Decision 40 COM 5D

Report on the World Heritage Thematic Programmes

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/5D,
2. Recalling Decisions 32 COM 10, 32 COM 10A, 34 COM 5F.1, 36 COM 5D, 36 COM 5E and 38 COM 5E, adopted at its 32nd (Quebec City, 2008), 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively,
3. Welcomes the progress report on the implementation of the World Heritage Thematic Programmes and Initiatives, notes their important contribution towards implementation of the Global Strategy for representative World Heritage List, and thanks all States Parties, donors and other organizations for having contributed to achieving their objectives;
4. Acknowledges the results attained by the Forest Programme, which has achieved its key objectives, and decides to phase it out; requesting the World Heritage Centre to continue to provide support in identifying, conservation and managing forests of Outstanding Universal Value, in view of their contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to forests;
5. Also acknowledges the contribution of the World Heritage Programme on Earthen Architecture to the state of conservation and management of earthen architecture worldwide and requests the World Heritage Centre to undertake the necessary steps for entrusting the main partner of the Programme, CRATerre, with the operational implementation of the Programme and to ensure the necessary institutional overview and guidance;
6. Further acknowledges the results achieved by the World Heritage Cities Programme and calls States Parties and other stakeholders to provide human and financial resources ensuring the continuation of this Programme in view of its crucial importance for the conservation of the urban heritage inscribed on the World Heritage List, for the implementation of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to cities as well as for its contribution to the preparation of the New Urban Agenda;
7. Acknowledges furthermore the results achieved of the World Heritage Marine Programme its contribution to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to oceans, also thanks Flanders, the Netherlands and France for their support, notes with concern the possible departure of key donors in 2017 and invites States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to provide human and financial resources to support for the implementation of the Programme;
8. Notes the results achieved in the implementation of the World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Programme, expresses appreciation for the funding provided by the European Commission and further thanks Flanders, Germany, Malaysia, Norway and the Netherlands for their support in the implementation of the Programme's activities;
9. Also notes the results achieved by the HEADS Programme, thanks Ethiopia, Germany, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Spain, South Africa and Turkey for their generous support and decides to phase out the Programme, also requesting the World Heritage Centre to continue to provide relevant support in identifying, conservation and managing of human-evolution related heritage of Outstanding Universal Value;
10. Further notes the progress in the implementation of the Small Island Developing States Programme, its importance for a representative, credible and balanced World Heritage List, thanks furthermore Japan and the Netherlands for their support and also requests the States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to provide human and financial resources for the implementation of the Programme;
11. Notes furthermore the results achieved in the framework of the Thematic Initiative “Astronomy and World Heritage", and further requests the World Heritage Centre to undertake the necessary steps for entrusting IAU with the operational implementation of the Programme and to ensure the necessary institutional guidance;
12. Also takes note of the progress report on the Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest, endorses the recommendations of the first Thematic Expert Consultation meeting, also thanks Bulgaria for its generous contribution and reiterates its invitation to States Parties and other stakeholders to continue to support this Initiative;
13. Urges States Parties, international organizations and donors to contribute financially to the Thematic Programmes and Initiatives as the implementation of thematic priorities is no longer feasible without extra-budgetary funding;
14. Requests furthermore the World Heritage Centre to submit an updated result-based report on Thematic Programmes and Initiatives, under Item 5A: Report of the World Heritage Centre on its activities, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018.