Decision 47 COM 7A.27

City of Potosi (Bolivia, Plurinational State of)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7A.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 8B.66, 45 COM 7A.18 and 46 COM 7A.7 adopted at its extended 44th (Fuzhou, 2021), extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) and 46th (New Delhi, 2024) sessions respectively,
3. Welcomes the approval and the implementation of the “Update to the Comprehensive and Participatory Management Plan of the City of Potosí – 2024”;
4. Notes the delayed implementation of the “Critical Route to remove Potosí from the List of World Heritage in Danger and the preservation of Cerro Rico de Potosí,” which declares the Cerro Rico in emergency status, and of the Participatory Management Plan 2021 (IPMP), and encourages the State Party to address this through the “Update to the Comprehensive and Participatory Management Plan of the City of Potosí – 2024”;
5. Expresses its concern over the delayed implementation of the previous management plan and urges the State Party to ensure the full and timely implementation with adequate resources of the “Update to the Comprehensive and Participatory Management Plan of the City of Potosí – 2024”;
6. Notes with appreciation the submission of the Minor Boundary Modification request to establish the property’s buffer zone pursuant to Decision 44 COM 8B.66;
7. Also notes that regulations corresponding to Law No. 473 of September 2024, which consolidates the limits for and protects the property, will be made within the city of Potosí’s urban delimitation framework, and encourages the State Party to ensure the consolidation and enforcement of the legal framework and regulations related to the entire property;
8. Further notes with satisfaction the monitoring of the water quality of the lagoons and the environmental protection management of the mountain range in the Kari Kari area, under the “Update to the Comprehensive and Participatory Management Plan of the City of Potosí – 2024”, and also encourages the State Party to continue it;
9. Further welcomes the actions linked to the agreement between the Autonomous Municipal Government of Potosí (GAMP) and the Tomás Frías Autonomous University for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the historical areas of the City of Potosí, including training programmes, updating legislation, and a digital database and requests the State Party to provide further information on future concrete initiatives linked to the agreement;
10. Also welcomes the archaeological survey of Cerro Rico with a photogrammetric as well as the progress achieved regarding the stabilization and monitoring of the slopes of Cerro Rico, and urges again the State Party to prioritize the definitive closure of mining sections above 4,400 meters above sea level;
11. Notes with satisfaction the technical reviews conducted by the GAMP for safeguarding reservoirs and mining facilities, and that 22 mining mills were inventoried and will be regularly inspected;
12. Expresses utmost concern for the prolonged inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger and encourages the State Party to undertake all corrective measures as set forth in the IPMP with its January 2026 deadline;
13. 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;
14. Decides to retain City of Potosí (Bolivia (Plurinational State of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.