Decision 44 COM 7B.21

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (China) (C 1508)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 40 COM 8B.19 and 42 COM 7B.4, adopted at its 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) and its 42nd (Manama, 2018) sessions respectively,
3. Takes note of the progress accomplished by the State Party on a number of recommendations made by the Committee at the time of the property’s inscription on the World Heritage List, and reiterates its encouragement to the State Party to complete the listing of the remaining 37 rock art sites located within the property as ‘National Priority Protected Sites’ as soon as possible;
4. Also notes the continuing efforts to limit development and activities that might be detrimental to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and recalls that the State Party should inform the Committee, through the World Heritage Centre, of any future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the property’s OUV, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before making any decision that would be difficult to reverse;
5. Recommends that the State Party prepare and adopt formal mechanisms to ensure that the OUV of the property, including its authenticity and integrity, is sustained over the long term, including:
   1. The completion of the conservation/consolidation programme for all the rock art sites, with consequent monitoring systems,
   2. A risk preparedness strategy for inclusion within the Management Plan that notably addresses the risk of forest fire;
6. Encourages the State Party to keep the Committee informed of progress with:
   1. The reduction of the risk of fire and the restriction of firewood collection through management programmes, including incentives for the community to engage in ecological protection,
   2. The implementation of green energy projects within the property and its buffer zones,
   3. The implementation of environmentally sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel for the operation of boats,
   4. The implementation of mechanisms to restrict areas allocated to farming to the present level;
7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, an updated progress report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for review by the Advisory Bodies.