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UNESCO Published its Report: Preservation of Dubrovnik is a Matter of Priority

Report on the UNESCO-ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission to Old City of Dubrovnik is now published. This valuable document covers the period from 27 October to 1 November 2015, and the most important part of it are recommendations about preserving our heritage.

The World Heritage property Old City of Dubrovnik was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 (3rd session of the Committee) on the basis of criteria (i) and (iii). The ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, situated on the Dalmatian coast, became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century onwards. Although severely damaged by an earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Damaged again in the 1990s by armed conflict, it is now the focus of a major restoration programme coordinated by UNESCO‘, says the report among all the details written in it.

Here are some recommendations published in report. Whole report is attached below in PDF format.

– The retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value should be finalized as a matter of priority, and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for its adoption by the World Heritage Committee, since it provides a fundamental basis for assessing impacts of the various proposals and projects that have been considered by the Mission.

– The State Party should prepare a minor boundary modification proposal, with revisions of the buffer zone to ensure a more consistent protection of the property.

– The State Party should ensure prompt finalization and approval of the Management Plan for the property, which is to define clear procedures for methods for conservation, restoration and maintenance works, especially in relation to the materials being used, as well in the relation to the management of tourists, with special emphasis to be given to regulations of cruise ship tourism.

– With regard to the Pustijerna Archaeological Site, before undertaking any activities the Plans developed along with required the details should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines for review by the Advisory Bodies.

– The “Bosanka 2” project should not be allowed to proceed.

– A light-pollution study of the Bosanka North and Bosanka South Tourist Resorts should be included as part of the Heritage Impact Assessment process.

– The plans to construct the Lazeretto; Quay/Landing Stage with connection to the Old Port should be stopped and the no construction should be permitted in this area.

– In the event of the northern tunnel proposal being carried forward a full Heritage Impact Assessment should be undertaken in accordance with the Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage.

– Properties issued by ICOMOS in 2011, and the project details, including the HIA, should be submitted to the World Heritage Centre in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines for review by the Advisory Bodies.

– The Tourism Strategy section of the Management Plan should define the total sustainable carrying capacity of the city, which should not exceed 8,000 tourists per day, also taking into account the emergency evacuation plan.

– A Risk-Preparedness Action Plan, which includes specific measures related to earthquake threats, should be developed as a part of the Management Plan.

– An action in the Management Plan should be the identification of an unobtrusive interpretation strategy, including new technologies such as employing smart phone technology.

– There should be a legal Act which limits, or prohibits, the passage and mooring of boats, ships and yachts (except the passage of small boats transporting the visitors to the Lokrum island) in the coastal area between the old city and Lokrum island, in accordance with the proposed revision of the boundaries and extension of the buffer zone.

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