At the same time it was decided, that an investigation of the endangered sites will be carried out as soon as the security situation permits. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) will lead the operation. More sites on the so-called Red list, e.g. in Iraq or Yemen, have also been discussed intensively.

In the afternoon the WHC had the chance to celebrate the removal of Colombia’s World Heritage site Los Katíos National Park from the World Heritage in Danger List. The site was inscribed in 2009 at the request of the Colombian government due to illegal logging, fishing and hunting as well as the unlawful establishment of settlements. Through improved management of the national park, these threats have been significantly reduced.

The reconstruction of the mausoleums in Timbuktu was the subject of an event during the lunch break of the Committee meeting. Alassane Hasseye, representative of the Timbuktu masons, received an award from the UNESCO Director-General, presented by WHC’s chairperson Maria Böhmer.