Decision 45 COM 7B.155

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (China) (C 707ter)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.20 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Notes the advice provided by the State Party regarding the three pavilions erected close to the Jokhang Temple Monastery to protect three historic stelae, and requests the State Party to submit the complete Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) which has been prepared to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies in accordance with the provisions of the Operational Guidelines,
4. Welcomes the completion of the three conservation plans for the three component parts of the property, and also notes that abstracts of these conservation plans have been provided, but reiterates its request to the State Party to submit all three complete conservation plans to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
5. Notes with concern that, despite its previous decisions, the buffer zone of Norbulingka will not be adjusted to conform more clearly to identifiable landmarks, and that the regulations that will apply to the buffer zones have not been clarified, and also requests the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to review the buffer zone assessment as part of the technical review of the Norbulingka conservation plan;
6. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to submit up-to-date maps of the property as inscribed, including detailed maps of each component part and their buffer zones, to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2023, for examination by the Committee at its 46th session if the technical requirements are met;
7. Commends the efforts of the State Party to manage visitation at the property and to ensure that the Jokhang Temple plaza is being managed in a manner which facilitates respectful pilgrim visitation, and further requests the State Party to monitor and report on the efficacy of the new visitation management measures;
8. Also notes the advice of the State Party about the proposed demolition of the TV tower at the Chakpori Hill, but further reiterates its request to the State Party to prepare an HIA for the new tower, in accordance with the methodology of the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, to ensure that, even though it is outside the buffer zone of the property, the new tower does not have any negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to provide a status update report on implementation of the recommendations of the 2019 Reactive Monitoring mission and the programme for improving the monitoring and early warning system at the property;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, 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 47th session.