Decision 46 COM 7B.35

Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape (Lao People's Democratic Republic) (C 481)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/24/46.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decisions 39 COM 7B.68, 40 COM 7, 43 COM 7B.68, 44 COM 7B.146 and 45 COM 7B.168 adopted at its 39th (Bonn, 2015), 40th (Istanbul, 2016), 43rd (Baku, 2019) extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021), and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively,
3. Commends the State Party’s efforts in revising National Heritage Law with strong provisions concerning the necessity of impact assessments for development projects that may affect Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic (PDR)’s national heritage and World Heritage properties;
4. Welcomes the planned strengthening of the building codes and urban control guidelines, the planned revision of the Management Plan in line with the recommendations made by ICOMOS and requests that the State Party submit these to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
5. Notes again the need for a clearer definition and understanding of the physical and other attributes of the property that convey its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), particularly in relation to the wider cultural landscape and Champasak town and that such consideration should involve meaningful consultation with the local community, and also requests the State Party in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, to finalise a draft Statement of OUV for examination by the Committee at its 47th session;
6. Also recalling past decisions requesting the State Party submit an up-to-date topographic map of the property as inscribed in 2001, and that clarification of the property boundaries are a prerequisite for the strengthening of the building codes and urban control guidelines and updating both the Management Plan and the Champasak Cultural Landscape Plan, further reiterates its request to the State Party to submit the map by 1 December 2024, for examination by the Committee at its 47th session if the technical requirements are met;
7. Encourages the State Party to investigate for the purposes of effective protection of the property, a buffer zone delineation, considering the recommendations of the 2023 Reactive Monitoring mission and to submit a proposal and rationale for the buffer zone delineation to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2024, for examination by the Committee at its 47th session if the technical requirements are met;
8. Notes again with concern that the State Party requires the financial resources to the completion of the adapted road network, including Roads 14A and 14B, and revision of the Management Plan and encourages again the State Party to keep exploring options to mobilise the necessary resources and complete the pending work;
9. Also notes the conclusions and recommendations of the 2023 mission, and request furthermore the State Party and concerned stakeholders to implement its recommendations, including:
   1. Urgently stabilising at-risk archaeological structures, including at the Southern Quadrangle and the central axis, and other conservation interventions to the highest international standards aligned with the Lao PDR authorities’ leadership and ownership,
   2. Necessary measures to lessen the visual impacts of recent non-archaeological infrastructure inside the main temple complex,
   3. Integration of the archaeological remains outside the main temple complex (Ancient City, Tomo Temple) into the conservation, research and valorisation programme,
   4. Enhancement of preservation measures for landscape setting, through a clearer definition of the attributes of the OUV, delineation of the boundaries, zoning and buffer zone definition and strict control over the expansion and renewal of the settlements;
10. Further notes the State Party’s will to become the “Battery of Southeast Asia” by exporting hydropower energy to neighbouring countries to reach ASEAN’s goal of net-zero emissions, encourages the State Party to realise this objective in congruence with its commitment to preserving the OUV of the properties located within its territory;
11. Considering the proximity of the projected site for the Phou Ngoy Dam to the archaeological sites of the property and its possible impacts on the attributes that support its OUV, notes furthermore the stated commitment of the State Party to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and that the Project Development Agreement (PDA) for this project was renewed in February 2023, requests moreover the State Party to:
    1. Consider an alternative location for this hydropower project,
    2. Not start any further on-site operations that would limit the mitigation options available to the HIA,
    3. Urgently submit the already completed and approved Environmental and Social Impact Assessment along with any other details on the project that are available to the State Party to the World Heritage Centre and submit the possibly forthcoming HIA to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in compliance with Paragraph 118 bis of the Operational Guidelines,
    4. Ensure full agreement on the impacts and mitigation thereof of the project with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies before taking any further decisions on its implementation;
12. Reminds the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre in due course about any major development project that may negatively impact the OUV of a property, before any irreversible decisions are made, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
13. Finally 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.