The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 43 COM 7B.47, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
- Congratulates the State Party on continuing to implement the Management Plan for Um er-Rasas and, while acknowledging that the Management Plan contains sections that underpin the development of the previously-requested Conservation Plan including a detailed work-plan, Public Use Plan and archaeological research policy, reiterates its request that these aspects of site management be explored in more detail;
- Encourages the State Party to further refine and elaborate the priority ranking of the Implementation Action Plan within the 2017 Management Plan in order to provide a balanced and practical list of priorities for work programs prior to the finalisation of the previously requested Conservation Plan and incorporated work-plan;
- Also reiterates its request that the State Party submit the final conservation project proposal for the Stylite Tower as soon as possible for review by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, and urges the State Party to continue monitoring the conservation situation closely;
- Notes the inclusion of the survey of the Castrum in the current work program, but reiterates its concern that the urgent conservation work at the Castrum identified in the Management Plan does not appear to have taken place (including urgent conservation work to the south wall and the already excavated gates and walls), and also urges the State Party to undertake all needed temporary and reversible consolidation interventions of the fragile attributes across the whole property while planning for longer-term conservation;
- Welcomes the State Party’s undertaking to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission to support the finalization of outstanding projects when COVID-19 restrictions allow;
- Also notes the State Party’s decision, after expert consideration, to confirm that existing property and buffer zone boundaries are appropriate for the protection of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), and also encourages the State Party to continue to review the boundaries of the buffer zone in keeping with the 2017 Management Plan and, if necessary, propose minor boundary modifications;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 46th session.