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2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment SITE INFORMATION Country: Egypt Inscribed in: 2005 Criteria: (viii) Wadi Al-Hitan, Whale Valley, in the Western Desert of Egypt, contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now extinct, suborder of whales, Archaeoceti. These fossils represent one of the major stories of evolution: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. This is the most important site in the world for the demonstration of this stage of evolution. It portrays vividly the form and life of these whales during their transition. The number, concentration and quality of such fossils here is unique, as is their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape. The fossils of Al-Hitan show the youngest archaeocetes, in the last stages of losing their hind limbs. Other fossil material in the site makes it possible to reconstruct the surrounding environmental and ecological conditions of the time. © UNESCO SUMMARY 2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 01 Dec 2020 GOOD The conservation outlook for Wadi Al-Hitan is good overall. Wadi Al-Hitan comprises exceptionally rich values related to the record of life, and these are generally in a very good state of conservation. An appropriate management framework is in place through the updated 2019 Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area including Wadi Al-Hitan as a separate component within its program of action. The management unit still needs to develop a site-level plan for Wadi Al-Hitan within the main management plan document, including its own site maps. Financial resources have increased from previous years and bode well for implementing future management actions. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment FULL ASSESSMENT Description of values Values World Heritage values ▶ Large number of skeletons of a wide variety of fossilized Criterion:(viii) Eocene whales and other marine fossils Wadi Al-Hitan is the most important site in the world to demonstrate one of the iconic changes that make up the record of life on Earth: the evolution of the whales. It portrays vividly their form and mode of life during their transition from land animals to a marine existence. It exceeds the values of other comparable sites in terms of the number, concentration and quality of its fossils, and their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape (World Heritage Committee, 2012). Iconic assemblage of fossilized skeletons of Archaeoceti (primitive whales documenting cetacean transition to marine life), sirenians and reptiles, as well as shark teeth from Gehannam Formation (40-41 million years ago). Additional whale skeletons from Birket Qarun Formation. 4 classes, 15 families and 25 genera of vertebrates represented. Largest concentration of intact skeletons worldwide. Qasr El-Sagha Formation (39-40 million years old), with fossilized marine and shallow marine invertebrate remains (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Assessment information Threats Current Threats Low Threat Damage, theft and vandalism by visitors, including damage by offroad vehicles, are the main current threats to the fossils protected by the site. Natural wind erosion also affects exposed fossils. Whilst this is a natural process and can be considered part of the dynamics of the site, the fragility of the whale skeletons is such that they require protection in order to conserve their Outstanding Universal Value. ▶ Tourism/ visitors/ recreation Low Threat (Vandalism, theft and/or damage by visitors) Inside site, extent of threat not known There was a threefold increase of annual visitor numbers to ca. 12,000 between 2005 and 2008 (UNEP- WCMC, 2011), but a subsequent drop in numbers by almost 50% after January 2011 (El-Kholei, 2013). By summer 2018, the number of visitors had reached 40,000 (IUCN Consultation, 2020). While the impact from theft on the whale skeletons remains low as detailed in UNESCO, 2010, due to their size and weight, they are physically fragile and sensitive to impacts from vandalism. A 2017 survey of experts stated that vandalism occurrs in the site through visitors carving their name on walls of the valley to memorialize their visit (Kamel et al., 2017). This is in accordance with Ibrahim, 2008 who previously reported this action in Wadi Al-Hitan. Enforcement and control on fossil collection has been strengthened through police check points at the park main gate and permanent presence of Wadi Al- Hitan staff members. Several workshops were also organized to raise public awareness (IUCN Consultation, 2020). ▶ Tourism/ visitors/ recreation Very Low Threat (Damage by offroad cars and tracks) Inside site, extent of threat not known Some unofficial access tracks to the site (e.g. from the northern Baharia road) lead through areas IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment containing fossils, which may lead to damage or destruction. One case of fossil destruction was documented, however this was over a decade ago in in 2007 (Nasrawi, 2007). Enforcement logistics are challenging due to the site's remote location (UNEP-WCMC, 2011), however it is believed that the official track to the Baharia road serves tourism pathways for the most part and limits unofficial tracks to outside the boundaries of the site (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Remaining subsidiary tracks have been physically closed by natural sandstone blocks preventing the possible access to the property (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Along all official tracks to Baharia and others outside the property, signposts are established with geographic coordinates indicating the only access to the site (IUCN Consultation, 2020). ▶ Erosion and Siltation/ Deposition Low Threat (Physical degradation of exposed fossils through wind erosion) Inside site, extent of threat not known Damage by natural erosion is slow and overall not significant (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). It is a natural process that is part of the dynamics of the site, but the fragility of the whale skeletons requires that they are protected against additional destruction, e.g. Exposed parts have been protected through polymer embedding by site managers. To address this threat, in 2013 an MOU was signed with the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center for research, capacity building and monitoring and maintenance activities, including a mandate to train students in in situ fossil restoration and maintenance, which continues to be implemented (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Potential Threats Low Threat Climate change is a growing potential threat, which may alter the rate and impact of natural erosion of fossils with Egypt facing dramatic changes in the climate in the temperatures and precipitation level, including more storms and rainfall in winter, spring and autumn. This will require a comprehensive program for fossil maintenance and conservation. ▶ Temperature extremes, Storms/Flooding Low Threat (Temperature extremes and storms/flooding) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site Climate change is a growing potential threat, which may alter the rate and impact of natural erosion of fossils with Egypt facing dramatic changes in the climate in the temperatures and precipitation level (World Data, 2020), including more storms and rainfall in winter, spring and autumn. This will require a comprehensive program for fossil maintenance and conservation in site (IUCN Consultation, 2020). Overall assessment of threats Low Threat Damage, theft and vandalism by visitors, including damage by offroad vehicles, remain the main current threats to the site's fossils, however these tourism and visitation associated threats are managed in order to mitigate their impacts on the values of the site to the extent possible and as such can be considered low threats overall. Whilst the natural process of wind erosion can be considered part of the dynamics of the site, the fragility of the exposed fossils of Wadi Al-Hitan requires that this is treated as a threat to the values of the site and managed accordingly, especially in the context of climate change whereby altered climatic conditions in the future may potentially lead to increased erosion of the fossils held at the site. Protection and management Assessing Protection and Management ▶ Management system Mostly Effective Although it has no separate plan, Wadi Al-Hitan is part of Wadi El-Rayan protected area, and is managed within its administrative system and boundaries under the national regulatory law on Nature IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment Protectorates (World Heritage Committee, 2012). In 2019, the management plan of Wadi El-Rayan was updated and implemented (Mohammad et al., 2019), in which the site values, boundaries, characteristics, infrastructure, threats etc. are set out in detail. In addition, objectives to manage the reserve were provided including specific articles for Wadi Al-Hitan as well as a detailed workplan. Also in 2018, the site was added to the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas having successfully fulfilled the required criteria including good governance, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes
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