Decision 45 COM 7B.99

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche (Mexico) (C/N 1061bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.78 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Commends the State Party for the extensive programme of actions the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has undertaken for the implementation of the management plan and conservation of the cultural resources of the property, such as the tunnels and frieze of Substructure IIC, among others;
4. Notes the initiative of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) to increase the federal protected areas to the north-east, the west and the north of the property and biosphere reserve and urges the State Party to consider previous recommendations from the Committee to include additional and relevant cultural sites within the boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, ensuring these processes follow a transparent consultative process with full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders and rightsholders;
5. Commends the State Party for the research and documentation focusing on the monumental complex that has been undertaken through LiDAR imagery and requests the State Party to continue to strengthen documentation and monitoring procedures and keep the World Heritage Centre informed of further actions in this regard;
6. Also requests the State Party to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to assess the strategic alignment and cumulative impacts of the Tren Maya project on the World Heritage properties located along the proposed route of the railway, and include an assessment of alternative options, in line with the principles of the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
7. Noting with appreciation the research and documentation programme of INAH in the framework of the Tren Maya project, urges the State Party to continue the consultative process with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies for the project and to take into account the recommendations in the technical reviews and requests furthermore the State Party to urgently undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before proceeding with the project to assess the potential impacts on the OUV of the property, informed by the SEA, and undertaken in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context, and to submit the EIA to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, alongside other relevant documentation as soon as they become available;
8. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 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 46th session.