The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B,
- Takes note with satisfaction of the measures taken by the States Parties concerned to address its previous requests to mitigate the threats on the Outstanding Universal Value of the following World Heritage properties:
- Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower (Azerbaijan),
- Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (Russian Federation),
- New Lanark (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland),
- Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (United States of America);
- Encourages the States Parties concerned to pursue their efforts to ensure the conservation of World Heritage properties;
- Recalling the benefits to States Parties of systematically utilizing Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in the review of development projects, also encourages States Parties to integrate the EIA/HIA processes into legislation, planning mechanisms and management plans, and reiterates its recommendation to States Parties to use these tools in assessing projects, including assessment of cumulative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of properties, as early as possible and before any final decision is taken;
- Reminds the States Parties concerned to inform the World Heritage Centre in due course about any major development project that may negatively impact the Outstanding Universal Value of a property, before any irreversible decisions are made, in line with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines.