Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan

a) Urban development pressures in areas surrounding the property;

b) Lack of management plan.

On 4 March 2008, the World Heritage Centre received the State Party’s report. The report was submitted in Spanish, but contains little new substantive information concerning the current situation to address the requests of the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007).

It outlines activities implemented since 2003 for the development of the management plan which has yet to be finalized because it is awaiting national approval. The long planning process considered a consultation approach, several working groups were formed to address current issues affecting the property by particular themes and/ or areas of expertise. Other interest and social groups were later integrated in the process to gather their assessments and proposals for the final compilation of the management document. However, no documentation was provided to assess the quality or comprehensiveness of the proposals made, how they will conserve the outstanding universal value of the property or how the major issues confronted, such as visitation, will be addressed in the short and long term.

In addition, representatives from the National Institute of Anthropology and History have participated in other planning initiatives that might impact the property, such as the Regional Programme for Touristic development of the Teotihuacan corridor and the urban plans for both municipalities related to the property. This participation is important but should be structured in a way where decisions regarding the property and its setting are taken in accordance to the conservation of the outstanding universal value and the integrity of the property and no detrimental actions are implemented. This programme is tourist oriented and it does not correspond to the decision of the World Heritage Committee that requested the State Party to set up an intersectoral working group at local, federal and national levels to analyze the archaeological, environmental and social impacts related to uncontrolled urban development.

An additional project has started to develop a geographic information system which will be useful for future decision making. However, in spite of all these actions there is still no articulation between the different levels of planning (territorial, municipal and site) and different proposals have not been brought together to guarantee there is no impact on the values of the property, including its setting. Although plans might exist, their implementation will pose a different challenge, particular in regard to illegal constructions or unplanned for developments in the areas.