Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

Completion of management plan and inventory

In accordance with the decision taken at the 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008) of the World Heritage Committee concerning progress in the implementation of the management plan, the State Party transmitted a report on 1 February 2010.

The State Party report indicated difficulties in making progress in the development of a management instrument for the property, this time due to a new legal procedure concerning the Urban Development Plans for the four Comuns (town authorities), on the territory where the World Heritage property is located. Indeed, the private owners have appealed to the High Courts against the provisions established by the Urban Development Plan of the Comú d’Escaldes-Engordonay (one of the four town authorities that had not approved the preliminary draft of the management plan in 2007). These provisions concerned the reduction in the level of authorised building in one of the secors located at the foot of the Valley. This procedure blocked once again the development process of the management document for the Valley. It was concluded on 11 December 2009 when the Court recognized the validity of the urban standards set by the Comú d’Escaldes-Engordonay. Consequently, since December 2009, the four Comuns (town authorities) have recommenced work on the development of a management instrument for the Madriu-Perafite-Claror Valley.

The State Party rightly emphasized that, legally, partial approval of the management plan, by only three Comuns, would be insufficient. On the other hand, the lack of consensus would prevent achieving the objectives for the positive management of the Valley.

The report of the State Party furthermore indicates that the Ministry of Culture is awaiting the proposal developed by the four Comuns (town authorities) in order to make an evaluation.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies regret the delay incurred in the development of the management plan and its implementation due to the decision of the Courts in the appeal case concerning competences and the new legal procedure linked to the Urban Develpment Plan.

Furthermore, in accordance with Decision 28 COM 14B.36 taken at the time of the inscription of the property (Suzhou, 2004), an entomological inventory of the property was carried out in 2008 by the authorities and transmitted by the Permanent Delegation on 31 August 2009.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies consider that the study was highly efficiently carried out and congratulate the State Party for its achievement. They consider that the study confirmed the entomological wealth of this property, including the aspects regarding its human use. They also note that it has resulted in new discoveries, as regards the Pyrenees and the Andoran massifs. An important conclusion of this study is the indication of the impacts of climatic change on certain species, including endemic. The World Heritage Committee and the Advisory Bodies recommend the State Party to continue the work targeted through this study, concerning the «supramountain» fauna, and the potential conservation options relating to climate change. However, these options must be linked to pastoralism that has created the landscape inscribed on the World Heritage List.

They also recommend that the study be considered as a basis to continue surveillance of the site, including the maintenance of associated values to pastoral and agricultural practices and the impacts of climate change.