Decision 28 COM 15B.38

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Taking note of the documents transmitted by the State Party in July 2003 and January 2004, as well as ICOMOS and IUCN comments on these documents,

2. Expressing its condolences to the Government of Peru for the tragic loss of life and damage caused in the recent mudslides at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu,

3. Notes with great concern that the revised Master Plan, which should include a detailed Management Plan for the property, has not yet entered into force and recommends the State Party to give the highest priority to finalizing this by December 2004;

4. Urges the State Party to immediately undertake a study on risk-preparedness and prevention in case of natural disaster for the core and buffer zones of the property;

5. Encourages the State Party to reinforce the support of the international universities in reaching an exact understanding of the slope conditions and deformation of the ground surface of the Citadel and the other areas of the Historical Sanctuary by geophysical explorations and landslide studies;

6. Notes further with great concern that no studies have been undertaken on alternative transportation or on the carrying capacity of the property;

7. Acknowledging that efforts have been made to address specific issues such as the creation of a Management Unit, the management of the Inca Trail and the works undertaken at the Citadel,

8. Noting, also, that some of the most relevant issues remain unaddressed, and that some of the foreseen actions have been at the stage of proposals over the past 5 years, while the state of conservation and management of the property have not improved significantly as compared to the situation referred to in the mission reports of 1999 and 2002,

9. Requests the World Heritage Centre, working jointly with the Government of Peru and the World Bank, to set up a programme and action plan for scientific, technical and financial support to assist and guide the Management Unit and related institutions in the integrated conservation of the property and to facilitate implementation of the 1999 and 2002 UNESCO-ICOMOS-IUCN recommendations;

10. Decides to examine the state of conservation of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and to discuss the measures to be taken at its 29th session in 2005.