Decision 44 COM 7B.158

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (Portugal) (C 1590)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 8B. 31, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Takes note of the progress accomplished and welcomes the efforts of the State Party in particular to classify the whole property as a National Monument, to establish institutional links between the two municipalities and other stakeholders for fire prevention and firefighting, to complete a vegetation study and to commit to the removal of the terrace bar;
4. Requests nevertheless, the State Party to continue working on the issues identified at the time of inscription by:
   1. Completing an inventory of heritage elements of the property,
   2. Developing additional monitoring indicators to address the state of conservation of the park and the woodland,
   3. Closely monitoring urban expansion/developments that may have an impact on the property, including within and beyond the buffer zone, as a specific action in the revision of the Braga Master Plan,
   4. Closely monitoring the threat of fire, through the continuation of the ‘Intermunicipal Sacromontes Programme’, or similar programmes,
   5. Carrying out Heritage Impact Assessments of proposed developments within the property, also with regard to their potential cumulative impact, particularly those in relation to the ‘Programme to Improve the Visitation of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte’, in accordance with Paragraph 118bis of the Operational Guidelines, for submission to the World Heritage Centre in advance of the proposed developments,
   6. Updating the Management Plan to include:
      1. a revised Action Plan, detailing all the proposed actions in the property with an associated timetable,
      2. a detailed Conservation Plan, as the basis for a well-planned and long-term conservation approach,
      3. bearing in mind the focus on visitor experience, a Tourism Management Plan that includes actions, time schedules and dedicated resources,
      4. the results of the vegetation study to present, manage and sustain the vegetation, particularly the tree heritage, as an important element of the property that supplements its landscape attributes,
      5. a revised and more effective monitoring system by ensuring regular reporting on conservation work, the state of the park and wood, the impact of visitation, and the threat of urban expansion/development and forest fires;
5. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2023, 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 47th session.