Decision 46 COM 7A.39

Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia (Federated States of)) (C 1503)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 45 COM 7A.53 adopted at its extended 45th session (Riyadh, 2023),
3. Welcomes progress with some actions to manage the property and protect its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), including removal of intrusive and threatening vegetation, completion of the Visitor Centre with support from the governments of Japan and the United States of America, and preparation of the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of the property, site Management Plan, and the Sustainable Tourism Plan, with support from the Cultural Site Research and Management (CSRM) Foundation, and also welcomes support for past and future conservation work provided by the US Forest Service, US Office of Insular Affairs (Department of Interior) ‘Technical Assistance Program’ (TAP) and Pohnpei State Tourism Authority, and requests the State Party to report on the process and actions being taken to adopt and implement the three above-mentioned plans;
4. Notes with concern that there has been only limited progress in addressing matters which are essential to the state of conservation of the property, including statutory protection, adoption of the proposed management system for the property, and appointing a Property Manager, despite previous assurances by the State Party, the conclusion of the border and travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and previous requests by the Committee; and therefore reiterates again its previous request to the State Party to address and implement previously identified matters of high priority, including:
   1. Continuing implementation of vegetation management actions and clearing mangroves from the main canals,
   2. Appointing and establishing a long-term commitment to the post of ‘Property Manager’,
   3. Finalising and approving legislation LB392 to provide essential legal protection to the property and establish the Nan Madol Trust or an appropriate managing authority for Nan Madol,
   4. Adopting the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of the Nan Madol World Heritage Site, the site Management Plan and the Sustainable Tourism Plan,
   5. Establishing processes for Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context, as part of the management system,
   6. Preparing and submitting a draft Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their completion, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also reiterates its concern that the development of a proposed tourism resort on Nahnningi Island, within the buffer zone of the property has continued and expanded to include a new meeting house/conference centre, despite a request to stop work and before an HIA was prepared, and that the issues raised in the 2019 ICOMOS Technical Review have not been addressed, and further reiterates its request that the State Party ensure that construction is halted and that an HIA is prepared, in conformity with the aforementioned Guidance, and provided to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, before work resumes;
6. Further reiterates its request the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with paragraphs 172 and 118bis of the Operational Guidelines, detailed information on any proposed and ongoing projects, including HIAs carried out according to the aforementioned Guidance, for review by the Advisory Bodies prior to the approval and/or implementation of any project, including construction of new walkways, and significant conservation programmes;
7. Considers that the OUV of the property remains subject to both ascertained and potential danger from: Inadequate protection and management system, including lack of long-promised legislation and an adopted Management Plan; Physical and biological impacts including overgrowth of vegetation and stonework collapse; Effects of storm surges; Erosion and siltation/ deposition; and Impacts of visitation;
8. Also requests the State Party to initiate remote elaboration of the DSOCR, a set of corrective measures and a timeframe for their completion remotely through collaboration between the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and the representatives of the State Party, with the aim of presenting the DSOCR and related corrective measures to the 47th session of the Committee;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2025, 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;
10. Decides to retain Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia (Federated States of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.