Decision 47 COM 7A.19

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

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 46 COM 7A.39, adopted at its 46th session (New Delhi, 2024),
3. Welcomes continuing progress with actions to manage the property and protect its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), including further removal of intrusive and threatening vegetation, pending adoption and implementation of the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of Nan Madol World Heritage Site and the Sustainable Tourism Plan, the “Tree and Vegetation Management Review and Recommendations” report, and the process established for Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
4. Takes note of the updated information provided regarding the appointment of a Site/Property Manager, the issues for Pohnpei State identified through review of legislation LB392 and the protection provided to the property by Pohnpei State historic preservation laws under Pohnpei State Code, but nevertheless reiterates its previous requests 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 position of Site/Property Manager,
   3. Ensuring that effective legal protection is provided to the property, including appropriate management arrangements, consistent with the commitments made by the State Party at the time of the inscription of the property, noting that this may be achieved through review and revisions to the Pohnpei State Code,
   4. Adopting and implementing the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of the Nan Madol World Heritage Site, and the Sustainable Tourism Plan;
5. Also takes note that a draft HIA has been prepared for the tourism resort on Nahnhingi Island, within the buffer zone of the property, and requests the State Party to confirm that construction activity on this project has ceased, that the issues raised in the 2019 ICOMOS Technical Review will be addressed, and that the HIA will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, before work on this project resumes;
6. Recalls its previous request to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, in accordance with paragraphs 118bis and 172 of the Operational Guidelines, detailed information on any proposed and ongoing projects, for review by the Advisory Bodies, prior to the approval and/or implementation of any project, including significant conservation programmes;
7. Also requests the State Party to afford priority to the opening, resourcing and operation of the recently completed Visitor Centre;
8. Takes note with satisfaction of the effective process undertaken by the State Party, World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS to prepare the proposed Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), set of corrective measures yet to be completed and a timeframe for their completion;
9. Adopts the DSOCR, corrective measures and timeframe, as follows:
   1. DSOCR:
      1. Intrusive Vegetation has been removed from canals which provide access to the five target islets (1. Nan Dowas, 2. Pein Kitel, 3. Idehd, 4. Pei Kapw, and 5. Pahn Kedira),
      2. Major intrusive trees have been removed or stabilized from five target island/islets,
      3. Silted canals waterways have been cleared,
      4. A long-term plan is in place to manage silting of canals,
      5. Retaining Walls on the five target islets have been repaired and are stable,
      6. The maintenance programme extends to the five target islets and to the full area of the inscribed property as is feasible for keeping waterways navigable,
      7. Processes are in place for heritage impact assessment of proposed actions,
      8.  A strategy has been prepared to address the impacts of Climate Change, including sea level rise and stronger wave action,
      9. The management system is fully operational, including clarity of governance roles,
      10. Acknowledgement of Nahnmwarki in management of Nan Madol in due time,
      11. A permanent Site Manager has been appointed,
      12. A human resource strategy is in place,
      13.  The Pohnpei State Code has been reviewed and revised if and as necessary to ensure that the property has adequate statutory protection and effective management,
      14.  A risk preparedness strategy has been prepared and adopted,
      15.  Visitor carrying capacity has been determined,
      16.  The Visitor Center is open and fully functional,
      17.   Visitor circulation is defined and operational,
      18.    Pedestrian Footpaths and access bridges are in useable condition;
   2. Corrective measures to be implemented:
      1. Intrusive Vegetation:
         • Instigate long-term vegetation management regime,
         • Direct funding for vegetation management to HPO,
      2. Silting of Canals:
         
         Based on the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of Nan Madol World Heritage site:
         • Ensure navigation capabilities of the major canals for tourism and local community needs,
         • Follow archaeological requirements for physical works to canals,
         • Improve knowledge of the original depth of the canals, and how the silting process happened through calls for research,
      3. Retaining Walls:
         • Prevent further decay and achieve long term sustainability of retaining walls,
         • Based on a technical survey, develop a long-term strategy for conservation of the retaining walls,
      4. Climate Change:
         • Prepare a strategy for a sustainable response to the impacts of climate change,
         • Address impacts on visitor operations from climate change effects, through appropriate provisions in tourism plan,
      5. Absence of fully functioning management system:
         • Appoint full time Site Manager, in a sustainable (funded) manner with position description in place,
         • Identify 'gaps' in existing statutory protection and amend Pohnpei State Code to address these gaps, including attributes that support OUV, heritage impact assessment and other requirements arising from World Heritage inscription,
         • Develop risk preparedness strategy,
         • Determine a long-term capacity building strategy, identifying external specialists and instigating a local training programme,
         • Establish and amend Pohnpei State Code to include a heritage impact assessment process, as per Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context (UNESCO et al. 2022),
         • Define human resource needs for conservation and management,
      6. Visitor Center:
         • Work with municipal and State government to enable opening of Visitor Center,
         • Work with Tourism Office to direct tourist traffic (including tour operators) to the Visitor Center,
      7. Visitor Circulation and Pedestrian Footpaths and Bridges:
         • Prepare and implement visitor circulation plan,
         • Improve footpaths and bridges,
      8.  Changes to traditional chiefly institutions and systems of governance:
         • Update Nahnmwarki on guiding legislation for care of Nan Madol,
   3. Timeframe for the implementation of the corrective measures:
      1. The implementation of corrective measures should be completed within a period of five years;

1. Calls upon the international community to support the State Party in the implementation of the above-mentioned corrective measures;
2. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2026, 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 48th session;
3. Decides to retain Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia (Micronesia (Federated States of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.