Decision 47 COM 7B.175

Byblos (Lebanon)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7B.Add 2,
2. Recalling Decisions 42 COM 7B.56, 43 COM 7B.48 and 44 COM 7B.130 and 45 COM 7B.143, adopted at its 42nd (Manama, 2018), 43rd (Baku, 2019), extended 44th (Fuzhou/Online, 2021), and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions respectively;
3. Welcomes with satisfaction the efforts undertaken towards improving the state of conservation of the property under these difficult conditions;
4. Takes note of the provisional inscription of the property on the International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection, under the mechanism established by the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Decision 4 EXT.COM 4.7);
5. Noting that all works on the "Diplomatic Club" touristic beach resort project adjacent to the property remain suspended, as requested by the Committee in its previous decisions, and that no further archaeological investigations have been conducted since, reiterates its request that any future project should ensure appropriate environmental and archaeological outcomes for the World Heritage property and be subject to a Heritage Impact Assessment prior to development;
6. Invites the State Party to inform the Committee, through the World Heritage Centre, of any future plans for major restoration or new construction projects that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Urges the State Party to implement the recommendations of the 2018 mission report, with particular attention to developing a Management Plan with provisions for sustainable tourism, conservation activities, regular maintenance, and research at the property, and to consider the adoption of the Historic Urban Landscape approach for integrating the Management Plan with the urban development for the Old Town of Byblos;
8. Encourages the State Party to continue its efforts towards enhancing synergies with the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;
9. Requests the State Party to submit a boundary clarification for the property, based on consultations with the World Heritage Centre, and subsequently consider developing a proposal for a Minor Boundary Modification request, including the establishment of a buffer zone;
10. Also encourages the State Party to submit an International Assistance request to support efforts in the elaboration of the required management tools;
11. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2027, 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 50th session.