Decision 45 COM 7B.149

Archaeological Site of Carthage (Tunisia) (C 37)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.18 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Welcomes the continuing demolition of illegal structures and further land acquisitions to help control development pressures;
4. Encourages the State Party to implement all remaining demolition decrees as soon as possible to maintain the momentum of this programme, particularly the completion of the Police Academy demolition, which was considered essential by the 2019 mission;
5. Notes that a delineation of the archaeological park of Carthage has been approved at national level and integrated into the Protection and Presentation Plan of Carthage (PPMV), which is being updated;
6. Recalls the importance of establishing criteria for the definition of a buffer zone as well as the regulations and measures that govern it and requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre a Minor Boundary Modification proposal, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Also notes that work has commenced on the development of strategies for research and for conservation and enhancement;
8. Urges the State Party to develop a Management Plan for the property at the earliest opportunity;
9. Also urges the State Party, notwithstanding a wide range of activities at the property relating to restoration, excavations and the development of the Museum, to address the Committee’s requests relating to the modification of the urban development plan to control inappropriate development and the creation of a more symbiotic relationship between the property and its surroundings to support socio-economic development of the wider area, the elaboration of communication strategies, as well as all remaining requests from the 2019 mission;
10. Further notes that a competition has been launched for the rehabilitation of the National Museum on Byrsa Hill within the property and that measures have been taken to ensure that any proposals to enhance and/or extend this museum do not impact adversely on Outstanding Universal Value, commends the engagement with the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS on the procedures for the competition, and also requests the State Party to ensure that the technical review’s recommendations are integrated into the development of the winning project;
11. Further 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.