Chan Chan Archaeological Zone

• Identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community
• Illegal activities (illegal occupation of the property)
• Management systems/ management plan
• Water (rising water table levels, rain/water table)
• Continuous deterioration of earthen architecture structures and decorated surfaces from lack of conservation and maintenance practices
• Unregulated farming activities
• Delay in implementing protective measures (legislation and regulations already passed by the National Authorities)
• Development pressures

• Fragile state of conservation of earthen structures and decorated surfaces due to extreme climatic conditions (El Niño phenomenon) and other environmental factors
• Inadequate management system in place
• Insufficient capacity and resources for the implementation of conservation measures
• Increase in the levels of the phreatic water table

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

Adopted, see page https://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4647

N/A

On 1 February 2024, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, whose executive summary is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/366/documents/. Progress in a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions is presented in the report, as follows:

• The Ministry of Culture, through the Directorate of World Heritage Sites and the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of La Libertad (DDC-LIB), has resumed efforts with the new administration (2023-2026) of the Provincial Municipality of Trujillo concerning the approval of the Metropolitan Urban Development Plan that incorporates the Regulation of the Buffer Zone of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex;
• The proposed amendment of Law 28261 aimed at addressing the illegal occupation of land and its recovery, has been analysed by the Ministry of Culture and is now under revision by the relevant Vice-Ministerial Coordination Commission. In the meantime, the Ministry of Culture will supervise the area as per the zoning determined by the Master Plan for the Conservation and Management of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex 2021-2031 (Master Plan);
• The Master Plan, approved through Ministerial Resolution N° 000130-2021-DM/MC and published in the Official Gazette El Peruano on 12 May 2021, maintains the original vision, principles, and objectives, with adjustments made only to certain programs and projects. The Ministry of Culture ensures its implementation through regular funding and the execution of a specific investment project at the Huaca Takaynamo which, inter alia, aims to provide suitable conditions for tourism, cultural recreation and valorization activities, including infrastructure. In the framework of the Master Plan, maintenance of surfaces was undertaken in five sectors of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex. The Pan-American Centre for the Conservation of Earthen Heritage of the Special Project for the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex (PECACH) further implements the Master Plan through continued research activities including chemical, physical, and mechanical studies of construction materials, monitoring of environmental, structural, and geological factors, as well as photogrammetric and topographic recording, and cleaning and awareness-raising campaigns;
• The Chan Chan Site Museum joined the Ministry of Culture’s Open Museums programme, which integrates museums, art and heritage through cultural and artistic activities. Awareness building in communities surrounding the property is an integral component of its work;
• The DDC-LIB is negotiating a project with the Regional Government of La Libertad for the improvement and expansion of tourism services at the site museum. An investment project with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and the national plan of the Special Commission to Coordinate and Oversee Cultural Tourism (COPESCO) is being implemented to improve tourism services at the Nik An Complex;
• The construction of the El Sol Highway by the Ministry of Transport and Communication is currently halted.

The continued effort of the State Party is welcomed to implement the Master Plan, to undertake the actions that are needed to achieve its desired state of conservation and to implement the decisions of the World Heritage Committee. The contribution of PECACH should be commended.

The Ministry of Culture should be commended for its efforts to advance the approval process for the amendment to Law 28261 that should provide the mechanisms and tools to address the matter of illegal occupation of land within the boundaries of the World Heritage property. It should be encouraged in its outreach to the new administration of the Provincial Municipality of Trujillo in relation to the approval of the Metropolitan Urban Development Plan that incorporates the Regulation of the Buffer Zone of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex.

The report clearly demonstrates that while above matters require lengthy and complex administrative processes, a great number of activities are being carried out in the area of research and conservation, improvement of tourism facilities and outreach to neighbouring communities. Specific mention should be made of the actions in response to damages caused by hurricane Yaku in March 2023 which resulted in rainfall exceeding 20mm that affected wall surfaces and caused damage to protective covers. It is noted that conservation works were carried out in the walled complexes of Nik An, Chol An, the Huacas Arco Iris and La Esmeralda.

It should be noted that the construction of the El Sol Highway through the property is currently halted. In this sense, the relevant decision of the Committee (Decision 44 COM 7A.37) should be recalled 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”.