Management Plan of Babylon Property Nominated by the Government of Iraq in January 2018 for Inscription on the World Heritage List This document was developed by State Board of Antiquities and Heritage SBAH. The property of Babylon benefits from a management plan completed and endorsed in 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (now Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities). This management plan is currently being revised to take stock of new developments in the conservation priorities and management structure of the property. We are therefore submitting with the nomination file a draft management plan that reflects the current stage in the continuing process of adjusting management priorities to Babylon's Outstanding Value, in order to send the complete MP as soon as possible. CONTENTS Management Plan ............................................................................................................................................... 1 ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Management Framework .................................................................................................................................... 2 CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Section I. Key Messages ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Section II. Purpose and Scope of the Management Framework ......................................................................... 5 Section III. General Overview of the Property ................................................................................................... 6 SECTION IV. Significance and Proposed Outstanding Universal Value ........................................................... 9 4.1. Significance ................................................................................................................................................. 9 4.2 Proposed Criteria for Inscription on the World Heritage List ..................................................................... 10 5.1. Integrity ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 5.2. Authenticity ............................................................................................................................................... 12 SECTION VI. Threats to the Conservation of the Property ............................................................................. 13 6.1. Key Threats................................................................................................................................................ 14 6.2. Risk Preparedness ...................................................................................................................................... 15 SECTION VII. Legal and Institutional Foundations for the Management of the Property .............................. 16 7.1. Existing Legal Framework ........................................................................................................................ 16 7.2. Existing Institutional and Strategic Frameworks ....................................................................................... 17 SECTION VIII. Overarching Management System of the Property ................................................................ 18 SECTION IX. Vision, Goals and Strategic Objectives .................................................................................... 18 9.1. Visions Statement for the Property ............................................................................................................ 18 9.2. Overall Management Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................. 19 9.3. Specific Management Goal and Objectives for the Property .................................................................... 19 SECTION X. Operational Objectives and Timeframe ..................................................................................... 21 Section XI. Reporting Mechanism ................................................................................................................... 21 Section XII. Resource Mobilization ................................................................................................................. 21 ACRONYMS AHD Antiquity and Heritage Directorate DAI Deutsches Archaeological Institute GoI Government of Iraq LGB Local Government of Babil MoCTA Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Antiquities MoE Ministry of Environment MoEd Ministry of Education MoF Ministry of Finance MoHESR Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research MoI Ministry of Interior MoMPW Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works MoO Ministry of Oil MoP Ministry of Planning MoTA Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities NCWH National Committee for World Heritage NGO Non-Governmental Organization NSCPA National Steering Committee for Protected Areas OGWHC Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (2013) OUV Outstanding Universal Value SBAH State Board of Antiquities and Heritage SMT Site Management Team UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization WMF World Monument Fund 1 | P a g e Management Framework Of Babylon Property Nominated by the Government of Iraq in January 2018 for Inscription on the World Heritage List 2 | P a g e CONTENTS Section I. Key Messages Section II. Purpose of the Management Framework Section III. General Overview of the Property Section IV. Significance and Proposed Outstanding Universal Value Section V. Integrity and Authenticity Section VI. Threats to the Conservation of the Property Section VII. Legal and Institutional Foundations for the Management of the Property Section VIII. Overarching Management System of the Property Section IX. Vision, Goals and Strategic Objectives Section X. Operational Objectives and Timeframe Section XI. Reporting Mechanism Section XII. Resource Mobilization 3 | P a g e Section I. Key Messages In January 2018, the Government of Iraq submitted to the World Heritage Committee a property under the name Babylon for inscription on the World Heritage List. the property located in the governorate of Babil , nominated area about 1054.3 hectare. The buffer zone comprises an additional 154.5. Gaining inscription on the World Heritage List, the most prestigious international designation for a heritage site, is a highly demanding and competitive process. Iraq as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention must provide convincing arguments about the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. The country must also make very serious commitments regarding the protection and conservation of what constitutes the OUV of the property. Inscription on the World Heritage List can ensure international support for the conservation efforts carried out by the Government of Iraq, and for local socio-economic development programme implemented by national and local authorities. Yet the strongest commitments for the protection and conservation of the cultural values of Babylon must come from inside Iraq: the national government, local governments and authorities, the private and non-governmental sectors, academics and researchers, the media, and most importantly the communities living in and around the property. This is why great care was taken to develop a management system for the property allowing all stakeholders to play an active and positive role in the protection and conservation of this cultural gem. 4 | P a g e Section II. Purpose and Scope of the Management Framework As part of the process of enhancing the management of this Property, management plan was prepared in 2017-2018 and benefits from a management plan completed and endorsed in 2015. The plans were developed by national expert, supported by international experts, and through a consultation process with institutional and civil society stakeholders at the local and national levels. They include specific information on the key values and attributes of property, and a set of actions addressing protection and conservation issues. This plan is included the main references for the day-to-day management of the property. The overall Management Framework provides for an integrated approach to the management of the property. It constitutes an overarching scheme to guide, harmonize and coordinate the work of the main agencies involved in the management of the property. Specifically, the Management Framework: Recalls the principles guiding the management of the property, namely the conservation of its physical attributes, integrity and authenticity (which form the basis for its global value) as defined in the World Heritage Nomination File for Babylon submitted to the World Heritage Centre in January 2018; Compiles existing threats to the attributes of the property; Summarizes existing legal and institutional foundations for its management; Sets the overall vision, strategic goals and objectives for the management of the property; Outlines the main operational objectives; Clarifies the mechanism ensuring coordination and cooperation between all parties involved in the management and development of the property;