Historic Centre of Lima

On 9 December 2016, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report. An executive summary is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/500/documents/. Moreover, additional information on several issues was received on 24 February 2017. In its report, the State Party addresses the following issues:

• With regard to the Cable Car project, the State Party decided by means of Management Resolution No. 02-2015-MML-GPIP of 22 January 2015 to cancel the Concession Contract with the company Operadora de Teleféricos SAC in charge of the project. By this Resolution, the State Party considers that the Lima Cable Car project is terminated and informs that the Municipality has not received any other similar project initiative within the property;
• Regarding the High Capacity Segregated Corridor, the General Management of PROTRANSPORTE of the Metropolitan Institute of Transport of Lima was commissioned by the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima to prepare Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) in accordance with ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage Properties for the sections of the project that could have an impact on the property. The interventions on the stations concerned of Jirón Quilca, Colmena, Ramón Castilla and Central, have been completed taking into consideration the urban requirements of the Historic Centre. The Municipality of Lima continues the work on the revision of the Master Plan for the Historic Centre of Lima, approved in 1998. Due to the technical reviews formulated by the Ministry of Culture and the change of Municipal Government in December 2016, a new update is underway by the new administration.

Moreover, due to the awareness on the fragility of some vulnerable areas of the Historic Centre and the current state of conservation of some historic buildings, the State Party informs on the establishment of an inter-institutional working group that will address the current conservation issues faced by the property. In this context, the State Party invited the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies to conduct an Advisory mission in the course of 2017.

The efforts made by the State Party regarding the management of the property are appreciated, in particular the decision taken by the Municipality to cancel the Cable Car Project in order to avoid any negative impact to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, and following the recommendations made by the Committee in past decisions.

Regarding the High Capacity Segregated Corridor, and taking into consideration that the project was completed without the submission of the HIAs as requested in previous decisions, it is recommended that the Committee urge the State Party to finalize and submit the requested studies with a particular analysis and a clear explanation on how to mitigate any possible impact on the OUV of the property, that could affect its physical, environmental or urban integrity at the identified stations (Colmena, Jirón Quilca, Ramon Castilla and Central).

Despite the efforts made on the review of the Master Plan for the Historic Centre of Lima requested by Decisions 37 COM 7B.102 and 39 COM 7B.92, the process has not been completed. No specific timeframe was provided by the State Party for the finalization and approval of the updated Master Plan for the property. It is important to recall that in the context of a complex and very extensive urban area as that comprised by this World Heritage property, it is crucial to possess updated management and conservation tools to ensure its integrity and OUV.

Furthermore, it is essential to give particular attention to the state of conservation of some historic buildings in the Historic Centre and to enhance management arrangements in all the components of the property within the Master Plan in order to ensure the preservation of the values that sustain the OUV.

Moreover, due to the high importance of a Master Plan for the property, it is strongly recommended that the Committee request its finalization and approval as soon as possible, and that special attention be given to the most vulnerable parts of the site.

The invitation by the State Party to send a joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission to assist in the identification of suitable measures to ensure the proper management and conservation of the property is welcomed.