- Members of the Libyan committee demanded that Venezuela submit an updated report on the state of conservation of this heritage before February 1, 2025. Main photo: Unesco
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) agreed on July 23 to keep the Venezuelan city of Coro (Falcón state) and its port on the list of heritage in danger.
The organization has classified Coro as a surviving example of the fusion of local traditions with Spanish Mudejar and Dutch architectural techniques. The capital of Falcón state and its ports were included as material heritage by UNESCO in 1993 and in 2005 this place was included in the list of “properties in danger” after the damage to its structures caused by heavy rains.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) revealed that the information available on the progress made in Venezuela is not complete, and called for the implementation of efficient measures to rehabilitate it.
Libyan committee members demanded that Venezuela submit an updated report on the state of conservation of the property by February 1, 2025, as well as the implementation of all corrective measures adopted.
The debate at the UNESCO annual meeting
The debate at the 46th annual session of UNESCO took place in New Delhi (India) on the state of conservation of the sites already inscribed on the list. The organization also included the centre of Vienna (Austria) among the heritage sites at risk.
Vienna’s city centre was put on the list in 2017 due to the construction of high-rise buildings that obstruct the view towards the Belvedere Gardens. Countries such as Greece and Qatar have noted the progress made by the Austrian government in restructuring the landscape, but have stressed that it is not yet sufficient to remove the city from the red list.
“We will show all members that being on the danger list is not a punishment,” said the Argentine spokesman.
Experts have recommended adding two sites to their list of world heritage sites in danger: Stonehenge, Avebury and associated sites in the UK; and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, in Nepal.
Of the 56 properties that the World Heritage Committee has decided to include on the red list, at least 26 have been maintained without any prior discussion, including: the Gulf of California (Mexico), the Río Platano Reserve (Honduras), Abu Mena (Egypt), or the Everglades National Park (USA).
Other Venezuelan assets recognized by UNESCO
Canaima National Park, located in Bolívar State, was inscribed as a natural asset by UNESCO in 1994. The park’s territory, which borders the borders of Guyana and Brazil, covers 3 million hectares, 65% of which are covered by tepuis and tabular mountains. Its cliffs and waterfalls include Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall in the world at almost 1,000 metres in length.
The University City of Caracas was included as a cultural asset in 2000. This architectural complex was built between 1940 and 1960 according to a project by the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva.
The campus comprises several buildings and structures, including several architectural works such as the Covered Plaza, the Olympic Stadium and the Aula Magna, decorated with the sculpture “The Clouds” by Alexander Calder.
The city of La Guaira, Hacienda Chuao and Ciudad Bolívar, along with the Angostura River, were proposed by Venezuela to UNESCO between 1999 and 2003. However, they have not received approval from the UN body to be recognized as cultural or natural assets. The last time Venezuela’s list of proposals was submitted for review was on March 10, 2020.
With information from EFE
Related news
#UNESCO #city #Coro #risk #list
2024-07-24 10:04:04
