Decision 45 COM 7B.109

Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture in the Arica and Parinacota Region (Chile) (C 1634)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 8B.48 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the official approval of the property’s Management Plan (2020-2026), the improvements concerning site preparation, the advances in the resolution of property disputes, the awareness-raising and training activities carried out with members of the community, and the steps taken to make the management structure of the property more inclusive and encourages the State Party to continue with these efforts;
4. Notes with concern the reported growth of the illegal settlement in component 03, Desembocadura de Camarones, the impact on the edge of the southern terrace of component 03 through the installation of underground fibre optics, as well as the looting, animal activity and solid waste disposal in component 01, Faldeos del Morro, and requests information on the steps taken to avoid or mitigate future impacts;
5. Reminds the State Party of the importance of an integrated management plan and monitoring structure and requests information on their functioning;
6. Takes note of the information on the non-compliance with current regulations by the poultry farms located in the Camarones River valley and urges the State Party to follow-up to solve the issue
7. Encourages the State Party to advance the Arica Communal Regulatory Plan, as well as the process of amending the current legislation on cultural heritage (Law No. 17,288 on National Monuments) with elements of participatory processes and indigenous consultation and, explore the possibility of including the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) process in the regulatory and/or legislative framework of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to provide updated information on the agreement and timetable required to relocate the illegal settlement in component 03, Desembocadura de Camarones, to a location outside of the buffer zone;
9. Further requests the State Party to provide the following information:
   1. Updated topographical maps (with the new delimitations and buffer zones) which show the location of the archaeological sites and areas of potential interest (zonification),
   2. The legal situation of component 03, Desembocadura de Camarones,
   3. The treatment of surface findings,
   4. The stabilization or backfilling of open archaeological excavations in component 03,
   5. The advances of the development of the new Regional Anthropological Museum;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.