Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

a) Continuous deterioration of earthen architecture structures and decorated surfaces from lack of conservation and maintenance practices;

b) Illegal occupation of the property;

c) Unregulated farming activities;

d) Rising water table levels;

e) Delay in implementing protective measures (legislation and regulations already passed by the National Authorities).

• Fragile state of conservation of earthen structures and decorated surfaces due to extreme climatic conditions (El Niño phenomena) 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.

The State Party reports on the preparation of the proposed Desired state of conservation to the World Heritage Centre. 

a) Full and systematic implementation of the management plan: secure sustainable funding, abide by prescribed courses of action and policies, adhere to prescribed institutional arrangements, for the conservation, presentation and revalorization of the property;

b) Enforce legislative and regulatory frameworks already passed by the State Party to address the issues of illegal occupations and activities at the property. Collaborate with pertinent authorities for the relocation of settlers;

c) Broad dissemination of the management plan amongst interest groups to strengthen public and private support in its implementation;

d) Collaboration with entities in defining regulatory measures for the management of the buffer zone and of the World Heritage property. Precise plans of the property and its zoning need to be circulated amongst stakeholders;

e) Physical delineation of the property: vegetation barriers, perimeter walls, etc.;

f) Priority conservation measures: control and mitigation of water table levels, conservation of perimeter walls, backfilling of fragile areas with decorated surfaces;

g) Development of an emergency and disaster preparedness plan.

a) Secured funding for the implementation of the management plan in 2008;

b) Functioning institutional arrangements in 2008 (as per management plan);

c) Illegal occupations addressed and activities at the site regulated in 2009 and beyond;

d) Emergency and risk preparedness plan in 2008;

e) Drainage works completed by the end of 2007;

f) Priority conservation works in 2009;

g) Other conservation and maintenance works 2008 and beyond;

h) Management and coordination of works carried out by other sectors in the buffer zone in 2008 and beyond.

The State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation on 5 February 2010 as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009). The report provides information on the status of implementation of the corrective measures and additional information on activities currently being implemented at the World Heritage property.

a) Implementation of the management plan

The State Party reports that implementation of the management plan has continued, focusing on the projects for the conservation and maintenance of the site and several dissemination and educational activities. It also reports on the funding allocated to the Management Unit (Unidad Ejecutora 110) for 2009 and 2010 and lists projects to be implemented under such budget.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recognise that the activities implemented in the past years demonstrate progress towards mitigating the impact of diverse factors on the conservation of the physical fabric of the site. It should be noted however that the management plan for the site, with a 10-year action plan, was finalised in 2000, so an evaluation and review of progress achieved to date is needed to be responsive to current conditions and needs. Such revision needs to include updated provisions for public use, as has been requested in previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee, and demonstrate how funding will be secured in the long-term to guarantee the sustainability of the management system currently in place. This revision must be carried out in conjunction with the approval and coming into force of the legislative and regulatory measures, as they are strongly interlinked.

b) Legislative and regulatory frameworks

The State Party noted in its report that the draft regulations for the application of Law no. 28261 are being produced by the Multisectoral Commission that includes public bodies and authorities. The creation of a Technical Secretariat, by means of a Supreme Decree, to aid in the implementation of the law has been requested to the Ministry of Education. The report indicates that the proposal is still under evaluation. No timeline for its completion has been identified and no proposed draft has been attached.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies are extremely concerned that Law no. 28261 and its regulatory measures, drafted to address fundamental issues such as the illegal removal of soil, agricultural works and the illegal occupation at the property, have remained pending for at least eight years.

c) Broad dissemination of the management plan

The report stated that activities have continued on the dissemination of the management plan among public and private sectors as requested by the World Heritage Committee.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies recognise the progress made by the State Party in this respect and its importance in enhancing participation and collaboration of different sectors as reflected in activities implemented at the site.

d) Collaboration with entities in defining regulatory measures for the management of the buffer zone and of the property

The State Party reports on further collaboration with the Municipality of Trujillo for the definite establishment of the buffer zone for the site based on the revised site plan to be subsequently integrated in the plan for Municipal land use. The State Party reported that regulations for land use at the buffer zone are in the final stages of revision. Actions have been implemented to control urban sprawl and the impact of new constructions at the surroundings of the site.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note that the buffer zone has been revised and integrated with other planning tools at the Municipal level. Since regulations were not approved and put into force as requested by the World Heritage Committee, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies reiterate the need to finalise regulations for land use at the surrounding areas and their full enforcement so as to protect the attributes that sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property.

e) Physical delineation of the property

The State Party did not yet submit the official delineation of the buffer zone.

f). Priority conservation measures

The State Party reported on different projects implemented throughout the year to address conservation concerns at the property. These included maintenance of drains that control water table levels, stabilization of perimeter walls and funerary platforms at the Bandelier, Rivero, Tschudi and UhlePalaces, maintenance of public use areas at Tschudi, and general maintenance activities throughout the site to control vegetation growth and improve the presentation of the site. Maintenance has continued on the vegetation barriers established in prior years to maintain its adequate function.

In addition, work has continued on the Territorial Information System, in collaboration with the Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ITABC-CNR) Rome, Italy. Other activities implemented include capacity building for local craftsmen, educational activities for primary and high school students, activities to include people with different capacities, among others. The report also included information on projects to be implemented through 2010 for the conservation of the site.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies appreciate the progress made by the State Party in both mitigating the rate and extent of deterioration and in improving the conservation of the property. They acknowledge the creation of the Territorial Information System and welcome its full application as a tool for the design and plan of future research, conservation, monitoring, dissemination and public use actions both for the property and the buffer zone.

g). Development of an emergency and disaster preparedness plan

A draft proposal is included in the report. It is currently being used in preparation for the potential impacts of El Niño phenomenon.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies note the development of the plan but express their concern that the proposal only addresses actions to be implemented in case of emergencies derived from El Niño phenomenon. It is not yet officially approved and the State Party stated that more time is needed to finalise the entire plan. A comprehensive risk management plan should also include provisions for other type of natural and man made disasters that could potentially threaten the attributes that sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The proposal needs to be revised under a more comprehensive approach and integrated in the management plan for the property.

In addition, the State Party reports on the following additional activities:

The requested revised provisions for public use and visitor management at the property were not submitted. However, the State Party reports that the project – Tourist Enabling of Chan Chan - is being developed, as part of the Inter Institutional Agreement of Cooperation between the Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) and Trujillo’s ProvincialMunicipality.

The State Party has submitted a draft Retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value which is currently being reviewed by the Advisory Bodies (see Document WHC-10/34 COM/8D).

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the implementation of sustained conservation actions and the strengthening of management arrangements have improved the state of conservation of the property and mitigated significant natural threats. Since the enforcement of legislative and regulatory measures are not yet into force to curb the illegal encroachements, the management of the property and its buffer zone cannot yet be considered sustainable.