Decision 38 COM 7B.57

Pyrénées Mont Perdu (France, Spain) (C/N 773bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 36 COM 7B.37, adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Notes the information provided by the States Parties of France and Spain on the actions undertaken following its earlier decisions and welcomes the joint report submitted to the World Heritage Centre;
4. Welcomes with satisfaction the operational establishment of the Joint Steering Committee and requests that it integrate the associative, agricultural and scientific sectors, taking into account the geographical and institutional balance;
5. Also requests the two States Parties to continue their collaboration to complete the joint Management Plan as soon as possible and to provide adequate technical and financial means for the implementation of the foreseen activities and further requests the two States Parties to provide the World Heritage Centre with an electronic version and three printed copies of the Management Plan, for review by the Advisory Bodies;
6. Commends the organization of the transboundary workshops on agropastoralism but remains concerned by the lack of specific support for agropastoral activities within the boundaries of the property and reiterates its request to the two States Parties to consider agropastoralism as a fundamental activity for the sustainable development of the property that supports its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
7. Urges the State Party of France to continue its efforts to reduce the impact of the Gavarnie Festival and, at the same time, to continue seeking alternative sites located outside of the boundaries of the property;
8. Warmly welcomes the progress achieved in planning for the closure of the Troumouse Road and urges the State Party of France to ensure the implementation of those plans in accordance with the foreseen timetable;
9. Further requests the States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2018, a joint updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the above.