Decision 44 COM 7A.37

Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) (C 366)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.51, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Welcomes the research and monitoring activities of the Pan-American Conservation Centre for Earthen Heritage Sites (PCCEHS), and the implementation of a number of important conservation projects, public awareness and outreach activities with educational institutions and communities in the vicinity of the property;
4. Also welcomes the adoption of the updated Master Plan for the Conservation and Management of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex (2021-2031) by the Ministry of Culture in response to the previous Committee Decisions;
5. Commends the State Party for its continued commitment to the implementation of the Committee’s decisions and programme of corrective measures, as adopted in Decision 36 COM 7A.34, with the aim of achieving the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), notes however with regret that two essential components of the programme of corrective measures have remained pending for several years, welcomes the strategies and timeframes set out by the State Party, and urges once again the State Party to take the necessary measures for:
   1. the delimitation and regulation of the proposed buffer zone,
   2. the implementation of the amended Law No. 28261 that would address the matter of illegal occupation;
6. Considers that the proposal to widen the existing Trujillo ring road that passes through the property and the buffer zone endangers the property’s integrity and Outstanding Universal Value, and strongly urges the State Party to continue its work to either improve the existing road or alternatively identify a new trajectory outside of the World Heritage property and its buffer zone and to undertake a Heritage Impact Assessment and submit this to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
7. Takes note of an apparent and considerable budget fluctuation for the activities at the property, and also urges the State Party to assure sufficient funding for the property in the future;
8. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, 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 45th session;
9. Decides to retain Chan Chan Archaeological Zone (Peru) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.