Decision 45 COM 7B.174

Historic Centre of Bukhara (Uzbekistan) (C 602bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.38 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the progress made to address previously identified threats to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property through regulatory change, capacity building, preparation of additional guidance documents, and proposed conservation works;
4. Also welcomes the establishment of the of the Agency for Cultural Heritage (ACH), the local Public Scientific Advisory Council and the International Advisory Committee (IAC) for World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan and emphasizes that the IAC with the support of its experts should advise the national authorities on the conservation of the cultural heritage properties and implementation of Committee decisions and previous mission recommendations;
5. Notes that substantial revisions are necessary to incorporate the outcomes of the 2020 Reactive Monitoring mission into the Management Plan and integrate the principles of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (2011) within the Master Plan, and further welcomes advice from the State Party that the moratorium on development and new work has been extended to include the buffer zone of the property and will remain in place until the integrated Master Plan and Management Plan are finalised, submitted to the World Heritage Centre and positively reviewed;
6. Reiterates its previous request that the State Party implement fully the recommendations of the 2020 mission;
7. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, and in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, revised detailed project documentation for proposed works to Shakhristan Bazaar, Kalon Mosque, Amir Alimkhan Madrassah, Mir Arab Madrassah, within the Ark Citadel and Khoja Kalon Hauz, and further requests the State Party to provide a report on urgent conservation works to Abdulazzizkhan Madrassah, as well as on the implementation of the project for Abdulakhan Madrassa, which have been supported through International Assistance;
8. Encourages the State Party to continue to prepare Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) for all major conservation or development projects, and to adopt the methodology of the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to continue to submit detailed project documentation to the World Heritage Centre for review, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, including for the proposed installation of 15 vertical drainage wells, which are intended to address salinity and groundwater issues;
9. Also encourages the State Party to ensure that stronger legal protection, planning codes and owner incentives are provided to control development in mahallas, including protection for individual traditional houses, which are not listed under national protection, as these are attributes supporting the OUV of the property, as well as the continued efforts to deepen the understanding of all stakeholders on the rules, regulations and role of each stakeholder relating to the World Heritage properties, especially the local authorities and inhabitants;
10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, 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.