City of Quito
Factors affecting the property in 2023*
- Housing
- Management systems/ management plan
- Underground transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Urban development pressures affecting the authenticity of the property
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure (works in the Tower of the Complex of the Compañía de Jesús) (issue resolved)
- Management system/plan (weaknesses in the decision-making mechanisms regarding conservation)
- Transportation infrastructure (construction of metro, including underground station)
- Housing
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2023
Total amount granted: USD 100,000 for the project “Risk Management Plan for the Historic Centre of Quito”, implemented from 2016-2018 (UNESCO/Spanish Funds-in-Trust)
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2023
Total amount approved : 391,800 USD
Missions to the property until 2023**
November 1988: expert mission; March 2009: Joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission; October 2013: ICOMOS Advisory mission; December 2016: ICOMOS Advisory mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2023
On 30 December 2022, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report (available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/2/documents/), including technical annexes on management and conservation matters, and presenting progress on a number of issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions, as follows:
- The Territorial Planning and Development Plan for the Metropolitan District of Quito (PMDOT) 2021-2033 and the Metropolitan Land Use and Management Plan (PUGS) were approved on 13 September 2021. The PMDOT dictates the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito. The Municipality of Quito has been working to harmonize and align the Management Plan (entitled the “Partial Plan for the Comprehensive Development of the Historical Centre of Quito” - PPDI-CHQ) and the Master Plan, as well as to develop a new ordinance to replace Ordinance 260. The final version of the Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito and the PPDI-CHQ will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre as soon as finalized. The new ordinance replacing Ordinance 260, whose draft is annexed to the state of conservation report for review by ICOMOS and the World Heritage Centre, is presently pending approval by Historic Areas and heritage Commission (CAHP) and the Metropolitan Council;
- The review and update of the 2019 Disaster Risk Management Plan was carried out during 2021, with a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to take into consideration ICOMOS’ technical review of September2020 and include a larger participation of municipal entities with risk management competences;
- The geotechnical monitoring processes at the metro stations and tunnels within the Historic Centre of Quito ended in September 2020, once complete stabilization was reached, as per the monitoring and control plan developed before the works. A summary of the technical reports on this monitoring process, annexed to the state of conservation report, shows that complete stabilization has been achieved within the acceptable settlement ranges established for the Historic Centre of Quito;
- Monitoring of the impact of the pedestrian flows was scheduled to begin in March 2023, in conjunction with the start of the regular service of the metro based on the baseline of current conditions of the areas surrounding the 15 new metro stations. However, at the moment of the finalization of this document the State Party informed that this operation was delayed of approximatively two months. Before that, introductory studies have been foreseen, including an update of the study of demand determined by journey and station, an analysis of the impact on the commerce and residential use with the metro zones, and an audit of road safety and detailed design for the improvement of road safety around the metro stations, including San Francisco.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2023
The State Party should be commended for the important efforts and accomplishments in view of the finalization of the management plan of the property (PPDI-CHQ) and in view of its harmonization - through the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito - with the PMDOT and the Land Use and Management Plan (PUGS). It is regrettable, however, that the PPDI-CHQ still under preparation after many years, has not yet been formally approved. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to finalize it as soon as possible.
The draft of the new ordinance proposal to replace Ordinance 260, submitted to the World Heritage Centre and to ICOMOS for technical review, is welcomed, and the progress in its approval is noted. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to consider the observations and recommendations made in the ICOMOS technical review before proceeding with the formal approval of the new ordinance.
The participative and inclusive approach adopted by the State Party as concerns the review and update of the 2019 Disaster Risk Management Plan is welcomed. However, it is unfortunate that the advances accomplished by the State Party in this respect were significantly limited by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2021. The State Party should be urged to finalize the update of the Disaster Risk Management Plan in light of the recommendations of ICOMOS’ technical review of September 2020, and to submit it to the World Heritage Centre and to ICOMOS as soon as possible, for review.
The geotechnical monitoring processes at the metro stations and tunnels within the Historic Centre of Quito should be welcomed, and it is recommended that the Committee note with satisfaction the complete stabilization within the acceptable settlement ranges established for the Historic Centre of Quito.
The establishment of a programme to monitor the impact of the pedestrian flows should also be noted as a significant achievement. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to continue these lines of action and to report on the results of their implementation. The State Party should furthermore be requested to adapt the signage in the surroundings of the metro station in such a way that it interferes to the minimum in the historic environment of the San Francisco Square
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2023
45 COM 7B.115
City of Quito (Ecuador) (C 2)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.67 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
- Takes note of the efforts accomplished in the finalization of the management plan of the property (entitled Partial Plan for the Comprehensive Development of the Historic Centre – PPDI-CHQ) and its harmonization, through the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito, with the Territorial Planning and Development Plan for the Metropolitan District of the City of Quito (PMDOT) and the Land Use and Management Plan; but expresses its regret that to date the PPDI-CHQ, has not yet been finalized, and urges the State Party to continue the harmonization process and to finalize, as soon as possible, both the PPDI-CHQ and the PMDOT and in view of their timely submission to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
- Welcomes the draft of the new ordinance to replace Ordinance 260, which provides the legal framework for the implementation of the PPDI-CHQ and recommends to the State Party to consider the observations made in ICOMOS’ technical review before proceeding with its formal approval;
- Also takes note of the advances, regretfully limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, accomplished by the State Party in the update of the Disaster Risk Management Plan, and urges the State Party to finalize it, in light of the recommendations of ICOMOS’ technical review of September 2020, and to submit this plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as possible;
- Also welcomes the geotechnical monitoring processes carried out at the metro stations and tunnels, the complete stabilization within the acceptable settlement ranges established for the site, and the establishment of a programme to monitor the impact of the pedestrian flows and encourages the State Party to continue these lines of action and to also consider the signage around the metro station in order to limit its visual impact in the historic environment of the San Francisco Square;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above.
Draft Decision: 45 COM 7B.115
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.67, adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
- Takes note of the efforts accomplished in the finalization of the management plan of the property (entitled Partial Plan for the Comprehensive Development of the Historic Centre – PPDI-CHQ) and its harmonization, through the development of a Comprehensive Master Plan for the heritage in the Metropolitan District of Quito, with the Territorial Planning and Development Plan for the Metropolitan District of the City of Quito (PMDOT) and the Land Use and Management Plan; but expresses its regret that to date the PPDI-CHQ, has not yet been finalized, and urges the State Party to continue the harmonization process and to finalize, as soon as possible, both the PPDI-CHQ and the PMDOT and in view of their timely submission to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
- Welcomes the draft of the new ordinance to replace Ordinance 260, which provides the legal framework for the implementation of the PPDI-CHQ and recommends to the State Party to consider the observations made in ICOMOS’ technical review before proceeding with its formal approval;
- Also takes note of the advances, regretfully limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, accomplished by the State Party in the update of the Disaster Risk Management Plan, and urges the State Party to finalize it, in light of the recommendations of ICOMOS’ technical review of September 2020, and to submit this plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as possible;
- Also welcomes the geotechnical monitoring processes carried out at the metro stations and tunnels, the complete stabilization within the acceptable settlement ranges established for the site, and the establishment of a programme to monitor the impact of the pedestrian flows and encourages the State Party to continue these lines of action and to also consider the signage around the metro station in order to limit its visual impact in the historic environment of the San Francisco Square;
- Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above.
EcuadorDocuments examined by the Committee
45COM (2023)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
