Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point

• Need to define an area surrounding the property and including its immediate setting, important views and other areas or attributes that are functionally important
• Highway 577 crossing the property from north to south

On 24 November 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1435/documents/ and addresses the progress made in the implementation of World Heritage Committee Decision 38 COM 8B.39, adopted at its 38th session (Doha, 2014), when Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point was inscribed on the World Heritage List on the basis of criterion (iii). The Committee recommended the State Party to pay attention to the following matters:

• Continuing its policy of land acquisition in parallel with scientific investigations with a view to establishing favorable conditions to enlarge the limits of the property in case research results would suggest doing so;
• Continuing to implement and assess best management practices that have been successful in minimizing the impact of Highway 577 on the visitor experience at the site;
• Continuing to build capacity and expertise within the management system to profit from the existing Geographical Information Systems (GIS) approach.

The State Party reported on all three items. Following initial research covering about 12% of the Poverty Point Compatible Use Zone (PPCUZ) which was established in 2014 in a 5km radius around the property, acquisition of the privately owned land is not envisaged as research has not identified any significant attributes that enhance the Outstanding Universal Value. Some research is ongoing and some land acquisitions are envisaged for future visitor facilities. Furthermore, measures have been taken in terms of road signage, speed limits and traffic monitoring to minimize the impacts of the Highway 577 on the site visitors’ overall experience. Finally, the State Party expanded the use of the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for site management.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are of the view that the Committee’s recommendations are being addressed continuously by the State Party and no further reporting is required in the short term. The State Party is encouraged to continue with the implementation of the measures requested by the Committee, in order to ensure an appropriate state of conservation and to prevent threats from affecting its Outstanding Universal Value, in particular from activities outside the boundaries of the World Heritage property.