Decision 44 COM 7B.18

Archaeological Site of Carthage (Tunisia) (C 37)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 7B.55, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Commends the State Party for its on-going work to address illegal development and notes that two dozen structures have been demolished and that the demolition of illegal structures started at the National Police Officers’ Training School in Salammbô;
4. Requests the State Party to expedite the demolition of the remaining illegal structures within the property;
5. Also notes the positive progress that has been made with the new policy of land acquisition and measures taken by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to reclaim land that was confiscated during the Revolution, as a means of controlling development pressures, and welcomes the creation of research unit for preventative archaeology within the National Heritage Institute;
6. Urges the State Party, to consider further efforts to address the socio-economic root causes of development pressures through wider urban development planning structures and tools in order to generate a more symbiotic relationship between the surrounding areas and the property and to ensure that local residents can participate in the enhancement of the site;
7. Further notes that the Protection and Presentation Plan has been revised to reflect the submitted minor boundary modification proposal, and also requests the State Party to adopt this Plan once the boundary modification proposal has been finalized, and set out how it will be integrated with the local development plan;
8. Reiterates its request to the State Party to draft and implement a Management Plan to coordinate the management and conservation activities carried out at the property by the concerned stakeholders, and also urges the State Party to consider the recommendations of the 2019 mission that included setting up communication strategies with local stakeholders, and reviewing legislative protection;
9. Reminds the State Party of its obligations to submit to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, details of all on-going or planned projects, including major restoration and rehabilitation of the property, as well as any new envisaged construction within the property and its surroundings;
10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 46th session.