Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System

• Interpretative and visitation facilities
• Management systems/management plan (management and conservation plans under development should integrate adequate risk preparedness and disaster management plans, as well as visitor management strategies)
• Earthquake vulnerability
• Management activities (Geographic Information System to be developed)

Total amount granted: USD 450,000 for the project “Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System” (UNESCO/Japans Funds-in-Trust-for World Heritage) (approved by the Donor in June 2016 and currently under implementation)

On 23 November 2017, the States Parties submitted a joint state of conservation report available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1459/documents/, providing the following information:

• The States Parties continue to work on the development of participatory management and conservation plans in their respective countries, and submitted the following completed and approved plans: the Management-Conservation Plan of Qhapaq Ñan Colombia, the executive summary of the Five-Year Plan of Qhapaq Ñan in Peru, the Management Plan of the Xauxa-Pachacamac segment (Peru), and the Management Plan of the Huanuco Pampa-Huamachuco segment (Peru). The complete Master Plan for the Management and Conservation of Qhapaq Ñan in Chile, version for consultation, was also provided;
• A methodological approach to identify risk preparedness and disaster management strategies was developed, taking into consideration the different risk factors present throughout the property. It is reported that the advances of each State Party on risk management will be presented at the workshop in Cuzco, Peru planned for October 2018, organized within the framework of the project “Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System”, financed by the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFiT) for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage;
• The first stage of the integrated and navigable map (Master Plan) created using the GeoNode portal was presented as the basis for further development and use by management authorities and the general public, and is available at the following link: http://geocultura.cultura.gob.pe/mapaqn/;
• The States Parties continue applying a more comprehensive concept of buffer zone in the property, including a landscape approach for sensitive areas. Information on three additional buffer zone expansions in Peru was presented;
• A workshop with the participation of international experts on Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) was held in Santiago, Chile in August 2017 as part of the JFiT project, where a framework of components and requirements for HIAs was agreed upon among the National Technical Secretariats. Each State Party committed to prepare a table of key Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) attributes and of potential infrastructure projects or significant developments for their country’s components that may have an impact on the property;
• It has been recently noted that at the workshop held in Pasto, Colombia (January 2018), also within the framework of the JFiT project, the States Parties advanced in the design and implementation of a data base to monitor the property’s state of conservation;
• The approach to monitoring the property’s intangible heritage elements was discussed at the workshops in La Paz, Bolivia (May 2017) and Pasto (January 2018) as part of the JFiT project, where some preliminary actions and indicators were agreed upon to establish an appropriate monitoring system;
• The States Parties highlight several examples of events, workshops, projects, and other activities undertaken in 2017, including the first of four scheduled workshops on the conservation of stone and earthen structures in the property, held in Alausí, Ecuador in June 2017 as part of the JFiT project;
• Acknowledgement was made by all six States Parties to the valuable contribution of the JFiT project which is focused on addressing the recommendations approved by the Committee (38 COM 8B.43) at the time of inscription. The project is currently in the implementation phase, with three workshops held in 2017 and one in 2018. The Secretariat Pro Tempore leadership was successfully transferred from Peru to Argentina in April 2017.

The significant advances of the six States Parties in addressing the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee at the time of inscription, as well as their demonstrated cooperation and commitment to the property’s effective conservation and management, should be commended. It is recommended that the Committee recognize their significant advances in the first phase of implementation of the JFiT project in support of the property’s participative management system. In this regard, all six State Parties should be strongly encouraged to continue working in a coordinated manner to strengthen the property’s overall management framework, as proposed in the nomination file, which is imperative to the long-term sustainability of the property.

The strong participatory nature and the involvement of local communities in the development of the management and conservation plans for the property is appreciated. Understanding that the development of these plans to cover all components of the property is a complex and lengthy process, the advancements in the plans presented by the States Parties of Chile, Colombia, and Peru represent important progress. The submitted plans will be evaluated in due course by the Advisory Bodies. It is recommended that the Committee request that the Master Plan for the Management and Conservation of Qhapaq Ñan in Chile, as well as the remaining national and local level plans under development in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies upon their finalization and approval. The submission of further information on the articulation of these individual plans within the broader management framework for the entire property would provide useful context in assessing the coherence and coordination of management structures across this vast and complex property.

The guiding documents and methodology presented regarding risk preparedness and disaster management strategies, as well as the comprehensive approach to addressing the diverse risk factors throughout the property, are noted with appreciation. However, detailed information on the States Parties’ progress on this topic, according to the identified methodology and tools, is not provided. The potential for negative impacts on the property’s integrity due to risk factors, as illustrated by the example presented on flooding in Chile, should be recalled as of utmost importance. Acknowledging the upcoming workshop in Cuzco (October 2018) on this topic, and the ongoing development of the property’s monitoring system, it is recommended that the Committee also request the States Parties to develop, adopt, and implement risk preparedness and disaster risk management plans as a matter of priority.

The redefinition of select buffer zones in the property according to a more comprehensive and landscape approach is appreciated. The States Parties may wish to continue this process as they deem appropriate. 

While the advances towards identifying a framework for HIAs are noted, appropriate follow up to the next steps agreed to at the workshop in Santiago (August 2017) is critical to identifying and preventing any future developments that may impact the OUV of the property.

The advances in the elaboration of the database for monitoring the property’s state of conservation and intangible heritage elements are noted as important progress in this challenging endeavor. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the States Parties to continue the development of the monitoring system, as supported by the JFiT project, to ensure that an effective and sustainable approach is implemented.