Decision 45 COM 7B.115

City of Quito (Ecuador) (C 2)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.67 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Takes note of the efforts accomplished in the finalization of the management plan of the property (entitled Partial Plan for the Comprehensive Development of the Historic Centre – PPDI-CHQ) and its harmonization, through the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito, with the Territorial Planning and Development Plan for the Metropolitan District of the City of Quito (PMDOT) and the Land Use and Management Plan; but expresses its regret that to date the PPDI-CHQ, has not yet been finalized, and urges the State Party to continue the harmonization process and to finalize, as soon as possible, both the PPDI-CHQ and the PMDOT and in view of their timely submission to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
4. Welcomes the draft of the new ordinance to replace Ordinance 260, which provides the legal framework for the implementation of the PPDI-CHQ and recommends to the State Party to consider the observations made in ICOMOS’ technical review before proceeding with its formal approval;
5. Also takes note of the advances, regretfully limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, accomplished by the State Party in the update of the Disaster Risk Management Plan, and urges the State Party to finalize it, in light of the recommendations of ICOMOS’ technical review of September 2020, and to submit this plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as possible;
6. Also welcomes the geotechnical monitoring processes carried out at the metro stations and tunnels, the complete stabilization within the acceptable settlement ranges established for the site, and the establishment of a programme to monitor the impact of the pedestrian flows and encourages the State Party to continue these lines of action and to also consider the signage around the metro station in order to limit its visual impact in the historic environment of the San Francisco Square;
7. 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.