Decision 44 COM 7A.38

Coro and its Port (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of) (C 658)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7A,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7A.52, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Takes note with appreciation of the ongoing restoration and conservation works undertaken in the property, and the reactivation of the traditional mud artisan school that participates in these works;
4. Appreciates the interim measures undertaken to address ongoing drainage issues in the property, given the limited resources available, and requests the State Party to begin the implementation of the larger drainage system project as soon as possible;
5. Takes note of the cartography submitted regarding modifications to the buffer zones of the two components sites of Coro and La Vela, and also requests the State Party to submit, in accordance with Paragraphs 163-164 and Annex 11 of the Operational Guidelines, a Minor Boundary Modification for La Vela, and a boundary clarification for Coro;
6. Takes note with concern that insufficient information was provided by the State Party regarding its progress towards addressing each of the 11 corrective measures adopted in Decision 38 COM 7A.23 to reach the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and reiterates its request to the State Party that its future state of conservation reports on this property provide clear and complete information on all corrective measures and follow the mandatory report format contained in Annex 13 of the Operational Guidelines;
7. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the recommendations of the 2018 ICOMOS Advisory mission report, which provide important guidance on the actions needed to respond to the complete set of corrective measures;
8. Expresses its concern that no updated outline or draft of the property’s Management Plan has been submitted since the 2018 state of conservation report, and that the status of the document’s development remains unclear, and therefore urges the State Party to submit the draft Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies as soon as it is available;
9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 45th session;
10. Decides to retain Coro and its Port (Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.