Decision 44 COM 7B.54

Royal Building of Mafra – Palace, Basilica, Convent, Cerco Garden and Hunting Park (Tapada) (Portugal) (C 1573)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 8B.30, adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019),
3. Commends the State Party for the extensive work carried out in consolidating and increasing the documentation of the property, and particularly of the Tapada;
4. Welcomes the stipulation of a Cooperation Protocol for the integrated management of Mafra, and recommends that the State Party consider the opportunity to appoint different chairpersons for the Cooperation Unit and the Advisory Unit, to approve expeditiously the Rules of Procedures for the integrated management of the Royal Building of Mafra and to harness the opportunities offered by the Cooperation Unit to further strengthen integration and coordination of the actions envisaged or planned by the different management actors on the property;
5. Encourages the State Party to continue its research and to develop expeditiously the envisaged Strategic and Management Plans for the Tapada, which shall include a chapter on the research programme, in order to tie together research advancements and management approaches and actions, and to develop an integrated management strategy for the whole property;
6. Also welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create an Equestrian Project in Mafra and the plans for improving the conditions of the Military Parade grounds, and also recommends that the State Party extend the timeframe of the MoU and allocate funds to achieve rapidly the enhancement of the Military Parade area;
7. Reiterates its recommendation to the Municipality of Mafra to develop a conservation plan for the Cerco Garden;
8. Further welcomes the preliminary document prepared on the archaeological research to be carried out at Mafra, and further recommends that the State Party develop it into a long-term strategy, accompanied by an Action Plan indicating human and financial resources, priorities and timeframes;
9. 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.