WCC-2025-Rec-052 - Progress Report submission form

Based on the operational paragraphs of the Resolution, progress is assessed as "moderate" thus far. Protection and management of the cultural World Heritage property "Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, France" has been significantly strengthened through the addition of a buffer zone, adopted by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, in its Decision 47 COM 8B.45 (July 2026, Busan, Republic of Korea). The buffer zone includes the urban area of the city of Fontainebleau, the municipal area of the town of Avon, and the Forest of Fontainebleau, the latter corresponding to the historical hunting area surrounding the Palace and Park. The Forest of Fontainebleau is thus serving as an added layer of protection for the cultural World Heritage property, in line with paragraph 104 of the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Convention. The ICOMOS evaluation of the minor boundary modification also noted that the addition of the buffer zone is also in line with the State Party's plan to propose a significant boundary modification to extend the property to include the Forest, to become the “Domaine de Fontainebleau: château, jardins, parc et forêt”, as noted on the
Tentative List of the State Party since 2020. In addition, the World Heritage Committee recommended the State Party to continue "the participatory process for the development of the management plan of the property, finalising and approving it as soon as possible". Both processes may serve as opportunity to fully implement this resolution.
Note: This resolution by IUCN Members is without prejudice to IUCN's role as independent technical evaluator of natural properties nominated for inclusion on the World Heritage List.