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 1,012,810 during the period 2003-2011 under the Spanish Funds-in-Trust; 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 26 December 2022, the State Party of Chile, in its function as the Pro Tempore Secretariat of the technical secretaries of the six States Parties involved, submitted a state of conservation report, available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1459/documents/. which reported the following:

• The positive results of the project Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, financed by the Japanese Fund-in-Trust for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage, were reflected in a UNESCO publication entitled Qhapaq Ñan, Andrean Road System. The States Parties believe it is necessary to continue consolidating the work through a second stage of the project, which could give continuity to the activities undertaken and consolidate the link between the different national and international organizations for the benefit of this transnational World Heritage property;
• The Pro Tempore Secretariat was transferred from Bolivia to Chile. It coordinated the participation of the relevant national institutions in the third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise (first time for this property), with 17 working meetings, as well as with a number of diverse scientific and cultural meetings;
• The Technical Secretariats have met 35 times, virtually, to move forward with pending tasks and updating the International Management System, and ensuring the continuity of the management of the property in spite of staff turnover;
• The Management System of the property has been updated, based on the review and update of the guidelines set out in Annex III of the Nomination dossier. It includes a common methodology for mandatory use for all components of the property, adapted to national conditions, on the basis of two pillars: (a) The Management Structure, which provides an institutional framework and the necessary resources for protection and sustainable and participatory management, and (b) the Management System Permanent Monitoring Matrix, to guide the development of management plans in each State Party and the overall monitoring.
• A version 2.0 has been generated of the Kamayuq mobile application, designed to record and monitor threats and vulnerabilities in the Qhapaq Ñan, while the AYLLU application, designed to monitor the state of conservation of the property and also including factors established for the third cycle of Periodic Reporting, is currently in testing and adjustment stage;
• Following the international workshop on risk preparedness and disaster management, held in Cusco in October 2018, technical documents have been expanded and updated, resulting into the following validated documents: Glossary of Hazards and Vulnerabilities Terms; Manual of Risk Estimation; Risk Estimation Field Sheet Format; Risk Estimation Report Format; Catalogue of Parameters and Descriptors for Risk Estimation; Indicators for recording and monitoring hazards and vulnerabilities; Glossary of Disaster Risk Management Terms; Disaster Risk Management Guidelines;
• The "Plan for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage associated with the Qhapaq Ñan” is being implemented, with links with the relevant areas in each country. The updated Management System includes guidelines for the protection and monitoring of the tangible and intangible attributes of the property;
• The "Common Guidelines for the realization of Heritage Impact Assessments" already included in the previous State of conservation Report under the title "Premises and terms of reference for the preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) for the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System World Heritage Site" is annexed to the Report;
• A, HIA related to the construction of International Airport of Chinchero - Cusco has been developed by an international consulting firm and is currently under review of the Project Management Office of the Chinchero International Airport Construction Project;
• The Report also includes information on a number of educational and awareness-raising projects and conservation intiatives individually undertaken by the States Parties concerned.

In light of the good results of the project Support to the reinforcement of the participative management structure of the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, the intention of the States Parties to continue with a second phase of the project, should be welcomed.

They should be commended for their excellent coordination through the Pro Tempore Secretariat, which ensured joint participation in the third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise, collaboration on all pending tasks, updating of the International Management System, and continuity in the management of the property.

It is recommended that the Committee take note with appreciation of the update of the Management System of the property, which foresees a common methodology for mandatory use for all components of the property, adapted to national conditions, based on the pillars of the Management Structure and the Management System Permanent Monitoring Matrix.

The development of version 2.0 of the Kamayuq mobile application (recording and monitoring threats and vulnerabilities) and the testing of the the AYLLU application should be welcomed.

The development and update of a number of technical documents based on the results of the international workshop on risk preparedness and disaster management (October 2018), should also be noted with appreciation. The States Parties shoud be encouraged to continue producing and updating documentation on risk preparedness and disaster management and should develop specific risk preparedness and risk management plans for the property

The ongoing implementation of the "Plan for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage associated with the Qhapaq Ñan” is noted, as well as the inclusion of guidelines for the protection and monitoring of the tangible and intangible attributes of the property in the updated Management System.

The "Common Guidelines for the realization of Heritage Impact Assessments" should also be welcomed.

Progress regarding the HIA related to the construction of the International Airport of Chinchero – Cusco, is noted. It is of great concern that in spite of the Committee’s recommendations, the construction of the airport is proceeding, and that no timely information has been made available by the State Party about the potential impacts of the airport on three World Heritage properties in the region: the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System, the City of Cuzco and the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. It is recommended that the Committee express this concern and urgently request the HIA be sent to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies in line with the conclusions set out in the ICOMOS technical review of February 2020.

The States Parties should be commended for the development of several diverse projects and initiatives which demonstrate their strong commitment to the conservation of the property.