City of Potosí

• Legal framework (inefficient enforcement of protective legislation)
• Management systems/ management plan
• Mining (potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain)
• Surface water pollution
• Instability and risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico
• Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
• Environmental impacts on the hydraulic complex which in turn affects historic fabric and local population

• Instability and imminent risk of collapse of the Cerro Rico’s summit
• Lack of conservation policy of integral character which considers all the components of the property
• Deficiencies in conservation: special attention required for the restoration and upgrading of structures with residential use and the archaeological industrial heritage
• Potential degradation of the historic site by continued and uncontrolled mining operations in the Cerro Rico Mountain
• Inefficient enforcement of protective legislation
• Threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6969

Total amount granted: USD 10,000 for a World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS technical mission in 2005 financed by the Spanish Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage

On 2 February 2024, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, the executive summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/420/documents/, providing the following information:

• In June 2023, the Ministry of Cultures presented to the General Directorate of Legal Affairs a “Critical Route to remove Potosí from the World Heritage List in Danger and the preservation of Cerro Rico de Potosí”, which declares the Cerro Rico de Potosí in emergency status and focuses on implementing the Integrated and Participatory Management Plan (IPMP).
• A Management Committee was formally established in July 2023 to implement the IPMP. Technical meetings in June, July and December 2023 also advanced specific conservation issues and the buffer zone, and there is regular follow up by the Ministry of Cultures;
• The Minor Boundary Modification (MBM) proposal for the establishment of the property’s buffer zone is currently undergoing the process of legalization according to specific regulations for the buffer zone;
• The monitoring of the Kari Kari water system’s lagoons concluded that they are preserved and free from environmental contamination. This is attributed to the management of water resources carried out by the Autonomous Administration for Potosi Sanitary Works (AAPOS) to provide potable water to the population of Potosí. Additionally, COMIBOL’s 2022 closures of illegal mines in the Kari Kari water system’s lagoons contribute to this preservation effort;
• In November 2023, an agreement was signed between the Autonomous Municipal Government of Potosí (GAMP) and the Tomás Frías Autonomous University to contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the historic areas of the City of Potosí. This agreement aims to protect cultural heritage as an element that fosters local development. Additionally, it seeks to create training programs for future professionals, further catalogue cultural properties, update legislation, and establish a digital system and database;
• Concerning efforts to stabilize the slopes of Cerro Rico at risk of collapse due to intense mining, monthly monitoring to determine the degradation of the rock massif in the cusp section of Cerro Rico takes place as well as dry filling in 32 out of 140 sinkholes;
• There are some difficulties in the definitive closure of manholes due to lack of coordination, economic reasons, and requests for extension of dates. For the 40 mining sections above an elevation of 4,400 meters, 19 are closed and 21 are closing. The minors are being relocated to other areas;
• A technical review conducted by the GAMP assessed the safeguarding of reservoirs and mining facilities from the 16th-century mining industry. The report included an inventory of 55 mining mills. The Historical Heritage Directorate of the GAMP has proposed a three-month schedule of inspection visits, starting in February 2024;
• The timeframe to ensure completion of all corrective measures in the IPMP needs to be extended to January 2026.

The technical advances made to meet the corrective measures for achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) should be noted. The information provided by the State Party on the “Critical Route” to remove Potosí from the List of World Heritage in Danger and to declare Cerro Rico to have emergency status should also be noted. The establishment of the Management Committee that focuses on the implementation of the IPMP with participation of various stakeholders, including civil society, should be welcomed. However, there is no information on financial resources for implementing the IPMP. It remains of serious concern that the implementation rate of the IPMP is insufficient.

The process underway for the legalization of the MBM proposal for the establishment of the property’s buffer zone should also be noted. It is recommended that the Committee urge again the State Party to finalize the proposal in accordance with recommendations provided by the Committee in its Decision 44 COM 8B.66 and to submit the proposal to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies and approval by the World Heritage Committee, in conformity with paragraphs 163 and 164 of the Operational Guidelines, as soon as possible.

It is noted that following the preservation efforts of the Kari Kari water system’s lagoons, they are reported to be free from environmental contamination, which should be noted with satisfaction; however, the State Party should be encouraged to ensure continuous rigorous monitoring of the Kari Kari lagoons.

Note should also be taken of the agreement between the GAMP and the Tomás Frías Autonomous University for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the historic area of the City of Potosí, and its aims to support the creation of training programs for future professionals, updating legislation, and establishing a digital database. The State Party should be encouraged to provide further information on concrete initiatives taken as a result of the agreement. However, the lack of significant concrete actions undertaken to ensure the consolidation and enforcement of the legal framework and regulations related to the entire property should be a matter of concern for the Committee.

The progress achieved regarding stabilization of the slopes of Cerro Rico at risk of collapse due to intense mining, the relocation of minors, monthly monitoring of the degradation of the rock massif and the work on the dry fills should be welcomed. The State Party should be urged to prioritize the definitive closure of mining sections 4,400 meters above sea level.

It should be noted that technical reviews have been conducted by the GAMP to assess the safeguarding of reservoirs and mining facilities, and that 55 mining mills were inventoried and will be regularly inspected.

Finally, regret should be expressed regarding the proposed revision to the timeframe outlined for the completion of all corrective measures within the IPMP to January 2026, in light of prolonged inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.