Decision 43 COM 7B.68

Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape (Lao People's Democratic Republic) (C 481)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 41 COM 7B.94, adopted at its 41st session (Krakow, 2017),
3. Welcomes the progress and efforts of the State Party concerning the establishment of a 5-year Action Plan to implement the current Management Plan and the implementation of the Champasak Cultural Landscape Master Plan including the Land Use Plan with detailed regulations for each zone for preventing new constructions;
4. Recommends the State Party to strictly enforce the Monument Zoning Plan to control densification in Zone 4;
5. Acknowledges the progress made with the implementation of the road network (14A and 14B) and traffic management scheme and urges the State Party to urgently secure funds to complete the pending work;
6. Commends the regular national and provincial meetings, along with the organization of the International Coordination Meeting (ICM) and the establishment of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) as effective mechanisms to guide inter-agency cooperation, national and international projects and initiatives concerning the property;
7. Requests the State Party to develop an updated Management Plan with a more mission/challenge oriented approach to inform all activities concerning the property, and to provide a final draft to the World Heritage Centre;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2019, an up-to-date topographic map of the property as inscribed in 2001, for its subsequent examination by the Committee;
9. Expresses its concern that the water supply extension project undertaken by Champasak Water Supply State Enterprise may have a potential impact on the property and also requests the State Party to halt the project extension into the property until the potential impacts are fully assessed through a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) with proposed mitigation measures, in conformity with the ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties, with a specific section focusing on the potential impact of the project on the Outstanding Universal Value, to be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
10. Further requests the State Party to ensure full application of the mitigation measures presented in the HIA for the Champasak Water Supply project (WSP) and report on these to the World Heritage Centre;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2020, 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 45th session in 2021.