Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System

• Management systems (some management plans still pending).
• Lack of risk preparedness and risk management plans.
• Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) common framework needed.
• Developing of a more effective and sustainable monitoring system.

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/Japanese Funds-in-Trust for World Heritage -JFIT-) (approved by the Donor in June 2016 and successfully concluded in 2019)

On 12 March 2021, 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 reported on the final actions implemented for strengthening the Transnational Management system with the support of the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage (JFIT) that lasted 36 months between 2017 and 2020;
• The two main axes developed in the project were addressed through participatory workshops and meetings between all the stakeholders, National Technical Secretariats, indigenous peoples communities and other local actors. The first axis aimed to develop a monitoring system of the property focused on the state of conservation, disaster risk management and intangible cultural heritage; and the second to strengthen capacities of the six States Parties on management, public use, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) and conservation strategies;
• The “Manual for the Conservation of Archaeological Structures in Earth and Stone” was submitted as part of the tools developed within the framework of the project;
• Virtual and face-to-face meetings of the Technical Committee were held in order to address the coordinated management challenges of the Qhapaq Ñan imposed by the sanitary restrictions linked to COVID-19 emergency;
• Also reported as part of the activities was the partnership with the International Italian-Latin American Organization (IILA) for presenting the exhibition “Qhapaq Ñan, The Great Way of the Andes” (currently postponed), and meetings with the European Cultural Itineraries;
• In July 2019, the Pro Tempore Secretariat was transferred from Argentina to Bolivia, underlining the importance of a technical and transnational coordinated work;
• The six States Parties continue to strengthen the International Management System based on the recommendations provided by ICOMOS in its technical review of the Management Plans presented previously. The Technical Committee is currently working on an updated document to reinforce the International Management System, which is in its final stage of preparation;
• The “Permanent Monitoring Matrix on the progress of the application of Management Plans” is also being updated to clarify the minimum contents that the Management Plans should include;
• The Management Plans of four sections of Peru were submitted. It is stated that the processes, contents and formats of the Management Plans will be different according to the legal provisions, management practices and reality of each State Party;
• Two mobile applications, the first called Kamayuq aimed at monitoring and evaluating risks, and the second called AYLLU aimed to be part of the Conservation Status Monitoring System gathering information in situ. User manuals of the two applications were attached to the report;
• Regarding the HIA framework, a matrix systematizing the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) attributes was prepared for each serial component, and the basic document for the Common Guidelines for the development of the HIA was submitted. The work aiming at the identification of projects with potential impacts on the OUV is under preparation;
• The joint document 'Action Program for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Associated with Qhapaq Ñan' with respect to the monitoring of the intangible components of the property was also submitted.

The States Parties informed of three major projects that might affect the OUV of the property: 1) the Chinchero-Cusco International Airport, 2) the South Peruvian Gas Pipeline and 3) the improvement of the public tourist services of the Choquequirao Archaeological Park. Four smaller projects are also mentioned. Furthermore, impacts on some sections of the property in Chile due to heavy rains were described.

In April, the State party of Peru transmitted to the World Heritage Centre general information concerning the current status of the construction of the Chinchero-Cusco international airport project and the situation with regard to the development of Heritage and Environmental Impact Assessments.

The States Parties highlight in their report the significant work and progress made for the reinforcement of the Integral Management System of the property in the framework of the JFIT. The successful implementation of this project has greatly contributed to responding to the recommendations made by the Committee at the time of the inscription of the property, and this should be commended. The participatory approach and the involvement of the communities throughout the development of the two main axes of the collaborative work should be also highlighted. It is noteworthy that the participative and collaborative work have been conducted based on field workshops/meetings held between the Technical Secretariats of the six countries, representatives of the local communities and other local actors involved. The “Manual for the Conservation of Archaeological Structures in Earth and Stone” is a good example of the important tools developed through this collaborative process.

The meetings of the Technical Committee undertaken, despite the ongoing pandemic situation, are appreciated, as well as the transfer of the Pro Tempore Secretariat from Argentina to Bolivia in 2019, acknowledging it as a sign of the coordinated and integrative work between the States Parties. It is recommended that the States Parties and the Technical Committee continue these efforts of collaboration for the long-term conservation of the property.

It is noted that through the Technical Committee, the States Parties carried out a diagnosis of the progress of the implementation of the Management System in each country, underpinning the achievements and analysing the limitations encountered. Under the coordination of the Technical Secretariat of Argentina, a "Glossary of Concepts and Technical Terms of Management for the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, World Heritage" (2020) was prepared in order to standardize a common vocabulary and offer an overview of the main concepts and technical terms for the management of the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System.

It is also noted that the updated document of the International Management System is already in the final stage of formulation, pending the final review by the cultural authorities of each State Party It is recommended that the World Heritage Committee request the States Parties to finalize and validate the updated International Management System document, and to send it for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies once completed.

As a continuation of the work on the development of Conservation and Management Plans, the Committee should acknowledge the receipt of the Management Plans of four sections correspondent to the Cusco region of Peru (Puente Q'eswachaka; Cusco - La Raya Section (Cusco - Desaguadero); Ollantaytambo. Lares - Valle Lacco section; and Vitkus Section -Choquequirao). Differences of the Management Plans due to the different legal provisions and management practices of the countries are noted, nevertheless the Plans should follow a similar methodology and a general overall framework, as suggested by ICOMOS in its technical review of the Management Plans previously submitted. 

As for the two mobile applications developed, Kamayuq for monitoring and evaluations of risks, and AYLLU for monitoring the state of conservation of the property, the States Parties should be commended for their development and encouraged to continue testing the mentioned technological tools to improve their functioning.

Regarding the intangible heritage aspects, the “Action Program for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural heritage Associated with Qhapaq Ñan” document foresees the involvement of local communities in the monitoring system of the intangible elements and in the process of implementation of measures to monitor the state of conservation of the property and the States Parties should be commended for that approach.

It is also noted the systematization work in view of the definition of attributes of the OUV for the property and the definition of Terms of Reference for contracting HIAs. The States Parties are requested to submit the “Common Guidelines for realization of Heritage Impact Assessments” once developed, for its review by the Advisory Bodies and the World Heritage Centre, and should be also encouraged to finalize the identification of projects with potential impacts on the OUV to mitigate those potential impacts as an urgent matter.

Regarding the specific major interventions mentioned on the state of conservation report, it is noted that in 2020, ICOMOS undertook a technical review of the documentation submitted by the State Party of Peru concerning the potential impact of the construction of the Chinchero-Cusco international airport. The review pointed out that major infrastructural works, even if they would not have a direct impact, could have quite pronounced indirect impacts on the setting and context of the property and, in the case of Qhapaq Ñan, on the traditional practices of local societies, as a result of indirect and cumulative impacts in relation not only to the construction work of the airport but to operational practices such as flight routes and visual and acoustic impacts, to larger number of visitors to the area, and particularly to any new associated infrastructure and new tourist accommodation. In this regard, the State Party of Peru informed, in the additional information provided in April 2021, that the HIAs are currently under development taking into consideration the guidelines and recommendations of the 2020 ICOMOS technical review. These HIAs are expected to be finalized by June 2022. It would however be essential to recall to the States Parties that appropriate HIAs should be undertaken for this and any other major project planned to be developed within or in the surrounding areas of the property, in order to take into consideration the potential impacts to its OUV, including integrity and authenticity. These studies should be submitted for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies before any projects are approved or works undertaken.

Finally, the outcomes of the collaborative work done with the support of the JFIT project are remarkable, also the Committee should note with appreciation the reinforced cooperation between the six States Parties for the sustainable conservation and integral management of the property, understanding that one major challenge that the Qhapaq Ñan faces is the level of coordination required between regions and States Parties due to the extension and complexity of the property.