development. While this new Authority takes over the duties of the previously appointed Petra Archaeological Park Council, the Law of Antiquities governing the protection and management of the archaeological sites of the country remains in effect.

a) Safety concerns pertaining to the crack that had been detected along the south side of the Siq

The State Party reports that risk of rock fall is a serious threat on the site: a large rock fall incident occurred in the Siq in May 2009, and in March 2010 a tomb facade collapsed. The State Party reports that the Department of Antiquities had in particular noted the risks posed by the cracked rock along the southern side of the Siq and that temporary preventive works were carried out in order to prevent immediate further damages and to eliminate threats linked to visitor safety. The report notes that the crack was sealed in order to prevent water seepage during the winter season 2009/2010. Moreover, a detailed study was completed in January 2010 by the Arab Consultants Bureau which concluded, among others, that it would be necessary to carry out interventions in order to avoid risking an increase of the crack and/or the occurrence of additional cracks. Temporary scaffolding is in place and the State Party report notes that temporary support works need to be installed prior to the stabilization.

Since the crack was detected in March 2009, three missions were undertaken by a UNESCO expert (April, June, and August 2009). These expert missions determined that the rock is in an extremely unstable condition and poses a very serious threat to visitor safety, as it is located in the Siq which is the only entrance path into the site. The UNESCO expert, together with a local expert, prepared the terms of reference for the different stages of works required and also conducted a first visual geological risk assessment of the Siq.

As follow up to the expert’s recommendations, the UNESCO Amman office assisted the Department of Antiquities in preparing an International Assistance Request for a geological risk assessment of the whole Siq. UNESCO Amman has undertaken several visits to the site, noting that the necessary anchorage work on the unstable rock has still not started despite the serious safety risk posed by the unstable rock.

b) Building of a conference centre and associated buildings in the Dara area

The State Party report notes that the Department of Antiquities has no information on this issue and notes that, previously, regulations were in place prohibiting any construction in that area. A conference centre and associated buildings exactly adjacent to the Park boundaries would not only severely encroach on the Park but would be located within an area that has been identified as a potential buffer zone for the property. Such situations are related to the fact that while at least two management plans have been drafted since 1994, a final plan has not yet been formally established nor legally endorsed.

c) Actions planned aimed at improving the quality of services provided to tourists

The Department of Antiquities notes that it was informed that the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority plans to carry out a series of actions targeting services and tourist facilities at the site. However, the Department of Antiquities has expressed concerns regarding the implementation of such activities and their potential impact on the site. To this end, it has submitted an International Assistance Request to the World Heritage Centre for an expert mission to Petra to carry out an impact assessment study and recommendations on the provision of electric cars for tourism purposes, the extension of an electric cable along the road leading from Um Sayhun village to the central basin, the installation of portable power capacity and an integrated tourist market in Petra.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are concerned by the state of conservation of the Siq and consider that the necessary remedial work should be carried out as soon as possible to ensure the safety of visitors as well as to limit any further damage. They are also concerned by the lack of progress in the establishment, legal endorsement and implementation of a management plan for the property despite the numerous studies and drafts elaborated. While the State Party has yet to submit to the World Heritage Centre the required boundary clarifications for the property requested since 2006 within the framework of the Retrospective Inventory, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies would recommend the establishment of a buffer zone which would protect the property from further developments. The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are further concerned about the lack of a coordination mechanism between the various stakeholders, in particular the newly established Regional Authority and the Department of Antiquities, which might affect the overall conservation of the property..