Adopted at the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee
(ref- WHC-04/28 COM/26, p. 42. Suzhou, 2004)

Resolution 28COM 14B.45

World Heritage Committee:

1. List Vegaøyan - The Vega Archipelago, Norway on the World Heritage List as a cultural landscape on the basis of cultural criterion (v):

Criterion (v): Vegaøyan shows how generations of fishermen and farmers over the past 1500 years have maintained a sustainable way of life in a harsh sea area near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique tradition of eiderdown traditions , which is also a tribute to women's contribution to the down work;

2. Requests the authorities to develop a separate strategic plan for the area, which is part of the world cultural and natural heritage, as a contribution to the municipal plan for the island area. The plan should address:
a. measures that support traditional forms of farming, especially sheep grazing on the islands ,
b. maintaining the mosaic of the landscape,
c. the boundary between conservation and sustainable development with regard to aquaculture,
d. documentation,
e. how private landowners can be involved in management;

3. Recommends that the authorities register the eider houses on the islands and is developing a conservation plan to ensure that these outstanding structures are preserved;

4. Encourages the authorities to formalize the collection of traditional intangible knowledge about traditions and practices in the islands to be able to monitor their compliance;

5. Further encourages the State Party to explore ways to reduce the visual impact in the landscape of the large radio mast on Vega;

6. Also recommends that the State Party consider expanding the World Heritage Site – or buffer zone – to also include: islands and sea areas in the north and northeast;

7. Further recommends that the State Party, where appropriate, consider acquiring abandoned islands so that these come under public ownership to maintain the cultural landscape and protect the biodiversity on these the islands .