The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-08/32.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 7B.45, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),
3. Taking note of the Report on the Implementation of Decision 31 COM 7B.45, submitted by the State Party by 1 February 2008, and of the additional Report issued by the concerned Management Unit on June 2008;
4. Regrets that the State Party did not submit its report in one of the working languages of the World Heritage Convention (French or English);
5. Takes note of the reported progress made by the re-established Integrated Management Unit in preserving the archaeological and natural values of the property and the awareness programmes for the local population, particularly with respect to the implementation of a participative strategy on the control of the western access to the property, the issuance of official tourist information on the risks of passing the night in Aguas Calientes village (Machu Picchu Pueblo), the evaluation of landslide risks and risks management plans, and to adequate budgetary improvements;
6. Further notes the need to sustain efforts in addressing a series of critical ongoing issues identified in past decisions of the World Heritage Committee, including:
a) improvement of effective governance mechanisms for the property,
b) further implementation of effective measures to address risks to the property,
c) adequate management and control of Aguas Calientes growth, and of derived impacts on the property through adequate infrastructure including improved waste disposal systems,
d) adequate visitor management;
7. Expresses its concern over the potentially negative consequences to the aesthetic values of the property by authorizing helicopter flights over the Sanctuary, and urges the State Party to make a scientific evaluation of the risks of this practice;
8. Also urges the State Party to further intensify action, supported by adequate human and financial resources, to sustain effective implementation of the following measures:
a) further improvement of effective governance and integrated management of the property and particularly the Sanctuary, through the participation of all key stakeholders in the review and further implementation of the Management Plan;
b) further development and implementation of a comprehensive risk preparedness assessment to identify and respond effectively to the range of risks noted above;
c) development and implementation of an urban plan for Aguas Calientes to address effectively the following issues:
i) risk due to landslides;
ii) effective enforcement of the urban plan, particularly with regard to the number and height of buildings;
iii) controls on properties and the quality of the construction of the buildings;
iv) adequate capacities of medical and fire services for the local population and visitors;
v) more adequate management of solid and liquid waste and of adequate disposal systems;
vi) additional measures to support sustainable economic and community development consistent with the values of the property;
vii) development and effective implemention of plans to manage visitor use and provide alternatives for transport and access to the property, addressing the increasing congestion of Aguas Calientes;
9. Requests the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and the international community to work closely with the State Party to provide additional technical and financial support to enhance the local and national capacity to urgently and effectively implement these measures, and requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS / IUCN mission to develop an action plan for the property, as part of the revised Management Plan;
10. Also requests the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value including the conditions of integrity and authenticity, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;
11. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and progress achieved on the implementation of the measures for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.
12. Decides to apply the Reinforced Monitoring mechanism to the property for the following two years and asks in particular that the Committee be informed of the results of the Reactive Monitoring mission and on any information relevant for the conservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
13. Strongly urges the State Party to consider requesting inscription of the property on the World Heritage List in Danger.