The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Documents WHC/24/46.COM/8B, WHC/24/46.COM/INF.8B1 and WHC/24/46.COM/INF.8B2,
- Inscribes Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands, France, on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (iii), (vi), (vii), (ix) and (x);
- Takes note of the following provisional Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
Brief synthesis
Located in the centre of the South Pacific Ocean, the Marquesas Islands are one of the most isolated archipelagos of any continent in the world. The geomorphology of the islands is largely characterised by steep mountains, dramatic cloud-draped peaks and precipitous cliffs, interspersed with deeply incised valleys. Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands is a serial property composed of seven component parts bearing an exceptional testimony to the territorial occupation of the Marquesas archipelago by a human civilisation that arrived by sea around the year 1000 CE and developed on these isolated islands until contact with Europeans and the annexation of the archipelago by France in 1842.
Throughout this period, the Ènata - "human beings" in Marquesan – were organised into chiefdoms and settled in the valleys, which, from the top of the ridges to the coast and the access to the sea, constitute the unit of spatial and symbolic organisation of the Ènata chiefdoms. Due to a demographic decline and the abandonment of the human settlements, the archaeological remains were maintained in place, and many are now enveloped in a thick forest cover.
The serial property is a hotspot for terrestrial and marine biodiversity in the Pacific. The archipelago systematically ranks first or second for its endemism of vascular flora, terrestrial and marine avifauna, terrestrial and marine molluscs and freshwater fish, spread across a wide diversity of natural habitats ranging from coastal formations to ridge-top maquis that can exceed 1,000 m in altitude. Lacking the reefs usually found in this type of oceanic island in the eastern Pacific, Marquesan waters are an exceptional example of a tropical archipelago ecosystem with very high primary productivity. Exceptional for the endemism of coastal fish and marine molluscs, the waters of the Marquesas archipelago have been identified as the wildest coastal marine province in the world. They are among the world’s main sites with the highest coastal biomass, dominated by top predators. The marine ecosystem is virtually free from human exploitation. The archipelago also offers a great diversity of emblematic marine species (rays and dolphins) and nesting seabirds. Biological and ecological processes have hardly been disturbed, making the Marquesas Islands a remarkable model of the evolution of species in an oceanic island environment.
Criterion (iii): Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands bears an exceptional testimony to the territorial occupation of the Marquesas archipelago by the Ènata between the 10th and the 19th centuries, to their adaptation to a challenging natural environment and to the limitations of available construction materials, to their patterns of settlement within deep steep-sided valleys as well as to their social and spiritual organisation in chiefdoms.
The topographical and climatic constraints of these volcanic islands led the Ènata to build two-storey lithic platforms in dry masonry (paepae) on the slopes of steep valleys, reaching heights of up to six metres, and used as the basis of both domestic and ceremonial architecture (tohua and meàe). This architectural richness and diversity, was accompanied by the development of an artistic expression very specific to the archipelago, combining sculpture (tiki) and engraving (petroglyphs) as evidence of the close relationship between human beings and their environment. The eight valleys included within the property are considered the most notable for the density and size of the lithic remains.
Criterion (vi): Despite the demographic shock and the acculturation to European contact, and despite the virtual disappearance of the Ènata, many stories, myths, and legends linked to real or cosmological landscapes are still with us today. Combined with the knowledge passed down from generation to generation, they reflect the spiritual bond between the Marquesan people and their environment.
Criterion (vii): Resulting from their volcanic past, the Marquesas Islands are marked by sharp ridges, impressive peaks and cliffs that rise abruptly more than 1000 m above the ocean. The Marquesas Islands are among the most “vertical” islands in the world. The lush vegetation combined with the diversity of the landforms and jagged coastlines create island landscapes unparalleled in these tropical latitudes. The relief is in direct contact with the open ocean, providing natural promontories for observing the spectacle of wildlife: Dolphins gather in shoals of several hundred individuals at the foot of the cliffs, combined with the simultaneous presence of two species of rays: Reef Manta Ray and Oceanic Manta Ray whose microsympatry (i.e. record of co-occurrence observed at the same dive site) is highly unusual and almost unique in the world. Together, they form a majestic picture of a wild and spectacular nature.
Criterion (ix): As the only isolated archipelago in the middle of the equatorial Pacific, the Marquesas are an oasis of marine life in the immense Pacific Ocean. The property is isolated from the major ocean currents by the counter-current of the Marquesas. The Marquesas holds one of the highest fish biomasses in the world, averaging 3.30 T/ha and up to 20 T/ha. Marquesan waters are home to exceptional endemism in relation to the surface area of the property for coastal fish (13.7%) and molluscs (10%), i.e. 3,400 km2. The Marquesan coastal communities are a major centre of endemism in the Indo-Pacific and worldwide, along with Hawaii, Easter Island and the Red Sea. Recognised as one of the world’s last marine wilderness areas, Marquesan waters offer some of the best-preserved coastal ecosystems on the planet. On land, the property retains two complete continuums of vegetation from the summits to the coast and brings together four sets of tropical cloud forests.
Criterion (x): The property combines marine and terrestrial ecosystems that are rare for their level of conservation and their irreplaceability. The isolation of the young volcanic islands of the Marquesas archipelago has resulted in a rare and diverse flora, with more than half of the 305 plant species in the property being irreplaceable. Endemism is mainly found in the dry and semi-dry coastal forests and in the hygrophilous and rainforests. The cloud forests that cover the crests and peaks of the islands of Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Tahuata and Fatu Iva are home to more than 70% of the species endemic to a peak, an island or the archipelago. For instance, the clear majority of terrestrial and freshwater molluscs are endemic to the islands. The archipelago is home to one of the most diverse seabird assemblages in the tropical waters of the South Pacific. It is one of the few known breeding sites in the world for 21 species of seabirds and 13 species and subspecies of land birds are endemic to the archipelago. Fatu Iva and Tahuata are respectively home to an endangered endemic species, òmaò keekee (around 30 individuals), and the pahi (less than 300 individuals estimated in 2017). The property hosts many threatened species, such as pītai, ùpe and the kōtuè. The coastal marine ecosystem is home to 40 emblematic species, including 16 marine mammals, 26 rays and sharks, and 1 endangered marine turtle, all concentrated around the 12 islands that make up the archipelago and many of which are globally threatened. More than 40% of the fish species are endemic to the ecoregion, all of which dwell in shallow marine, brackish and riverine habitats.
Integrity
The valley constituted the territorial unit of the chiefdoms, and the boundaries of the component parts of Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands reflects this by including the whole territory of the valley from the top of the ridges to the coastline and the adjacent marine area, except for the modern settlement areas, which are included in the buffer zone.
Together, the seven component parts provide a full representation of the way of life of the Ènata and of the territorial, spatial, social and spiritual organisation of their societies until the 19th century. The abandonment of ancient settlement sites has protected them from human activity and has allowed archaeological evidence to remain in situ.
Only certain sites in the Hatiheu, Taaoa and Puamau valleys have been cleared and restored. The restoration of certain tohua for festivals (Matavaa) was an opportunity to return them to their original use as community squares for festivities and other gatherings. Most of the archaeological sites are protected by their isolation from modern human activity and by dense vegetation cover. However, the legibility and structural integrity of some of sites is affected by the growth of acacia and jambolana trees, with some stones dislodged by the tree roots and by erosion linked to the presence of feral animals.
The impacts of climate change, namely slow sea level rise and increasingly frequent and prolonged droughts, are already observed and are likely to increase in the future, along with other unforeseen consequences.
The archipelago’s islands and seascapes are mostly intact and host only a small human population concentrated on the coastline. Up to 88% of plant diversity of the archipelago is represented within the property. 100% of the diversity of marine avifauna, i.e. 21 breeding species, and 78% of the diversity of terrestrial avifauna are also represented within the property. All the catchment areas and main rivers are included in the property, with 91% of freshwater fish and crustacean species represented. The plant formations are well preserved but very sensitive to biological invasions. Species of falcata, miconia and acacia as well as the African Tulip Tree are the main plant species threatening the integrity of the property. Farming activities, with the wandering of animals and the outbreak of uncontrolled fires, constitute a pressure at medium altitude that needs to be controlled locally. The Marquesan ecosystems are the least disturbed between 800 and 1200 m altitude.
The property protects all the coastal waters used for the life cycle of seabirds, coastal fish, molluscs and crustaceans, as well as 43 emblematic marine species that live in or visit these waters. Identified as the wildest coastal marine province in the world, Marquesan waters have a remarkable integrity of the trophic chain, with a remarkable biomass of coastal fish and an exceptional proportion of large predators. The effects of climate change on the distribution, life traits and life cycles of the species are as yet unpredictable. The property includes the entire length of the four richest rivers in the archipelago, as well as two complete continuums of vegetation, with a view to maintaining the essential functions for the life cycle of the species and facilitating their adaptation.
Authenticity
Most archaeological sites in Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands have not been subject to past interventions and are unrestored. The sites are entirely authentic in form, design, materials and substance. Past restorations of some archaeological sites, some motivated by the Marquesas Islands arts and culture festival (Matavaa o te Henua Ènana), have been for the most part carried out under the supervision of professionals.
The spirit and feeling of the places where the archaeological remains are located, and their representation of their ancestral activity, are still very strongly felt by present day Marquesans. Despite the demographic shock and subsequent acculturation to European traditions and practices, the oral transmission of stories, myths and legends within families, combined with the writings of the first visitors and ethnographic work undertaken in the late 19th century, have helped maintain important knowledge about the history and social meanings of those places.
Protection and management requirements
The complete inventory of the archaeological remains and the designation of the main sites as historic monuments under the Polynesian Heritage Code is an overarching requirement for the protection and management of the property. The General Development Plan (PGA), applicable to the entire territory of the six communes of the Marquesas Islands, is essential to determine rules and regulations at the landscape level, both in the property and the buffer zones. Special regulatory requirements for the property and the buffer zone will be incorporated into the PGA in line with the commitment of the six Marquesas communes grouped together in the Community of Mayors of the Marquesas Islands (CODIM) and the French Polynesian authorities. Effective management planning must also be ensured through the integration of the provisions of the General Development Plan with those included in the management plan for the property.
The shared governance of the property and its buffer zones is led by a management committee, co-chaired by the French Polynesian Minister for Culture, the Environment and Marine Resources, and the President of CODIM – Communauté de communes des îles Marquises (Community of Mayors of the Marquesas Islands). The day-to-day management is delegated to the coordination unit, responsible for implementing the management plan, centralising information and coordinating action, and leading the network of six World Heritage local associations (one per island), among other tasks. Adequate financial and human resources are required for the coordination unit to fulfil its mandate and responsibilities.
Regular maintenance and control of vegetation in the architectural sites is essential to prevent deterioration and structural damage as well as to deal with climatic hazards. Control and monitoring of invasive species, through measures to prevent their introduction and spread, early detection, and eradication is a common priority for the conservation of the cultural and natural values of the property. Measures to support sustainable agricultural areas adjacent to the property, to limit and contain fire outbreaks and to restrict the areas accessible to stray animals will enhance the conservation of the property.
Expectations for the long-term conservation and management of the mixed property depend on the integration of cultural and natural heritage across different elements of the management system: recognition of the interconnected character of the cultural and natural values of the property, identification of the attributes that reflect that interconnected character, establishment of joint monitoring programme for the state of conservation, integrated interpretation and presentation of the cultural and natural significance of the property, institutional collaboration and participatory decision-making processes. The effectiveness of such integrated management system should be assessed and improved over time.
Sites classified under the Environment Code include two category V Protected Landscapes (Hohoi Bay on Ua Pou and Hanavave Bay on Fatu Iva) and two category IV Habitat and Species Management Areas (Eiao and Hatu Tu). All of Polynesia’s waters are a sanctuary for marine mammals and all shark species. Industrial fishing is banned within the property. Species protection prohibits the removal of species from their natural environment and the alteration of their natural habitat. It covers 164 plant species, 39 bird species, all marine mammals, sharks, rays and sea turtles, as well as certain terrestrial and marine molluscs. Fishing, agriculture and biosecurity also benefit from regulatory protection measures, in particular the reduction or even ban on pesticides and reinforced action against invasive alien species.
The strategy to combat invasive species is a common priority for the conservation of the cultural and natural values of the property. This includes measures to prevent their introduction and spread, early detection and eradication. The environmental assessment of projects should include an analysis of the potential impact on the integrity and authenticity of the property. In the agricultural areas adjacent to the property, management will aim to improve sound agricultural practices, limit and contain fire outbreaks and restrict the areas accessible to feral animals. The development requirements and conservation measures may be reinforced on the basis of the inventory of emblematic viewpoints and archaeological sites, entrances to the property and visitor reception areas.
Local management of the property is based on the creation of a World Heritage association in each of the archipelago’s six communes, enabling the involvement of local residents, associations and professionals. Alongside the work carried out by the local technical services, these associations are involved in implementing the operational part of the management plan, the strategic guidelines which are defined by the management committee co-chaired by the Minister for Culture, the Environment and Marine Resources of French Polynesia and the President of CODIM. Management is co-led by the ministry, CODIM and the six World Heritage associations through a coordination unit. Participatory governance of the property is essential to ensure that the management plan is anchored locally and to capitalise on the effectiveness of customary practices.
- Recommends the State Party give consideration to the following:
- Consider further strengthening action against invasive alien species, including through further funding,
- Regarding designation and inventory process:
- Complete the designation of all main archaeological sites within the property under the Heritage Code,
- Complete the inventory process within a shorter timeframe than expected and preferably by 2030,
- Make use of the inventory process to document the state of conservation of the recorded sites and identify needed conservation actions,
- Develop a detailed roadmap to complete the inventory and designation processes in an integrated way and link it with the development of the General Development Plan,
- Establish a regular maintenance programme for the archaeological sites, particularly those open to the public,
- Strengthen complementary legal and/or customary restrictions placed on the use and development in the buffer zones,
- Complete the development and approve the General Development Plan by the end of 2025, and, integrate the provisions of the General Development Plan to those of the management plan for the property and ensure that their provisions are complementary,
- Support the implementation of the management plan through the development of annual or biennial workplans as well as by mid-term reviews,
- Strengthen the human capacity and institutional powers of the coordination unit to effectively fulfil its mandate as the main operational body to manage the property and the buffer zones,
- Strengthen and/or establish institutional agreements or protocols between the different actors responsible for implementing the management plan, especially between the coordination unit, the DCP and the DIREN,
- Enhance the monitoring programme for the state of conservation of the property and define an easy-to-use set of indicators (clearly linked with the attributes of the property), methods to be used to collect data in relation to those indicators, a well-established baseline against which changes on the conditions of the attributes can be identified, as well as indicator thresholds that clearly define when action is needed,
- Establish a common data management system, as part of the monitoring programme, to group the data collected by different institutions, in order to gather a clear overview of state of conservation of the property as a whole, and as a mixed property, and use it to inform integrated management decisions,
- Ensure the participation of the local World Heritage associations in management and decision-making processes and that their rights are respected, and their voice heard, during such processes,
- Give further consideration as to how the more formal public administration aspects of the management system could be strengthened by customary practices and instruments such as the kahui and the tapu,
- Establish integrated approaches for the interpretation and presentation of the property that recognize the interconnected character of its cultural and natural values, including the oral tradition and the myths, legends and historical accounts of the Marquesas Islands;
- Encourages the State Party to consider in future the potential extension of the marine boundaries of the property to enhance coverage and protection of marine habitats;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2025, a report on the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations.