Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia

• Legal framework (legislation LB392 not yet passed and implemented)
• Management systems/Management Plan (management system not extended enough; lack of a risk preparedness strategy as well as of a comprehensive tourism strategy into the management plan)
• Erosion and siltation/ deposition (need to remove silt from the waterways without jeopardizing possible cultural layers on the sea floor)

• Management system/Management Plan
• Management activities (Overgrowth of vegetation, Stonework collapse)
• Storms (Effects of storm surge)
• Erosion and siltation/ deposition

In progress

In progress

In progress

Total amount provided: USD 120,000 for the preparation of a nomination file and the management plan for Nan Madol from the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust; USD 26,232 for technical support to Nan Madol, Micronesia (List of World Heritage in Danger) from the Netherlands Funds-in-Trust.

On 14 February 2024, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1503/documents/, presenting the following information:

• The borders to Pohnpei opened in October 2022, allowing progress with tasks to protect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, but opportunities at other development project have restricted worker availability;
• Vegetation removal has progressed, funded by the US Office of Insular Affairs (Department of Interior) ‘Technical Assistance Program’ (TAP) and Pohnpei State Tourism Authority and has focused on five islets and the canal. Funding for further ongoing vegetation management has been obtained from the US Forest Service, whose arborist has provided advice on intrusive tree removal;
• Further work is required to remove sludge and excess sediment in the canals. An emerging issue is growth of mangroves and seaweed in the lagoon near Pahnwi Islet. There has been some suggestion of reconstruction of stone structures, which is not being pursued owing to concerns that they are sacred, and practical challenges. A tentative plan was prepared for a walkway through mangroves to Nan Dowas;
• Legislation LB392, which would protect the property and establish the Nan Madol Trust, has not been passed and a workshop to progress the legislation is yet to occur, but Pohnpeian customs, traditions, and sociopolitical system continue to be respected;
• The proposed Property Manager has not been appointed, pending revenue from foreign visitation, but an Administrative Officer is acting in that capacity;
• The Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation of the property, site Management Plan, and the Sustainable Tourism Plan have been prepared, but are not formally adopted, pending arrangements for the Nan Madol Historic Preservation Trust and Board;
• The Visitor Centre is complete, with funding from Japan, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Congress, and the Pohnpei Tourism Office, the design and production of the exhibits in the Visitor Centre were made possible by the United States of America’ State Department ‘Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Large Grant Program’, FSM National Government, State of Pohnpei Division of Resources and Development, and the U.S. National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund. Activities were carried out by the Pohnpei State Government, the FSM Office of National Archives, Culture and Historic Preservation (FSM NACH), and Cultural Site Research and Management (CSRM) Foundation. However, it has not yet opened;
• The tourism resort on Nahnningi Island, within the buffer zone of the property, continues to be constructed, including commencement of a meeting house/conference centre, despite a request to stop work. Issues raised in a 2019 ICOMOS Technical Review have not been addressed. A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is in progress;
• Processes for HIA will be developed by the FSM NACH;
• The Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) has not yet been drafted, but State Party understands there are four matters which endanger Nan Madol and need to be addressed in the Desired state of conservation process, namely: (1) Erosion and siltation/ deposition, (2)Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation, (3) Legal framework, and (4) Management systems/management plan, and (4) Impacts of tourism/visitor/recreation. Brief commentary has been provided on each of these issues.

There has been some progress with actions directed at managing the property and protecting attributes which support its OUV, including removal of intrusive and threatening vegetation, with support for provided by the US Forest Service, US Office of Insular Affairs (Department of Interior) TAP and Pohnpei State Tourism Authority. Nevertheless, the rate of deterioration remains concerning and vegetation management and clearing of canals, and a system for monitoring the health of mangroves areas require ongoing implementation and resourcing. The completion of the Visitor Centre, with support from the government of Japan, is welcome, and should contribute to the quality of visitor experiences.

Continuing collaboration with the CSRM is of great benefit, and preparation of the Master Plan for the Sustainable Conservation, the site Management Plan, and the Sustainable Tourism Plan are significant achievements which are unfortunately diminished by the fact that political and organizational processes have prevented their formal adoption. It is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to report on progress with implementing these important documents.

The legal protection system for the property is not yet in place, despite the State Party’s previous assurances. The passing of the law LB392, which would protect the property and establish the Nan Madol Trust, has been outstanding since the property was inscribed in the World Heritage List and List of World Heritage in Danger in 2016. The crucial position of ‘Property Manager’ remains vacant despite repeated commitments.

It is of great concern that construction work for a tourism resort on Nahnningi Island, within the buffer zone of the property, has continued and been expanded to include a meeting house/conference centre, despite a request from the State Party that works cease. Work on this project should halt and the entirety of the project should be reviewed following completion of a HIA prepared in conformity with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessment in a World Heritage Context. The fact that this project has proceeded despite significant concerns raised in the 2019 ICOMOS Technical Review, a specific Decision of the Committee, and the State Party’s own request, calls into question the effectiveness of the protection system for the property, which is part of its OUV.

The ongoing ascertained and potential threats to attributes which support the OUV of the property, and continued absence a draft DSOCR, with associated corrective measures, suggest that further support is required. It is therefore suggested that the elaboration of the DSOCR be initiated remotely through collaboration between the World Heritage Centre, the Advisory Bodies and the representatives of the State Party, with the aim of presenting it and related corrective measures to the 47^th session of the Committee. Once the DSOCR has been adopted and the corrective measures have been implemented, it may be appropriate to consider a future joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission review the state of conservation of the property.

Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia remains subject to ascertained and potential danger and should remain on the List of World Heritage in Danger.