Decision 43 COM 7B.46

Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (Jordan) (C 1446)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 39 COM 8B.10, 40 COM 8B.50 and 41 COM 7B.79, adopted at its 39th (Bonn, 2015), 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) and 41st (Krakow, 2017) sessions respectively,
3. Commends the State Party on the development of a draft comprehensive earthquake-response plan, design and construction guidelines for the buffer zone, and a Master Plan for the buffer zone and surroundings;
4. Requests the State Party to advise the timeframe for completion of the earthquake-response plan, to ensure it is integrated within the property’s Management Plan, and to submit it, when completed, for review by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, and recommends that this plan provide a timeframe for ongoing training;
5. Also requests the State Party to consider whether the design and construction guidelines should also apply to existing churches, with reference to any potential alteration or extension projects, and to ensure that currently proposed churches comply with the guidelines, including in the case of boundary walls;
6. Further requests the State Party to revise the Master Plan for the buffer zone to address all land within the buffer zone, to include the buffer zone boundary and an accurate property boundary consistent with the map submitted by the State Party in 2015, to ensure protection of the landscape, and, that the State Party review the location for the convention centre;
7. Requests moreover the State Party to revise the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) to:
   1. Base it on the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, and include careful consideration of the Jordan River landscape and the natural vegetation perceived as wilderness, as well as vistas and sightlines,
   2. Consider the overall impact of completed and new buildings, including the 35-metre height limit and large masses permitted in the design and construction guidelines;
8. Reiterates the need to ensure the protection of the western banks of the Jordan River to preserve important vistas and sightlines of the property;
9. 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.