Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa

a) Damage caused by illegal mining and farming activities;

b) Continued traffic of vehicles through the geoglyphs;

c) Lack of systematic monitoring of the site.

In September 2005, the World Heritage Centre requested the comments of the State Party on a report in a press article concerning the settlement of 60 families in La Pascana zone, only a few meters away from the Geoglyphs. In addition, the World Heritage Centre was alerted by the Director of the Aero-archaeological Investigations Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones Aeroarqueologicas) of the damage caused to the site by trucks driving through the Pampas in order to avoid paying the toll fee on the main road.

As for the reported settlement of 60 families, the INC (National Institute of Culture) informed the World Heritage Centre, in December 2005, that this settlement concerned an area located outside the World Heritage property, and that the damages reported by the press referred to incidences 20 to 50 years earlier. Moreover, according to the State Party, the office of the public prosecutor was supposed to take a decision on the matter, about which the World Heritage Centre would be kept informed. At the time of writing the present report (April 2006), the World Heritage Centre has not received any further information.

According to the State of Conservation Report sent by the State Party in January 2006, the measures taken to halt the uncontrolled, continued vehicule traffic through the geoglyphs and the dumping of solid waste are being implemented according to an Emergency Plan elaborated by a Multi-sectorial Commission, integrating several Ministries with mandates in the concerned area, along with the INC and a Congressman. The World heritage Centre has not received any information concerning this plan.

The Commission proposed two complementary measures as part of the Plan for the Conservation and Protection of the Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca. These include the opening of an alternative road, away from the Geoglyphs, and the restoration of the damaged areas, as well as the establishment of two permanent police posts along the Pan-American Highway. According to information sent by the State Party, these works are due to start during the first semester of 2006, pending approval from the national authorities.

Other activities carried out for the preservation of the Lines, in collaboration with the Maria Reiche Foundation, include solid waste removal, which is carried out every three months along the Pan-American Highway; three campaigns were undertaken in 2005. Frequent aerial control monitoring has taken place in order to detect recent damages to the lines.

In August 2005, the World Heritage Centre received press articles concerning the discovery of an impressive earthen ceremonial centre, extending over 24 km², located in the region of Cahuachi. According to the articles this site, presumably constructed by the Nasca culture, might have been the capital and principal ceremonial centre. All materials found to date are kept in the Antonini Museum of Nasca. Moreover, according to the press, 12 previously unknown geoglyphs were discovered after a wind storm in San Javier, La Legua and Changuillo, along the two banks of the Ingenio River. These geoglyphs appear to be earlier than the Nasca lines. The World Heritage Centre has not received further information concerning this discovery.

ICOMOS supports the action being undertaken by the State Party. However, it stresses the need for a comprehensive management plan, which would bring together the various initiatives taken in recent years, for this vast and highly vulnerable site.