Decision 38 COM 7B.30

Kizhi Pogost (Russian Federation) (C 544)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.80 adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Commends the State Party for its sustained actions in the implementation of recommendations made by the World Heritage Committee and the monitoring missions to the property;
4. Takes note of the submission of the request for minor boundary modification for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session under Item 8 of the Agenda;
5. Reiterates its concern that the introduction of any new developments or tourism infrastructure will alter the historical and visual characteristics of the property and its setting, and highlights that the present balance between the natural and built environment at Kizhi Island should be maintained;
6. Urges the State Party to regulate tourism pressure (including river based tourism) and to prohibit the extension of developments within the protected areas of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve and Kizhi Island;
7. Also urges the State Party to continue its efforts with particular attention to the finalisation of the review process of the Management Plan considering the recommendations made by the ICOMOS technical review and to further clarify provisions for landscape management;
8. Reiterates its request that the State Party implement all correctives measures identified in 2010, and submit the revised and approved Master Plan for Kizhi Island, including strict land-use regulations for all protected areas, an Integrated Management Plan with appropriate tourism strategy and guidelines for the re-use of numerous existing historic buildings and monuments comprising the Open Air Museum for visitor facilities and exhibitions; as well as a Conservation Master Plan for all components of the World Heritage property and its setting;
9. Also reiterates its request that the State Party halts all proposed new developments in the buffer zone and the settings of the property, including visitor and administration facilities until these are reviewed, and requests the State Party, in accordance to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines , to submit, upon completion, the project proposal, technical specifications and heritage and environmental impact assessments, for the Office and Visitor Centre of the Kizhi Museum and for any other planned development projects based on the re-use of existing historic buildings and monuments, for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies prior to committing to their implementation;
10. 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.