Decision 40 COM 7B.58

Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation) (C 544)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 38 COM 7B.30, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
3. Commends the State Party for the continuing excellent conservation and restoration works at the Church of the Transfiguration and requests the State Party to secure all necessary funding to complete these works ;
4. Notes with concern that developments, such as the Museum entrance project, are being planned despite its previous request to the State Party to halt any developments within the property, its setting and the protected areas of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve, and reiterates its request to the State Party to explore possibilities to reuse existing buildings for Museum staff accommodation in order to significantly reduce new constructions;
5. Reiterates that the control of development and fluvial regulation, as well as land-use, remain a substantial challenge and necessitate strict application of legal regulations and sensitive tourism development;
6. Recommends that the Management Plan “Kizhi Pogost 2016-2026” be further developed and should focus on the establishment of sufficient protection measures both within and outside the buffer zone area;
7. Notes that the restoration of the Church of the Transfiguration has entered a challenging period and also requests the State Party to:
   1. Ensure that the introduction of new strengthening systems be kept to a minimum and that traditional methods should be preferred,
   2. Re-establish every part of the Church, notably the beams of the heaven ceiling, to a state close to original in order to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the Church,
   3. Consider inviting a follow-up Advisory mission to assess progress made on the conservation measures and the finalization of the management plan;
8. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.