Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

• Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
• Illegal activities (illegal occupation of the property)
• Management systems/ management plan
• Water (rising water table levels, rain/water table)
• Continuous deterioration of earthen architecture structures and decorated surfaces from lack of conservation and maintenance practices
• Unregulated farming activities
• Delay in implementing protective measures (legislation and regulations already passed by the National Authorities)
• Development pressures

• Fragile state of conservation of earthen structures and decorated surfaces due to extreme climatic conditions (El Niño phenomenon) and other environmental factors
• Inadequate management system in place
• Insufficient capacity and resources for the implementation of conservation measures
• Increase in the levels of the phreatic water table

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

N/A

On 8 February 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/366/documents/, and responds to previous decisions of the Committee and the adopted corrective measures as follows:

• The Master Plan for the Conservation and Management of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex, approved by Ministerial Resolution No. 000130-2021-DM/MC, was published in “El Peruano” Official Gazette. The State Party confirms its commitment to provide financing for the implementation of the Master Plan through the Ministry of Culture. An amount of 2 million soles (USD 600,000) was allocated for 2021, while an amount of 4 million soles (USD 1.200,000) was foreseen for 2022;
• As part of the process of the delimitation and regulation of the proposed buffer zone, in 2021 the Ministry of Culture submitted to the Provincial Municipality of Trujillo - ;
• The process to amend Law No. 28261, which will allow the full recovery of the Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, continues with the review and verification of the occupied archaeological lands by the Directorate of Cadastre and Legal Physical Sanitation of the Ministry of Culture. The proposed modification of Law No. 28261 will allow for progressive expropriation in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 1192, which approves the Framework Law on the Acquisition and Expropriation of Real Estate, Transfer of Government-owned Real Estate;
• In spite of restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of corrective measures continued in 2021, including, among others, the improvement of the site museum and public tourist services, archaeological research activities by the Pan-American Conservation Centre for Earthen Heritage Sites (PCCEHS), and monitoring of the meteorological conditions and water levels;
• In December 2019, the Ministry of Culture carried out an Emergency Archaeological Action in the Nik An complex, including the sector "Hall of 24 Niches", in anticipation of the potential risk of the occurrence of rainfall. In this context, maintenance and conservation actions were carried out on deteriorated architectural elements and surfaces;
• Development of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Prevention Plan of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex was initiated with the training of technical and professional personnel and preparation of a work plan. The execution of the diagnosis, formulation and validation of the final document was foreseen in 2022.
• Awareness-raising activities included online activities and the use of social media, while artisan workshops were held on ceramic, weaving and embroidery techniques, involving 83 participants;
• The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry and Transport and Communications continue with the identification of alternatives for the improvement of the existing road project “Autopista del Sol” or for a new project. The results of the analysis will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre.

The report of the State Party confirms again the professional manner in which the property is managed. The State Party should be commended for its continued commitment to the conservation and management of the property - through the approved Master Plan - and to the implementation of the programme of corrective measures to achieve the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR).

The State Party should also be commended for the archaeological emergency actions at the Nik An complex, the start of the preparation of a DRR Prevention Plan and the monitoring activities carried out by the PCCEHS.

With regard to the delimitation and regulation of the buffer zone, it is noted that the Ministry of Culture, in accordance with the work plan submitted in May 2021, has undertaken a survey of the area concerned and that PLANDET has advanced in the verification of the information through extensive field surveys. It is also noted that a coordinated work is ongoing between the Ministry of Culture, the Provincial Municipality of Trujillo and the district municipalities of Huanchaco, la Esperanza and Victor Larco Herrera to complete the regulations of the land uses of the buffer zone and that a comprehensive work plan has been established for this purpose. However, the final agreement on the regulation for the buffer zone that was scheduled for October 2021 has not been achieved. The elaboration and approval of a ‘specific plan’ that will include these regulations, within the framework of the Urban Development Plan of Trujillo, may be expected to be a long process during which further deterioration of the situation may occur. The State Party should be recommended to establish a timeline for the urgent finalization and approval of the ‘specific plan’ within the Urban Development Plan of Trujillo.

The same concern is expressed with regard to the amendment and implementation of Law No. 28261, which will allow the recuperation of illegally occupied land within the property and its buffer zone.

Both processes require the participation of, or actions by, multiple actors at the national, regional and local levels. It is recommended that the State Party be urged to strengthen coordination mechanisms at all levels and commit all stakeholders in order to accelerate the legal processes that are required as early as possible and put in place a timeframe for their resolution.

Regarding the road project ‘Autopista del Sol’, it is noted that no new information is provided.

Without the resolution of the above-mentioned two issues, the Committee will not be able to assess to what extent the DSOCR, as defined in its Decision 36 COM 7A.34, has been reached. It is therefore recommended that the Committee retain the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.