STATE OF CONSERVATION REPORT

PETRA WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Forward

Acronyms

DoA Department of Antiquities FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation

JICA The Japan International Cooperation Agency

ICOMOS International Council for Monuments and Sites

IMP Integrated Management Plan

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

MoTA Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

NGO Non-governmental Organization

OUV Outstanding Universal Value

PAP Petra Archaeological Park

PDTRA Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority

ToR Terms of Reference

UNESCO United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization

WHC World Heritage Committee

WHS World Heritage Site

Petra World Heritage Site - Property Data

State Party TheHashemiteKingdomofJordan

Identification Number 326

Year of inscription on the List of World Heritage 1985

Type of Property Cultural

Geographic Information (lat/long) 30̊19’50”N,35̊26’36”E Area 264squarekilometers

Government Institutions Responsible for the Property MinistryofTourismandAntiquities(MoTA),DepartmentofAntiquities(DoA),PetraDevelopmentandTourismRegionAuthority(PDTRA–managementjurisidiction)LocatedintheGovernorateofMa’an,JordanCriteria (i)(iii)(iv)

Previous Committee Decisions 1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,2000,2001,2010,2011,2013,2015,2017Previous monitoring missions 2000:ICOMOSMission2004:UNESCOMission2009:UNESCOTechnicalExpertMissions2010:WorldHeritageCentre/ICOMOSReactiveMonitoringMission2017:WorldHeritageCentre/ICOMOS/IUCN

Response to the Main Issues raised by the Reactive Monitoring Mission

2017

Main issues raised by the Reactive Monitoring Mission were as follow:

• InstitutionalFrameworkandManagementStructure• TheVisionforPetra'sFutureandTerritorialPlanning• DevelopmentPlansintheBufferZoneandLargerSettingofPetra• IntegratedManagementPlan(IMP)• DesignationofthePAPasaNaturalProtectedArea • ConservationandArchaeologicalExcavationsattheProperty• ArchaeologicalResearchandCoordination• AnimalswithintheProperty • WaterManagementandFlashFloods• RockFalls• IntangibleHeritageValues• LocalCommunities• ChildLabourandSchoolDropouts

Withinthisreport,eachissuewillbeclarifiedthoroughly.

• InstitutionalFrameworkandManagementStructure

• TheDepartmentofAntiquities(DoA)andPetraDevelopment&TourismRegionAuthority(PDTRA)alongwiththecoordinationoftheUNESCOAmmanOfficeinvitedthegovernmentalstakeholderstodiscussmainissuesandsharerecommendationsandsuggestionstobeconsiderwhilepreparingthenewIntegratedManagementPaln(IMP).

• AfouryearsMemorandumofUnderstanding(MoU)betweenDoAandPDTRAiscurrentlybeingdraftedandshallbesignedsoon.

• TheVisionforPetra'sFutureandTerritorialPlanningOpenedin1983;TheCrownPlazaHotel,wasthefirsthotelinthePetraregiontoofferfive-starlevelaccommodationsandservices.ItisownedbyJordan’sPublicSocialSecurityCorporationandcurrentlymanagedbytheInterContinentalHotelGroup(IHG),thehotelwastemporarilyclosedin2012.Severalmeetingswereheldduringandafterthereactivemission'svisit,andanothermeetingbetweenadesignerandacommissionerboard,wherethemethodologyoftherenovationwasdiscussed.Thefinaldicisionconcludedthattherewillnotbeanyexpansiononthehotel’splans.Recently,thePrimeMinistersentaletterpermittingtherenovationandrehabilitationofthehotel’splans,therefore,limitingtheworkontheexisting

buildingandchaletsonly,withaminimalphysicalandvisualimpactonthesite,inordertopreservetheOutstandingUniversalValue(OUV)ofthesite,accordingtowhatwasagreeduponwiththereactivemissionintheirlastvisit.TheCrownPlazaHotel’srenovationproposal,subjecttothefollowingimportantconditions:

• Aproposalforwaterharvestingsystemsintheprojectareashallbepresentedbeforeanyfieldactivitiesstart.

• AlltheactivitiesthroughtherenovationwillbesupervisedandmonitoredbyPDTRAandDOAstaff.

• EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)wasrequestedtobesubbmittedbytheHotelbeforestartinganyrenovation.

• HeritageImpactAssessment(HIA)wasrequestedtobesubbmittedbytheHotelbeforestartinganyrenovation.

• DaytodaymonitoringthroughPDTRAstaff,wheretheyhavethefullauthoritytohaltanyworkthatcouldnegativelyimpacttheOUV.

Inconclusion,therewillnotbeanyvisualimpactonthesiteduetothepreviouslyintendedlevelofrenovation. Theeco-tourismvillageproject:

- ThePDTRAhaveembarkedonanecologicallysustainableprojecttoenhancethetourismservices,TheEco-Lodgeprojectisstillinitsdesigndevelopmentphase,andisplannedtobeconstructedinthePetraWHSBufferZone,nearthepopularvisitorsiteofAlBeidha.

- AnarchaeologicalsurveywasconductedbyPDTRAandDOAstaff,resultedthatthereisnoavailableevidenceonthesurfaceandground.

- Re-studyingthespecificationsandtenderitemsoftheremainingandexternalworkoftheeco-tourismvillage,inawaythatcanbeenvironmentallysustainable,usingreversiblematerials,andharmoniouswiththeadjacentatmospherewithaminimumvisualpollution.

- PDTRAconsultedAmmarKhammash1;aheritageandarchitecturalspecialist,abouttheproject,henceheprovidedhisprofessionalrecommendationsandadvicestomanagethesituation.

- Seriousattemptstosetupnewscenariosthatexpandstheareasforresidentiallanduseandotherservicestoreducethepressureonthecurrentcommunitynodes.

1AmmarKhammashisaJordanianarchitectstartedinthelate1980's.Hisearlyprojectsfocusedonrestorationandrenovationofhistoric

sitesandinterventionswithinculturalandnaturalheritagesites.Later,hisprojectsstartedrangingfrommasterplanningandurbandesign

tosustainabletourismanddestinationdesign.Projectsincludehotelsandlodges,restaurants,museumsandinterpretationcenters,

institutionalandeducationalbuildings,residentialprojectsandinteriordesign.

- Takethenecessarystudiesandmeasures(EIA,archaeologicalSurvey,HIA….)toreducethevisualandenvironmentalimpactsofongoingprojects.

Theculturalvillageproject:Re-studyingthespecificationsandtenderitemsoftheremainingexternalfacadesandtheroofsoftheculturalvillagetominimizethenegativevisualimpactby:

- Reducingtheinterlocktilestoanaturalsand.- RemovingtheparkingareafrominsidethePAPboundariestoanarea

outsidewithintheproject’spremises.- Usingamorelocalmaterialsfortheroofs;suchasmudandsingle

aggregates.- Changingthepavementoftheoutsidecourtyardsusingthevalley’s

gravels.- Usingthegabionstilesforthefoundationandcoveritwiththelocal

stone.- Re-locatingthesolarpanelstoaninvisibleareaofthepark.- SimilartotheEco-villageproject,consultingaheritageandarchitectural

specialist,AmmarKhammashabouttheproject.• DevelopmentPlansintheBufferZoneandLargerSettingof

Petra• CancelingthetwomainprojectsfromtheInvestmentMap-Petra

Regionwhicharehegiantwheelandthecablecar. • DuringthepreparationprocessoftheIntegratedManagement

Plan,thesteeringcommitteeagreedonsigninganMoUbetweentheDOAandPDTRAtoreviewandassistthedecisionmakingprocessforanyinterventioninsidethesiteandthebuffrzonebeforeanyimplementation.TheMoUiscurrentlyinitslasteditingphaseandshallbesignedsoonbeforetheendofMay2018.

• TheStatePartyaffirmstoinformtheWorldHeritageCommitteeforanyplannedconstructionswithinPetraregionwhichmayaffecttheOUVofthepropertyofPetrabeforemakinganyactionordecision.

• IntegratedManagementPlan(IMP)Currently,anIntegratedManagementPlan(IMP)isbeingfinalizedandwillbesubmittedbyMay2018.TheIMPhavebeenpreparedjointlybytheUNESCOAmmanOfficeandthetechnicalteamdrawnfromthestaffoftheDoAandPDTRA.ItfocusesonkeyissuesconcerningthemanagementofPetraArchaeologicalPark.Itsmaincenterofattentionisthecollaborationwithallinvolvedstakeholders,therefore,extensivemeetingswereheldinregardsof14advisorygroups:

1. Localcommunitypartnerships2. Lawandlegalities3. HeritageConservation4. Archaeology5. Geologyandhydrology6. Infrastructuremanagement7. Natureconservation8. Visitorservices,interpretationandmuseums9. Tourism10. Planningandlanduse11. Riskmanagement12. Sustainabilityandecodevelopment13. Education14. Datamanagement.

TheextensivemeetingsresultedinaPolicyFrameworkwith27necessarymanagementactions,tenofwhichareconsideredofhighpriority.AssoonastheIMPisofficiallyendorsed,itsimplementationshouldbecoupledwithlegalprovisionsandreinforcedwithadequatepolicies,hence,theMoUbetweenDoAandPDTRAshallbesignedsoon.Theactionplanconcentratesonkeyconcretetargetsthathavebeenidentified,togetherwiththeirappropriatemilestonesandperformanceindicators,keyplayers,SustainableDevelopmentGoals,costestimatesandanindicationofthefinancialfeasibility,potentialfundings,andtimetablefortheimplementationoftheIMP,whichwillrepresentcriticaltoolsfortheimmediateimplementationoftheIMP.TheIMPacknowledgestheshortfallinfunding,andsuggestsdifferentmeansoffundingfordifferentactions,dependsonstakeholdersinvolved.ThemanagementprogrammeoutlinedintheIMPincludesanumberofpriorityactionstobeachievedwithina5yearplanningtimeframe,withpriorityseton

policiesofcategoryAandB.ThroughtheActionPlan,theIMPhasbeenconceivedasaplanningtooltoguidethemanagementofthesiteforthecoming5yearsanddirectfundingintopriorityactions.TheMemorandumofUnderstanding:TheMoU-thatwillbesignedsoon-definestherolesandresponsibilitiesoftheDoAandthePDTRAinregardsofprotectingPetraanditsOUV.WhereitiswisetomentionthattheMoUincludesestablishingajointtechnicalcommitteethatwillfacilitatedecisionmakingbybothparties.

• DesignationofthePAPasaNaturalProtectedArea ThePDTRAisinprocessofannouncingthePAPasaNaturalProtectedArea,afterobtaininganapprovalfromtheMinistryofEnvironment.DesignatingthePAPasaNaturalProtectedAreawillbeanadequatetoolfortheprotectionandconservationofPetra'snaturalandculturalresourcesandtheprotectionofitssetting,andwillcontributetoextendingthetourists’stayinthesite. PDTRAiscurrentlyintheprocessofpreparinganMoUwiththeMinistryofEnvironment,inordertoelaborateonaspecificmonitoringprogrammeforthenaturalvaluesoftheNaturalProtectedArea.• ConservationandArchaeologicalExcavationsattheProperty

TheIMPcoveredallissuesrelatedtoheritageconservationofthesite,suchasimprovingthetechnicalstaff’scapacityaswellastheregulationsofconservationandmethodology,thereforePDTRAisintendingtoestablishaconservationcentretoimproveitsstaff’scapacityforthepreventiveconservationofthesite. BasedontheAntiquitiesLawandtheregulationsforarchaeologicalprojectsinJordan;theDoAisthesoleresponsibleforpermittinganyexcavationsinthesite;whichincludesalltheconservationandexcavationsprojectsinPetra,ontheotherhandtheDoAandPDTRAhaveanassessmentplanforallthearchaeologicalmissionsinPetra.HowevertheMoUstatedthatthereviewforanynewproposalforexcavationorconservationprojectwillbedonebybothDoAandPDTRA,wheretheofficialpermissionwillbeissuedbytheDoA. Inaddition,PDTRAwillestablishamaintenanceandrestorationcentertorehabilitateandtrainthetechnicalstafftocarryoutmaintenanceand

restorationworkswithinthearchaeologicalsite,incooperationwithlocalandnon-localexpertiseinJordan.• ArchaeologicalResearchandCoordination

OneofthekeyaspectstheIMPfocusesonishowtooptimizethearchaeologicalresearchinPetra.Anumberofessentialactionsdirectlyhandlethistopic,suchas:

- Preparingaforward-lookplanforresearch,excavationandconservationpriorityareas.

- Undertakingregularreviewsofarchaeologicalresearchorexcavationstakingplaceatthesite.

- Enforcingnewantiquitiesregulationsconcerningexcavationpermits,conservationandpublicationoffindings.

- Improvingdatasharingofconservationpractices,materialsandtechniquesandmonitorefficacyofinterventions;whereitisimportanttobuildininformationfrompastprojectsandresearchintotheGISdatamanagementsystem.

- Identifyingpriorityareasforpreventiveconservationandconservationandattractfundingtopriorityprojects.

- Establishingaguidanceframeworkforconservation(levelsofintervention)andappropriatemethodologies.

- EstablishapermanentcommitteewithexpertmembersfromPDTRAandDoAtomaintainastrategicviewonexcavationsandconservationatPetra;reviewingtheprojectsproposalssubmittedtoJordangovernment.

• AnimalsWithintheProperty

Anawarenessprogramsforbothanimalownersandschoolstudentswasconducted.Additionally,strategieshavebeendevelopedfordealingwithanimals,incooperationwiththeFoodandAgricultureOrganisation(FAO),theMinistryofAgriculture,theAssociationonofVeterinaryDoctors,Thecharityfortheworkinganimalsoftheworld(SPANA)andtheUniversityofScienceandTechnology.UnderthepatronageofHRHPrincessAlia,afreemedicaldaywasheldforallanimalswithallpreviouslymentionedentitieswhereuniversitystudentswereinvolved,inaddition,anewveterinarianwasappointedatthePDTRA.Moreover,theBROOKclinicwasreopenedandtheworkisbeingmonitored.

Additionaltoolswerealsoadded,suchasspecialregulationsforanimalownersweredraftedincooperationwiththeUniversityofScienceandTechnology(TheVeterinarianDivision),aswellasanotherprogramincooperationwithGreaterAmmanMunicipalitytomanagestraydogs.Inaddition,thePDTRAwillestablishadedicatedfundfromitsrevenueforsocialwelfareactivitiesthatsupportvulnerablemembersofthecommunityandthoseingreatestneedinthearea.Additionally,PDTRAwillworkwiththeHorseOwnersAssociationtoidentifykeyissuesrelatingtothehorsecarts(animalwelfare,dust,impactofwheels,andrisktotouristswhoarewalking)andestablishwaysinwhichtheseriskscanbereducedoreliminated.Othermeasureshavebeentaken,suchas:

• TheuseofalternativetransportationsuchasGolfcartsintheSiqisbeingconsidered.

• Identifyandclearlysignalareasthataretoofragileforanimalstoaccess(includingwearingsandstoneorancientpavedsurfaces)andestablishregulationsforanimalswhiletheyareonthesite.

• Identifyspecifictrailsallowedfordonkeys(e.g.Beidhaarea)andbasedonthisdeterminenumberofdonkeysthatcanbepermittedonsiteatanyonetime(carryingcapacity)andthefunctionsthattheywillundertake.

• Createalternativejobopportunitiestocurrentdonkeyowners • WaterManagementandFlashFloods

- Rehabilitatingsometerracesandregularcheckingofthedamsinsideand

outsidethesite,inadditiontoreactivatingtheearlywarningsystem.- Continuingtheconstructionoftheretainingwalls,nonetheless,afterthe

hydrologicalstudiesofthesitesareconductedandthearchaeologicalsurveysaredone,takingintoconsiderationsurroundedlandscape.

• RockFalls

RemovingunstableblockintheTreasuryfacadesAfterthedocumentationworksthattookplaceinJune2018,themission’simplementationworksbeganover12continuousdays,theteamconsistedof10workersfromtheNabataeanCapitalAssociationCommittee,andonesupervisorfromtheSiqStabilitytechnicalcommittee,theworkincludedmitigationmethods,cleaning,looseremove,waterdiversion,debristerracing,

dislodgmentandblockremoval,inadditiontoupdateddocumentationreports.SiqStability-PhaseII

- Traininglocalworkersondebriscleaningprocedure:anintroductivetrainingonthemethodologyofcleaningandmanagingthedebrisontheedgesandslopesoftheuppersidesoftheSiqwasgivintotheinvolvedteam.Thetrainingwascarriedouttotheinvolvedstaff.

- GeoinformaticsandDebrisRemovalDatabase,DebrisRemoval

InterventionDatabase:thisincludedataabouttheSiq’sdifferentsections,physicalinformationabouttheirsize,location,slopenature,soilcover,vegetationcover,archaeology,etc.Furthermore,dataaboutthedifferenttypesofinterventionsmadeoneachsectionarecollectedandbeingenteredtothedatabase.Thedegreeofsatisfactionforeachinterventionisevaluatedforschedulingofnextmaintenanceandrepair.

- GeographicInformationSystem(GIS):ToaidintheSiqStabilityProject

datamanagement,variousapproachesusingGeographicInformationSystems(GIS)havebeenusedtodocumentthedifferentdatalevelstoidentifythespatialdistributionsofrelativeSiqslopeinstabilityandslopemanagement.ThisGISpresentsasystematicgeodatabasingandevaluationofthecommonslopeinstabilitymitigationapproachesappliedinthePetraSiq.ThegoalofthissystemistoprovideanassessmentofrelativeslopemodebehaviorandmitigationfailurepotentialinordertoascertainwhichmitigationmeasurecanbethemosteffectiveinriskreductionattheidentifiedunstableslopesintheSiqmanagementcontext.

- Atthebeginningofthesurveyworks,PDTRAconductedworkinthefield

asfollowing:1- Takingageneraloverviewontheworkareatodividethesections-as

accurateaspossible-accordingtothecommongeologicalcharacteristics.

2- Afterdividingthesectortosections,theyworkedonfillingthechecklistforthesections,inthisstep,theychoosetheresultsaftertheyreachedthearea,theyshowedtheevidencesanddiscussedthem,thentookphotosforallresultsandevidences.

3- Computerizationworks:A. Creatingafileforeachsection.B. Copyingthephotosofsectiontothesection’sfile.

C. Refillingthesoftcopyofthechecklistafterrevisingtheresultsanddiscussion.

D. Supportingthechoicesanddecisionswithfigureswhichincludedescriptions.

E. Finally,specifyingtheunstableareas,looseremoveareasandthesuggestedreplacementarea.

SiqStability-PhaseIIILandslideMitigationworksintheSiqofPetra(SiqStabilityPhaseIII)Executionofconsolidationofunstableblocksinsector11:ThelandslidemitigationprocessintheSiqofattainedthefollowing:

- Basicknowledge- Monitoring- Hazardanalysis- Implementationofmitigationworksandtraining- Implementationofdebrisremovalsmallblock- Dislodgmentandimplementation

Proposedinterventions2,worksexecuted

• IntangibleHeritageValues

- LinkingtheJordanianculturalidentitywithintangibleheritageinthe

region,whichwillpositivelyenhancetheconnectiontothesite. - EstablishingcooperationwithPrincessBasmaCenterforIntangible

CulturalHeritageatAlHusseinBinTalalUniversity. - PDTRAissupportinglocalinitiatives,suchasGrandmother'sClub,which

wasfoundedbytheyoungwomeninWadiMusaCenter,andassistin

gatheringolderwomentomeetanddiscusswithyoungpeopleovertheageof18totalkabouttheirexperiencesintheregion.

- ProducingaseriesoffilmswithcollaborationwiththeRoyalFilmAuthorityandAlHusseinBinTalalUniversity(TVProductionUnit),addressingintangibleheritageaspects,suchastraditionaldresses,food,agriculture,andalltheculturalfacetsofthelocalcommunitywithinthearchaeologicalsite.

- DefiningthetraditionalcraftsinPetraastheworksoftheartisanalsocietieswithinthePDTRA,inordertoimprovetheseproducts,whichshowstheculturalidentityofthearchaeologicalsite.

- DevelopingandstrengtheninglocalproductsandhandcraftsinthesensethatreflectsculturalvaluesofPetra.

• LocalCommunities

DuringtheReactiveMonitoringMission,twomeetingswereheldwithlocalcommunities;eachmeetingconsistedofasmallrepresentativegroupwhodescribedtheirsituationandthechallengesfaced.Themainchallengewasthattheyfeeldisenfranchisedandneedasuitableframeworkfromtheregionalauthoritiestoaddressprivatelyownedlandwithintheplannedbufferzone,individualeconomicgrowthandbettermanagementofthePetrasite.Althoughthebufferzoneproposedregulationlimitingthelandownersfrommakinganynewconstruction,thenewprojectsimplementedinthebufferzonebythePDTRAaimedtoreducethepressureinthesite,andgenerateneweconomicbenefitsforthelocalcommunities.ThePDTRAisworkingonthefollowing:

• PDTRAwillreformtheAdvisoryCounciltoincludeallthesixpopulatedcommunities

• Improvingaccesstoeconomicbenefitsderivedfromthesiteandtourismtoawiderpartofthecommunity.

• Promotingnewactivitiesrelatedtotourisminallvillages.• FacilitatingtheroleoflocalinitiativesSuchastheNabataeansCapital

Associationtoincludeallareasoftheregion.• Workingwithlocalcommunitiestodevelopalternativetourism

experiencesinthesurroundingarea.• PDTRAwillidentifytourismproductsandactivitiesthatcantakeplace

withindifferentlocationsaroundPetraandaremanagedbythelocalcommunitiesintheseareas;andworkwiththesecommunitiestodevelopandmarkettheseproductsandactivities.

• Identifyingspecificeconomicactivitiesthatcanbelocatedineachvillagebeyondtourismrelatedactivities,andsupportlocalcommunitiesindevelopinginitiatives

Inaddition,aninitiativebytheTheJapanInternationalCooperationAgency(JICA)isundertakingaprojectfor‘CommunityBasedRegionalTourismDevelopmentinthePetraRegion’thatwillbeimplementedbetweenNovember2015tillOctober2018,aimingtoimprovetourisminPetraregionincooperationwithvariousstakeholdersandcommunities.

• ChildLabourandSchoolDropouts PDTRAwillworkwiththelocalcommunityanddonkeyownerstostopchildrenworkingonsitewiththeanimalsandtoprovidesupportwithothermeansofeconomicactivity,andworkwithNGOstocarryouttargetworkshopsinschoolsfordifferentagegroupsofchildren,startingwithUmmSayhounandBeidha.AninitiativewasconductedforeducatingchildrenthroughacooperationbetweenthePDTRAandthePetra SocietyforIntegratedDevelopment,spaningovertwomonthswith90childrenundertheageof12years.Keyresultsofthisinitiativewere:

- Improvingthelevelofreadingandwritingforchildren,whichwillhelpstudentscontinueinadvancedclasses.

- PDTRAhasinvolvedthelocalcommunitywithallgovernmentalandnon-governmentalorganizationsthatdealwiththecareofchildrensuchasUNICEF,theMinistryofLabor,theMinistryofEducationandtheMinistryofMinistryofSocialDevelopment,inordertoincreasetheirknowledgeandconcernsofthechildrenandworkingonfindingsolutionsforthem.

- PDTRAoperatedafootballfieldandgameswithintheparkforthelocalcommunities’children.

Andlastbutnotleast,monitorthedropoutlevelsincooperationwithNGOsgroups