Decision 44 COM 7B.148

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha (Nepal) (C 666rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7B.71, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Notes the finalization of the Integrated Management Framework (IMF) for the property, but regrets that, despite multiple requests, the IMF has not been formally adopted by the State Party, and therefore reiterates its urgent request to the State Party to adopt and implement the IMF as a matter of priority;
4. Notes with concern that development activities continue to be undertaken within the property and its buffer zone prior to notification and submission of documentation to the World Heritage Centre, and also reiterates its request to the State Party to complete Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) for any proposed project, following the 2011 ICOMOS Guidelines on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties, prior to carrying out any further work within the property or in adjacent areas identified as having potential archaeological significance, and to submit these HIAs and relevant project documentation to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, as soon as possible and before making any decisions that would be difficult to reverse;
5. Expresses its continuing concern about the Lumbini World Peace City initiative and its potential impacts on the property, the Buddhist Meditation Hall located within the Lumbini Kenzo Tange Master Plan Area, and the ongoing need for a clear strategy and concrete further actions to protect the Greater Lumbini Area and its wider setting, including but not limited to Tilaurakot and Ramagrama, and to reduce the increasing industrial activity in the vicinity of the property;
6. Takes note of different phases of the UESCO/Japanese Funds-In-Trust project for the preservation of the property particularly progress made in archaeological research, capacity-building and awareness raising activities, together with an International Scientific Committee (ISC) established under the project, strongly encourages the State Party and other partners to take a holistic approach to focus efforts on the protection and management of the sacred site as a priority and to mitigate the potential or ascertained danger to the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the wider setting;
7. Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the property as requested in Decision 43 COM 7B.71 to assess its overall state of conservation, review the IMF and all ongoing studies and development proposals, and consider both the strategic approach to the Greater Lumbini Area, and the implications of the Lumbini World Peace City, in line with the protection of OUV of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 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 45th session.