Decision 44 COM 7B.146

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

Decision: 44 COM 7B.146

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7B.68 adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Notes that the updating of the Management Plan has been progressing and requests the State Party to provide by 1 February 2022 a final draft to the World Heritage Centre, with a more mission/challenge-oriented approach, to inform all activities concerning the property and for review by the Advisory Bodies;
4. Notes with concern the reported lack of funds for the implementation of the road network, including Roads 14A and 14B, and encourages the State Party to keep exploring options to mobilise the necessary resources and complete the pending work;
5. Reiterates its requests that the State Party submit to the World Heritage Centre an updated topographic map of the property as inscribed in 2001, for its subsequent examination by the Committee, by 1 February 2022;
6. Notes with regret that the water supply extension project undertaken by Champasak Water Supply State Enterprise was not halted, but instead completed in 2019 without the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) requested in its previous decision; also notes that there has been no report on the full application of the mitigation measures suggested in the HIA for the Champasak Water Supply project (WSP) submitted in 2018; and therefore requests the State Party to: 
   1. Provide the report on the state of implementation of the mitigation measures suggested in the HIA on the WSP,
   2. Consider the formal establishment of a legal framework requiring that appropriate Impact Assessments be carried out proactively for all development projects that could have potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties in the Lao PDR;
7. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, 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 46th session.