Decision 38 COM 7B.18

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (Nepal) (C 666rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.64, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Notes the progress made in developing the Integrated Management Framework document and its Management Plan, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as well as conservation measures taken for the property;
4. Also notes the awareness raising efforts undertaken by the State Party, notably in the publication of two books on Lumbini and the development of the UNDP/UNESCO brochure to raise funds for the completion of the Kenzo Tange Master Plan;
5. Urges the State Party to adopt the Integrated Management Framework document and to continue its work on the finalization of the Integrated Management Plan/Process (IMP), and also urges the State Party to not approve any development project within the property, or in the adjacent areas identified as having potential archaeological significance, before the completion of the IMP and before conducting Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) that are in conformity with the ICOMOS Guidelines on Heritage Impact Assessments for World Heritage cultural properties;
6. Notes with concern the proposed development of the Lumbini World Peace City in the Greater Lumbini Area, and requests the State Party to submit detailed information on this development, and to submit information about any other proposed major restoration or new construction in the vicinity of the property, to the World Heritage Centre for review by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines ;
7. Encourages the State Party to develop a strategy for the protection of the larger Greater Lumbini Area and its setting, including but not limited to Tilaurakot and Ramagrama, and to further reduce industrial activity in the vicinity of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2015, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016.