Decision 43 COM 7B.6

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (China) (N 640)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 39 COM 7B.10, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
3. Welcomes the ongoing efforts by the State Party to manage impacts on the property, including through the demolition of illegal structures within the property and the development of plans to systematically address Committee decisions;
4. Takes note of the reported positive measures implemented to minimize the impact of existing cable car, elevator and electric railway tourism infrastructure within the property and the confirmation by the State Party that no similar projects have been developed, yet notes with concern that other infrastructure projects appear to have been approved and requests the State Party to provide more information on these projects and their potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property; in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines before any decision is made that would be difficult to reverse;
5. Also notes with concern that, although the State Party’s report indicates that no new roads have been constructed within the property and that road development outside the property is not impacting its OUV, road construction will continue to be allowed in principle, and urges again the State Party to ensure that no new road development is permitted within the property;
6. Regrets that the State Party did not submit the 2005-2020 Overall Plan of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area and also requests the State Party to submit the revised draft Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review as soon as it is available;
7. Also takes note of the measures undertaken by the State Party to develop a sustainable tourism strategy for the property, of the fact that visitation numbers continue to increase and that tourism carrying capacity limits will be revised with the Overall Plan, and requests the State Party to finalize the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism for Wulingyuan, in alignment with other management documents, and to submit a draft to the World Heritage Centre for review as soon as possible;
8. Notes the efforts to positively engage with local communities during relocation programmes and further requests the State Party to ensure that any such programmes are in line with the with the 2015 Policy Document on the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the Convention and ensure effective consultation, fair compensation, access to social benefits and skills training, and the preservation of cultural rights;
9. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, 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 45th session in 2021.