Decision 38 COM 7B.26

Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France) (C 80bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 35 COM 7B.91 and 36 COM 7B.74, adopted at its 35th (UNESCO, 2011) and 36th (Saint-Petersburg, 2012) sessions respectively,
3. Commends the State Party on the progress made in defining and strengthening the protection of the immediate and wider setting of the property, and, in particular, in developing specific visual modelling tools for addressing the impact of wind turbines, which could serve as an example of good practice for World Heritage properties facing similar issues;
4. Notes with satisfaction that most recommendations of the 2011 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring Mission related to the Pathway Bridge (pont-passerelle), car park, urban plan for the Barracks, and planting plans for the Cloisters have now been addressed and modifications made to projects and schemes, where possible;
5. Regrets however the decision to maintain the height of the Ford (gué) at 7.30m, instead of the 6.80m proposed by the 2011 Reactive Monitoring Mission;
6. Also notes that a Management Plan for the property is being developed with input from ICOMOS, and that a Coordinator has been appointed for its implementation, which will include the establishment of a Coordinating Committee; and requests that the State Party submit the completed Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Urges the State Party to consider how the Security Pathway recently excavated in the rock face may have had an impact on the integrity of the property, and to implement the necessary mitigation measures.