Decision 41 COM 8B.15

Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura (Cambodia)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Documents WHC/17/41.COM/8B and WHC/17/41.COM/INF.8B1,
2. Inscribes the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura, Cambodia, on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (ii), (iii) and (vi);
3. Takes note of the following provisional Statement of Outstanding Universal Value:
   
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4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2017, an updated map of the boundaries of the inscribed property and the buffer zone;
5. Recommends the State Party, with the advice of ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre, if requested, to:
   1. Clarify the attributes of the Outstanding Universal Value with regards to the boundaries of the temples zone and the buffer zone,
   2. Augment the Conservation Plan with a conservation manual to set out the parameters within which conservation is carried out and develop details of necessary resources to address the urgent conservation of the temple buildings that are in danger of collapse,
   3. Refine the Management Plan by addressing more effectively the need for a Risk Response and Management Plan and by identifying adequate resources for all planned actions,
   4. Revise the Tourism Management Plan by using a more dynamic and efficient approach that includes weather conditions, seasonal industry variations and monument conditions and their carrying capacities,
   5. Consider extending the property once the wider property has been better studied, documented and assessed;
6. Further recommends that the State Party give consideration to the following:
   1. Preparing and implementing a visitor code of conduct,
   2. Funding research and preparing an interpretation and presentation plan for the Kampoon Thom Museum,
   3. Researching ways to avoid herbicides in fighting weeds and replace them by masonry- and environment-friendly methods,
   4. Designing and implementing better signage in the property,
   5. Improving the visitor display and interpretation information at the Sambor Prei Kuk Visitor Centre,
   6. Continuing careful looting control, and implementing the theft alarms plan mentioned in the Management Plan,
   7. Complementing the monitoring program by regular reports on the conservation and restoration works, and the monitoring of risks data, the settlement pattern, the ancient hydraulic structures, visitor satisfaction, community involvement, and relevant broader environmental indicators;
7. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2018, a report on the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 43rd session in 2019.