World Heritage Centre

40 COM 7A.31 Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (C 1150)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.43, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015) as well as Decisions 36 COM 7B.93 (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 37 COM 7A.35 (Phnom Penh, 2013) and 38 COM 7A.19 (Doha, 2014),
Notes that all stakeholders recognize the serious concerns of the World Heritage Committee over the potential threat of the Liverpool Waters development scheme to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
Recalls the conclusions of the 2015 joint World Heritage Centre/ICOMOS Advisory mission, in particular the need to reduce the urban density and height of the proposed development from the height maximums granted for the Liverpool Waters project, and also notes the need for a global approach, linking the strategic development vision to a regulatory planning document, which provides clear legal guidelines to protect the OUV of the property, and in turn helps developers design their projects accordingly;
Although noting that the State Party proposes to develop the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) and the Liverpool Local Plan and Master Plan in tandem, and that they will not be approved before 2018, recalls however that the DSOCR is a tool and framework document which defines the state of conservation that a property must reach in order to demonstrate that it is no longer threatened by ascertained or potential serious and specific danger and to enable its removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger (the submission of the final draft of the DSOCR by the State Party and its approval by the Committee should come prior to the finalization and approval of the necessary planning tools and regulatory framework), and reiterates its request to the State Party to submit the final draft of the DSOCR to the World Heritage Centre by 1 December 2016, for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies as requested in Decision 39 COM 7A.43, and to include the approval of the Local Plan and the revised Management plan as part of the agreed implementation plan for the corrective measures;
Further notes the confirmation from the State Party that a moratorium remains in place for the Liverpool Central Docks, but requests the State Party to ensure that only repair and reuse of historic buildings, maintenance works and small scale projects should receive permission within the rest of the property until the DSOCR is finalized and adopted;
Notes furthermore the submission by the State Party on 8 July 2016 of new information about two projects: Princes Reach, Princes Dock, Liverpool and Proposed Student Residences in Skelhorne Street, Liverpool and also requests the State Party to ensure that neither project receives project approval, until the DSOCR has been finalized and adopted;
Further requests the State Party to submit the draft Local Plan and Master Plan to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, before either document is considered for adoption by either Liverpool City Council or the State Party, and to submit the final Local Plan and Master Plan to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2018;
Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2017, a progress report on the elaboration of the Liverpool Local Plan, for review by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, it being understood that no new detailed plans affecting the property will be approved by either Liverpool City Council or the State Party before the DSOCR is officially adopted by the Committee;
Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) on the List of World Heritage in Danger, with the possibility of deletion of the property from the World Heritage List in the absence of timely implementation of the above recommendations.

40 COM 7A.32 Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) (N 764)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.18, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Welcoming the efforts undertaken by the State Party towards the implementation of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), including the announcement of a ban on offshore petroleum exploration within all seven components of the property and within one kilometre on either side of the Barrier Reef, notes that this policy announcement still needs to be translated into a legislative instrument and that the adequacy of the one-kilometre buffer zone needs revision to secure the protection of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the full implementation of the indicator under the DSOCR;
Also notes that the Petroleum Exploration Framework is currently being revised and that this document will define further areas that would be excluded from offshore petroleum exploration, as well as other restrictions, and requests the State Party to ensure that the protection of the property’s OUV is fully integrated into the revision of the Framework in line with the requirements under the DSOCR;
Also welcomes the adoption of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) and the provision of funding for its initial implementation and strongly encourages the State Party to ensure that the resources required for the long term implementation of the Plan are secured;
Takes note of the confirmation made by the State Party that a voluntary moratorium on sale and lease of lands within the property remains in place and reiterates its request to the State Party to develop a legally binding instrument to ensure a permanent cessation of all sales and leases of state owned land throughout the property;
Urges the State Party to finalize and adopt the Mangrove Regulations in order to ensure that the mangrove areas within the property are effectively protected and requirements under the DSOCR are fully met;
Also strongly encourages the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Advisory mission to provide the necessary assistance in the elaboration of the abovementioned legislative instruments related to offshore petroleum exploration as well as the overall implementation of the indicators of the DSOCR;
Further welcomes the revision of the Environmental Impact Assessment system and also urges the State Party to fully integrate the protection of the property’s OUV into this process to ensure that the revised regulations guarantee that no areas within the property and in its immediate vicinity can be developed in ways that would negatively impact on the property's OUV, consistent with the requirements under the DSOCR;
Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (Belize) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.33 Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) (N 196)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.20, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Commends the State Party and governmental and non-governmental partners for further progress made in integrated monitoring and granting negotiated local access to land and natural resources, and encourages the State Party and partners to continue these efforts;
Expresses its concern that another eviction has been carried out and strongly urges the State Party to prevent new illegal settlements so as to avoid further evictions in the future;
Reiterates its concern that illegal activities continue to impact on the property and that no apparent progress has been made in terms of human, financial and logistical resources beyond the securing of external funding and cooperation;
Encourages the State Party to use the conclusions and recommendations of the discussions facilitated by International Assistance, as a foundation to develop a proposal for a significant boundary modification, with the technical support of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, as required;
Also recalls its consideration that the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) should be revised once the boundaries of the property have been clarified;
Recalls its request to the State Party to report on the possible impacts of the Patuca III project;
Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (Honduras) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.34 Manovo Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic) (N 475)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.34 and 39 COM 7A.1 adopted respectively at its 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions,
Takes note of the Bangui National Forum relating to the restoration of peace and expresses the hope that the commitments undertaken as a result of this Forum will enable a progressive improvement of the security situation in the country, including in the zone where the property is located;
However, notes with concern that insecurity continues to complicate the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 33rd session (Seville, 2009);
Reiterates its deep concern regarding the probable loss of most of the flagship species of large mammals in the property, due to poaching and impact from grazing cattle;
Also reiterates its continuing concern regarding the fact that the property has already lost its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), which could result in its removal from the World Heritage List, in conformity with Paragraph 176d) of the Operational Guidelines;
Warmly welcomes the commitment of the State Party to pursue the implementation of the ECOFAUNE + Project with the support of the European Union, as well as the land use and security activities foreseen in and around the property in the framework of the Central Africa Biodiversity Conservation Programme – Protecting Central Africa’s Elephants funded by the African Development Bank and encourages the State Party to continue its efforts;
Reiterates its request to the State Party to organize a workshop to assess the feasibility for the restoration of the OUV of the property under the current security conditions and based on this, to prepare an emergency action plan, focused on the adopted corrective measures;
Also reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission as soon as the security situation permits to assess the state of conservation of the property and determine whether there remain perspectives for the regeneration of the characteristics of the property justifying its OUV, or if a removal of the property from the World Heritage List in accordance with Paragraph IV.C of the Operational Guidelines should be envisaged;
Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for this property;
Also decides to retain Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park (Central African Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.35 Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire) (N 227)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Warmly welcomes the continued progress achieved by the State Party, in particular the surveillance measures and awareness raising activities among the local communities, to counteract human pressure affecting the property;
Notes with concern continued gold prospecting and associated poaching, as well as other threats resulting from human pressure and requests the State Party to pursue its efforts to counteract these threats, to implement the corrective measures and continue the execution of the rehabilitation plan begun in 2015;
Also warmly welcomes the willingness of the State Party to prepare Environmental Impact Evaluations (EIEs) for the two mining projects outside the Park should they progress beyond the prospection stage, and reiterates its request to the State Party to ensure that these EIEs include an evaluation of the potential impacts of these projects on the outstanding universal value (OUV) of the property, in conformity with the IUCN Advisory Note on World Heritage: environmental evaluation;
Notes with satisfaction the preparation and the implementation of an ecological monitoring strategy prepared with support from GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation) as well as the inventories of large mammals that have been carried out, also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for examination by IUCN, all reports concerning the analysis of data gathered during these inventories to enable confirmation of the re-establishment of large wildlife populations within the Park, and also reiterates its request to the State Party to define, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, the biological indicators for the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
Further reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint UNESCO/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property as soon as the above-mentioned reports are available, to examine the state of conservation of the property and progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures;
Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures and the above-mentioned points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.36 Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d’Ivoire/Guinea) (N 155bis)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.3, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Notes the efforts made by the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to strengthen the monitoring and update the property boundaries with the participation of the local communities but requests the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to provide details of the decree for the redefinition of the boundaries;
Also notes the progress made by the State Party of Guinea in the implementation of the international assistance project for the protection of the biodiversity of the property by an integrated and participatory management, financed by the World Heritage Fund, encourages the State Party of Guinea to continue and strengthen the actions being carried out, but regrets that the report provided does not give information about several measures requested by the Committee;
Further notes that the implementation of corrective measures continued to be affected by the health crisis caused by the Ebola epidemic, and considers however that the normalization of the health situation in the region should enable the States Parties to resume their efforts to implement the corrective measures;
Reiterates its requests to both States Parties to implement a joint monitoring system of the property to control all anthropogenic pressures, and to partner with UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to develop the second phase of the Nimba Project, to concern the entire property, in order to promote the implementation of the corrective measures to safeguard the integrity of the property;
Also requests the State Party of Guinea to strictly ensure the preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the West Africa Exploration Company in accordance with international standards as requested in Decision 37 COM 7A.3 (Phnom Penh, 2013), and to submit this ESIA to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN, before authorizing the project;
Also reiterates its request to the State Party of Guinea to develop a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), in line with international standards, to qualify and quantity all the potential cumulative impacts of various mining projects planned on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, as recommended by the 2013 monitoring mission for the property and the IUCN World Heritage advice note on Environmental Assessment, and submit the results to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, before any decision on these projects, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
Further reiterates its request to the State Party of Guinea to revise the boundaries of the exploration permit granted to the SAMA Resources Company to ensure that there is no overlapping with the property;
Further requests the States Parties of Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, a joint 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 41st session in 2017 ;
Decides to retain Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire / Guinea) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.37 Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 136)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.8, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Commends the efforts of the staff of the property who continue their actions for the conservation of the property, often at great risk, and expresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards and soldiers killed in operations for the protection of the property;
Expresses its deepest concern over continuing insecurity around the property and ongoing poaching pressure, particularly targeted at elephants and driven by international ivory trafficking;
Reiterates its great concern that the northern white rhino is now considered to be extinct in the property and in the wild, that populations of elephants and other key species have continued to decline and Congolese giraffe are now reaching critically low numbers, and as a result the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property could be lost if urgent action to reverse the downward population trends is not taken;
Also commends the State Party, particularly the Congolese Nature Conservation Institute (ICCN) and its partner, African Parks Network for their continuous efforts to further strengthen law enforcement operations by extending aerial and ground surveillance to cover the entire property as well as adjacent Hunting Areas that serve as important buffer zones for the property;
Requests the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures, updated by the 2016 mission, as follows:
1. Further strengthen anti-poaching efforts through continued close collaboration with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and development of highly skilled, motivated and properly equipped field personnel,
2. Further enhance trans-boundary cooperation with South Sudan, particularly in relation to the management of adjacent Lantoto National Park, and efforts to curb poaching and illegal cross-border trade in wildlife products,
3. Complete the establishment and deployment of a team of at least 200 operational guards incorporating carefully selected elements from FARDC,
4. Maintain an effective year-round surveillance of the entire park and at least 50% of the surrounding Hunting Areas, increasing the extent and frequency of ground patrols whilst maintaining the existing levels of aerial surveillance,
5. Establish a conservation strategy for the Hunting Areas and develop a recognized Buffer Zone for the World Heritage property which serves to strengthen the protection of the property’s OUV,
6. Support and strengthen economic development activities for communities around the property to promote sustainable livelihoods, reduce dependence on park resources and ensure that neighbouring communities understand and support conservation efforts,
7. Maintain close surveillance of the few remaining Congo giraffe and establish appropriate measures to ensure their protection,
8. Further develop the park’s infrastructure, extending the road network, and installing additional radio repeater stations, observation posts and other installations to facilitate efficient and effective protection and management of the entire property, especially the northern sectors,
9. Work towards sustainable financing of park management, identifying and developing a range of income sources, including trust funds, business and tourism opportunities;
Takes notes of the revision proposed by the 2016 mission of the indicators of the draft Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, the final version of the DSOCR for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Also takes note of the ongoing consultation carried out by UNESCO in view of convening a meeting on the security in the region, and reiterates its invitation to the Director-General of UNESCO to organize, in cooperation with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), a high-level meeting between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, as well as Central African Republic and other potential stakeholders on how to improve security in the region and address the poaching issue;
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to the property;
Also decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.38 Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 137)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the guard killed during the execution of operations carried out for the protection of the property;
Welcomes the continued efforts by the Congolese Institute for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) with assistance from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) in securing the property, strengthening surveillance and closing illegal mines but expresses its concern that surveillance coverage area decreased to 34% of the property in 2015 due to the late release of funds;
Expresses its utmost concern about the conclusions presented in the 2016 WCS/FFI/ICCN (Wildlife Conservation International/Fauna and Flora International/ICCN) report on the status of Grauer’s gorilla and eastern chimpanzee, which demonstrate that population of Grauer’s gorilla is estimated to have declined by 77% across its range and by 87% in the lowland sectors of the property, making it now critically endangered, and emphasizes the crucial importance of increasing efforts to protect Grauer’s gorilla in the property to safeguard its continued survival;
Also notes with significant concern that mining and the associated bushmeat hunting are identified in the WCS/FFI/ICCN report as the most critical threat to Grauer’s gorilla and eastern chimpanzee across their range, including in the property;
Strongly urges the State Party to close fully all remaining mines in the property as a matter of utmost priority and ensure that they are not re-occupied and to take stronger measures to stop the consumption and trade of bushmeat, and ensure a focus on stopping the illegal trade of great apes;
Takes note of the State Party’s confirmation that no mining concessions are active within the property and requests the State Party to confirm that all exploratory mining concessions given by the Mining Cadastre have been cancelled;
Further notes that the “National Forum on Governance and Enhancement of the Property” reportedly resulted in the stabilization of destructive activities linked to illegal farms in the ecological corridor between the lowland and highland sectors of the property and that some recovery of vegetation has been observed in the areas where encroachment was previously addressed, and also requests the State Party to accelerate the actions to prevent damage to and encroachment of the ecological corridor, which is crucial to ensure the ecological continuity between the highland and lowland sectors of the property, and to submit more details on the status of the corridor with maps showing areas where encroachment has been removed, and which are regenerating, and which areas are still encroached;
Reiterates its request to the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission as soon as the final results of the inventory are available, to assess the state of conservation of the property, update the corrective measures, and establish a timeframe for their implementation as well as the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
Also decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.39 Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 718)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.41, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Expresses its most sincere condolences to the family of the guard killed in operations for the protection of the property;
Welcomes the cancellation of one of the mining permits awarded to KiloGold Society inside the property and urges the State Party to provide information on the remaining mining permits overlapping with the property and to ensure their cancellation;
Takes note of the actions taken by the Congolese Institute for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) and Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) to close some artisanal mines and reiterates its request to the State Party to evacuate and close all illegal artisanal mines within the property;
Expresses its concern at the continued deterioration of the security situation in the property, increased poaching and the reopening of artisanal mining sites encouraged by rebel groups;
Notes with appreciation the development of a roadmap towards the signing of an agreement between ICCN and the four communities in the Mambasa Territory in order to establish an integral conservation zone in the property, and the steps taken to inform the zoning plan for forest areas adjacent to the property;
Acknowledges the addition of 50 trained guards for the ongoing surveillance of the property, but notes with concern that the reported surveillance coverage is significantly lower than what was reported to the Committee at its 39th session and therefore, also reiterates its request to the State Party to prioritize efforts to further expand the patrol coverage and regain control of the site to halt poaching and the deterioration of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, including through the recruitment of additional guards and the adequate provision of financial and material resources;
Also notes with concern the significant increase in the number of inhabitants in the five villages along the RN4 which questions the effectiveness of the system established to control immigration into the property, and requests the State Party to evaluate and improve this system in order to make it more effective, and to evaluate the impacts of the increased population on land use around the villages;
Also urges the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the corrective measures and to resume operations suspended due to a lack of security, and reiterates its call upon donors to provide necessary financial and technical support for these efforts;
Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for the property;
Also decides to retain the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.40 Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 280)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.7, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Welcomes the State Party’s ongoing efforts, to implement the corrective measures, with the substantial financial and technical support from various partners, but notes the importance of sustaining this financial support over a longer timeframe in order to adequately manage the property and increase operational capacity and restore its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
Also welcomes the increased patrols of the property by park staff covering 50% of the area, and the use of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) approach for data collection;
Appreciates the establishment of the design of the ecological corridor through consultation with local communities to link the two components of the property, including the identification of six multiple use zones, requests the State Party to inform the World Heritage Centre on the implementation of the management plans, and urges it to consider further options to improve connectivity between the “sustainable conservation zones” and the southern component of the property;
Notes with concern that disputes over land are continuing within the property, concerning in particular the Kitawala and Yaelima communities, and also requests the State Party to establish an effective dialogue with these communities to identify a possible way forward, in compliance with the corrective measures adopted by the Committee at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012);
Also notes that the inventory of flagship species has been conducted in two of the sectors within the property and further requests the State Party to submit the full findings of the inventories for all flagship species assessed to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as they become available and, based on the results, to also submit an updated Desired state of conservation for the removal of a property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR) which quantifies the indicators, for examination by the World Heritage Committee;
Deeply regrets that the State Party has still not provided any information on the status of oil exploration and exploitation projects (Decisions 36 COM 7A.7, 37 COM 7A.7, 38 COM 7A.40, 39 COM 7A.7), and strongly urges the State Party to submit this information as a matter of urgency, and reiterates its position that oil and gas exploration or exploitation is incompatible with World Heritage status, which is supported by the commitments made by industry leaders such as Shell and Total not to undertake such activities within World Heritage properties;
Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism to the property;
Also decides to retain the Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.41 Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (N 63)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decisions 39 COM 7A.4 and 39 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Addresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards and the military killed during operations for the protection of the property;
Regrets that the State Party has not confirmed its commitment not to authorize new petroleum exploration and exploitation within the boundaries of the property, as was established at the time of inscription on the World Heritage List in 1979, and reiterates its request to the State Party to cancel the petroleum concessions granted inside the property;
Reiterates its position that oil and gas exploration or exploitation is incompatible with World Heritage status, which is supported by the commitments made by industry leaders such as Shell and Total not to undertake such activities within World Heritage properties;
Expresses its utmost concern as regards the decision of the State Party of Uganda to include the Ngaji block in the calls for tender for the future petroleum exploration projects, this block being located in the Ugandan part of Lake Edward bordering the property, and recalls its obligations contained in Article 6.3 of the Convention, stating that “Each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 situated on the territory of other States Parties to this Convention”;
Recalling that the importance of Lake Edward is mentioned several times in the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, considers that any activity linked to petroleum on Lake Edward is highly likely to damage the OUV of the property as well as its integrity, including by negative impacts on the transboundary waters; and urgently requests the State Party of Uganda to refrain from granting petroleum exploration permits for the Ngaji block;
Also requests the State Party of Uganda to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, the report of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that was undertaken for oil and gas operations in the Albertine Graben;
Encourges the States Parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda to strengthen their cooperation around the “Grand Virunga” complex, including Lake Edward, and eventually consider the preparation of a new proposal for inscription for a transboundary extension of the property to reinforce its values and integrity;
Also urges the States Parties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to firmly commit not to authorize any petroleum exploration or exploitation at Lake Edward;
Notes with satisfaction the progress accomplished by the State Party regarding the combat against encroachment, as well as the encouraging results of the ecological monitoring showing an increase in the mountain gorilla population accustomed to humans, a beginning of restoration of the hippopotamus population and a stabilisation of elephant poaching;
Notes with concern the invader coalitions and the launching of simultaneous actions of village extensions into the Park, also reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the commitments undertaken in the Kinshasa Declaration of January 2011, in particular the peaceful evacuation of illegal occupants in the properties;
Congratulates the “Virunga Alliance” initiative for its work towards the sustainable economic development of the property through the enhancement of the ecosystemic services of the park, and welcomes the support provided to local populations and to the provincial and national authorities and thanks the financial donors and the private sector for their support in the implementation of this programme;
Endorses the State Party’s initiative to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Advisory mission to ascertain the progress and efforts made in the management of the property;
Further equests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures and the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to continue to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism;
Also decides to retain Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.42 General Decision on the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Documents WHC/16/40.COM/7A and WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015) and reiterating the need to implement the Kinshasa Declaration adopted in 2011,
Addresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards and soldiers killed during operations to protect the properties, and expresses its deep concern about the persistent in secure situation in most of the properties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC);
Warmly welcomes the creation of the Corps established to strengthen security in the DRC National Parks (CorPPN) which demonstrates the commitment of the State Party to implement the Kinshasa Declaration, and requests the State Party to rapidly provide it with the human and financial resources to enable the deployment of troops in the sites;
Commends the State Party for its efforts to secure sustainable funding, and warmly thanks the donors for their substantial support to the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
Notes with satisfaction United Nations Security Council Resolution 2277 of 30 March 2016 adopted during the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), which commits the DRC Government to continue its actions to preserve the protected natural areas and which allows MONUSCO to encourage the consolidation of an effective national civil structure that controls the main mining activities and manages in an equitable manner the extraction, transportation and trade of natural resources in the eastern DRC;
Reiterates its utmost concern about the new Hydrocarbons Code which provides the possibility to declassify protected areas, including World Heritage properties, to conduct oil exploration and exploitation activities, and about the intention of the State Party to officially address the World Heritage Centre to request an Advisory Body mission to discuss the oil issue in the property;
Reiterates with insistence its request to the State Party to ensure the maintenance of the protection status of World Heritage properties and to cancel any such concessions for oil exploration and mining exploration or exploitation encroaching on one of the five properties, and reiterates its position that oil and gas exploration or exploitation is incompatible with World Heritage status, which is supported by the commitments made by industry leaders such as Shell and Total not to undertake such activities within World Heritage properties ;
Recalls that the modifications to the boundaries of World Heritage properties that are related to the extractive industries must follow the procedure for significant modifications of the boundaries in accordance with paragraph 165 of the Operational Guidelines, taking into account the potential impact of such projects on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
Regrets that, despite several inter-ministerial meetings, no progress has been noted on the issue of mining concessions overlapping protected areas and urges the State Party to take the necessary steps to cancel all licenses granted for mining activities which encroach on the properties, in accordance with the law in force;
Commends the progress made by the State Party to conduct complete inventories at several sites, also notes with significant concern the results of ecological inventories, notably of Kahuzi-Biega and Garamba National Parks, which show significant decline of flagship species of these properties, and also urges the State Party to continue these efforts to protect the properties, to implement corrective measures and combat heavy poaching of iconic species, which remains the major threat to the OUV of the properties of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, a detailed report on the implementation of the Kinshasa Declaration, on the security situation in the properties, on the status of the mining exploration and exploitation concessions encroaching on the World Heritage properties, and on the Hydrocarbons Code, for examination by the Committee at its 41st session in 2017.

40 COM 7A.43 Simien National Park (Ethiopia) (N 9)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Takes note that the on-going voluntary relocation of the Gich community is nearing completion, and requests the State Party to ensure that the remaining compensations and housing contructions are fully completed, and the implementation of the strategies for alternative livelihoods are continued;
Welcomes the funding provided by different donors to support the development of alternative livelihood opportunities for the people living in the immediate vicinity of the park, and calls on further donors to support these initiatives to ensure their sustainability in the long term;
Notes with appreciation the completion of the grazing pressure reduction strategy through stakeholder engagement and the timely initiation of its implementation, and also requests the State Party to secure investments and keep the World Heritage Centre updated on progress with the strategy’s implementation;
Notes that a recent study found an increase in Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf populations, and encourages the State Party to apply for International Assistance to commission a more detailed independent study in line with Committee Decision 39 COM 7A.10;
Also notes that a gate has been constructed at Sawrie to restrict and monitor road use and further requests the State Party to accelerate the delayed realignment of roads crossing the property to reduce the pressure on the existing road through the property and to submit a map with all existing and proposed roads;
Requests furthermore the State Party to clarify the location of the proposed eco-lodge developments inside the park, and to ensure that the relevant Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) include a thorough assessment of the potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property in line with IUCN’s World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, and to submit the report to the World Heritage Centre for review before any decisions are made, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
Reiterates its request to the State Party to submit a proposal for the modification of the property’s boundaries through the preparation of a new nomination, as per Decision 35 COM 7A.9, in order to harmonize the boundaries of the property with the new boundaries of the national park;
Requests moreover the State Party to invite an IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, in order to assess progress in the implementation of the corrective measures and towards meeting the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Simien National Park (Ethiopia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.44 Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) (N 1257)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.11, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Commends the State Party for the evident political will to halt the illicit trafficing of precious wood with the Act N°2015-056 creating a special tribunal to injudicate the traffickers and reinforce the penalties;
Welcomes the progress achieved by the State Party towards attaining the indicators of the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), but considers that all the indicators have not yet been achieved;
Also welcomes the efforts made by the State Party to ensure the involvement of the local communities in the conservation activities of the property, as demonstrated by the surveillance of the property by the Local Park Committees;
Notes with concern that even although the volume appears to be diminished, the exploitation of rosewood in the property continues and that the quantity of illegally exploited rosewood still remains to be clarified, and urges the State Party to fully implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) action plan;
Requests the State Party to prepare and implement a plan to acquire sufficient resources to ensure the long-term implementation of the strategy to seize the illegal stocks of precious wood;
Also requests the State Party to clarify the nature and destination of the products to be delivered by the proposed treatment factory to evaluate the impact on the future demand of precious wood and consequently the potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property;
Also notes with concern the artisanal and illegal mining, notably in the Zahamena and Ranomafana National Parks, as well as poaching of lemurs in several components of the property, including the Marojejy, Zahamena and Andringitra National Parks, also constituting serious threats to the OUV and the integrity of the property;
Further requests the State Party to implement all the other recommendations of the 2015 mission;
Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the corrective measures, as well as the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.45 Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) (N 573)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.12 adopted during its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Warmly welcomes the confirmation of GEF funding enabling the implementation of the third phase of the project for Co-Management for the Natural Resources of the Air and Ténéré (COGERAT), expected to start in 2016;
Also warmly welcomes the efforts undertaken by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures, but considers that important efforts are still necessary to implement them all;
Reiterates its concern with regard to the lack of human and logistical means to ensure the sovereign function of the Management, Surveillance and Ecological Monitoring Unit of the property and requests the State Party to accelerate the recruitment of forestry agents, and ensure adequate funding of the Management Unit to better control the exploitation of the natural resources within the property;
Notes with concern the continuing problem of gold panning in the region of Agadez, close to the property, as well as the illegal circulation of weapons of war leading to an increase in poaching threats and timber harvesting;
Also requests the State Party to provide detailed information and data on poaching and timber harvesting in the perimeter of the property, as well as the actions carried out to combat these threats;
Notes with satisfaction the encouraging results obtained during the ecological monitoring mission of December 2015, but also considers that the efforts undertaken are not sufficient to obtain a satisfactory level of information to evaluate the status of these species throughout the property and reiterates its request to the State Party to implement all the recommendations of the 2015 IUCN reactive monitoring mission, in particular those concerning the preparation and implementation of a five-year programme to monitor the state of conservation of the dorcas gazelle, the dama gazelle and their habitats, as well as an action plan on the corrective measures defined in consultation with the State Party during the mission;
Again urgently requests the State Party to carry out the necessary studies with a view to preparing a Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), for examination by the Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the corrective measures and the above points, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.46 Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) (N 153)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add.2,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.13, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Warmly welcomes the efforts undertaken by the State Party in the implementation of the corrective measures, but considers that further efforts should be made to implement all the corrective measures updated at its 39th session;
Also warmly welcomes the efforts undertaken with the realization of the environmental and social impact study (ESIS) of the gold prospection project at Mako, and takes note of the mitigation measures proposed for the identified negative impacts of the project;
Notes with concern that the ESIS of the Mako project indicates that indirect impacts of moderate importance are expected, which may exacerbate existing issues such as poaching, illegal gold prospection and the fragmentation of habitat, and that the loss of the chimpanzee habitat outside the property will be permanent, for which no mitigation measures have yet been identified;
Requests the State Party to provide information on the current status of the Mako gold prospection project;
Also considers that the loss of chimpanzee habitat in the areas adjacent to the boundaries of the property represents a direct impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, particularly with regard to conditions of integrity and would therefore risk further degradation of the recovering but fragile OUV;
Noting the conclusions of the ESIS regarding the impacts of the Mako gold prospection project on the OUV of the property, in particular the permanent loss of chimpanzee habitat in areas near the boundaries of the property, also requests the State Party not to grant approval to the project in its current conception, in conformity with its Decision 39 COM 7A.13, which requests the prohibition of any extractive activity outside of the property insofar as such an activity could have a negative impact on the OUV of the property, including its conditions of integrity;
Strongly urges the State Party to ensure that the ESIS is revised to take into account the above concerns, in order to identify an alternative design and location for the Mako project that will not have an impact on the OUV of the property;
Also urges the State Party to ensure the permanent closure of the Mansadala basalt quarry by 2018, in accordance with the request of the Committee in its Decision 39 COM 7A.13;
Expresses its deep concern as regards the potential impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property, in particular the reduction of the areas of forest galleries and Ronier Palm stands in the property, river fording by large wildlife and insufficient water supply to the flood basins and ponds in the property, especially with regard to the continuing drying up of the ponds, and reiterates its request to the State Party to submit a specific study of the impacts of the Sambangalou dam project on the OUV of the property, in accordance with the “IUCN Advisory Note on World Heritage: an environmental assessment” prior to any decision on its construction, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
Further requests the State Party to urgently update and implement the management plan for the property, integrating the updated and detailed ecological monitoring programme, to enable monitoring of the indicators for the Desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and requests furthermore the State Party to provide an electronic version and three printed copies of the revised management plan to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.47 Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania) (N 199bis)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decisions 36 COM 8B.43, 37 COM 7B.7, 38 COM 7B.95, and 39 COM 7A.14, adopted at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 37th (Phnom Penh, 2013), 38th (Doha, 2014) and 39th (Bonn, 2015) sessions respectively,
Commends the State Party and its international partners for their efforts in addressing the poaching crisis and encourages all involved to consolidate and coordinate these efforts;
Acknowledges the progress made by the State Party to establish the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), noting that further studies are ongoing to address gaps in elephant population data and to enable the establishment of a proposed timeframe for its implementation;
Requests the State Party to undertake an analysis of the current situation of black rhinoceros to estimate the number of rhino left in the property, to inform the response required to secure this population, and to revise the DSOCR accordingly, and also requests the State Party to submit, by 1 December 2017 an updated proposal for the DSOCR, for adoption by the Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
Urges again the State Party to develop and implement a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan with the objective of halting poaching within the Larger Selous Ecosystem within 12 months, as originally recommended by the 2013 mission;
Welcomes the establishment of the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) and its inauguration in October 2015, and also urges the State Party to ensure its timely and effective operationalization, as well as adequate and reliable resourcing;
Also commends the States Parties of Tanzania, Mozambique and China for the formalization of agreements on the transboundary Niassa-Selous Ecosystem and on wildlife crime prevention, respectively, and strongly encourages all involved States Parties to report to the World Heritage Centre on the activities carried out in the framework of these agreements;
Reiterates its utmost concern about:
1. the ongoing lack of clarity in terms of the extraction method, water monitoring and disaster preparedness as regards the Mkuju River Project (MRP),
2. the ongoing Stiegler’s Gorge dam project despite a high likelihood of serious and irreversible damage to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property,
3. the lack of submission of a complete Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) on the Kidunda dam project, which seems to have been extended in its scope and therefore could have a higher impact on the integrity of the property,
4. the legal possibility of mineral exploration and exploitation in the property and the overlapping mining and prospecting licenses, despite the commitment made by the State Party to not engage in any mining activity within the property, in line with the established position of the Committee that mining and oil and gas exploration and exploitation are incompatible with World Heritage status,
5. the lack of reported progress in creating opportunities for local communities to participate in decision-making and benefit-sharing, including in Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs);
Reiterates its request to the State Party to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to comprehensively identify the cumulative impacts of mining, the potential Stiegler’s Gorge and planned Kidunda dam projects, agriculture and associated infrastructure, such as road building, both within the property as well as in important wildlife corridors and dispersal areas that are critical for maintaining the OUV of the property, and further urges the State Party to abandon any plans for the different development projects which are incompatible with the World Heritage status of the property;
Also requests the State Party to invite an IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property, in order to evaluate progress in combating poaching, and to assess the current status and likely impacts of the proposed In Situ Leaching at the Mkuju River Uranium Mine, the Stiegler’s Gorge and Kidunda dam projects, and prospecting licenses overlapping with and adjacent to the property, as well as any other development that might impact the OUV of the property;
Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property, on the implementation of the above and on the 2013 mission recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Selous Game Reserve (United Republic of Tanzania) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.48 Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Indonesia) (N 1167)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.15, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Commends the State Party for its commitment to secure the Leuser Ecosystem by putting in place a moratorium on palm oil and mining, as well as a temporary suspension of all land clearing operations by palm oil and mining companies in the Leuser Ecosystem while a review of their licenses is being conducted, which will consider key wildlife habitats among other aspects;
Considers that the designation of buffer zones should include key areas for wildlife in the Leuser Ecosystem as well as ecological corridors connecting these areas with the property to ensure these are legally protected, and encourages the State Party to seek the advice of the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to identify the areas in the Leuser Ecosystem that are crucially important to ensure the integrity of the property;
Welcomes the State Party’s commitment to avoid any new road developments in the property and the confirmation that no mining licenses overlap with the property, and that illegal traditional mining sites in Kerinci Seblat National Park have been closed and are in the process of being rehabilitated;
Urges the State Party to ensure that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the geothermal development license adjacent to Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park includes a specific assessment of impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, in accordance with IUCN’s World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, and to submit a copy of the EIA to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, prior to making a decision to approve the development;
Requests the State Party to provide detailed population data of Sumatran tiger, elephant and rhino, as well as occupancy data for all three species and Sumatran orangutan, including clarification of methodologies used for their statistical analyses, in order to enable an assessment of progress achieved towards the targets defined in the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR);
Also requests the State Party to provide details on the data collected through the application of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in order to enable an assessment of the significance of forest crimes, illegal agricultural activities, and poaching/wildlife trade, and their impacts on the OUV of the property;
Noting that the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the road network in the Bukit Barisan Mountain Range is expected to be available for public consultation by end 2016, reiterates its request to the State Party to submit the SEA, by 1 February 2017, to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN;
Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (Indonesia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.49 East Rennell (Solomon Islands) (N 854)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A.Add.2,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.16, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Regrets that the State Party did not submit a report on the state of conservation of the property, as requested by the Committee;
Takes note that a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN Advisory mission visited the property to meet the customary owners and to assist the State Party in the preparation of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), but also regrets that the State Party did not submit a proposal for the DSOCR and requests the State Party to submit it by 1 February 2017, for adoption by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017;
Encourages the State Party to develop an Action Plan which would prioritize local communities and alternative income generating mechanisms that derive benefits from the conservation of the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV);
Urges the State Party to expedite the completion and implementation of the revised Management Plan for the property and also requests the State Party to submit an electronic and three printed copies of the draft revised Management Plan to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN;
Further requests the State Party to provide detailed information on all proposed bauxite mining projects on Rennell Island, including the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) of each project, as well as an assessment of their potential cumulative impacts on the OUV of the property, in conformity with IUCN’s World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment;
Reiterates its requests to the State Party to:
1. Defer consideration of bauxite mining license applications until the new management plan for the property has been approved and is being implemented,
2. Put in place interim measures to mitigate the impact of existing logging operations and halt new logging operations until the new management plan has been approved and is being implemented,
3. Undertake urgent action to halt the further spread of rats on Rennell Island and prevent them from entering the property, to put in place the biosecurity controls necessary to prevent further introductions of invasive species to the island;
Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain East Rennell (Solomon Islands) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

40 COM 7A.50 Everglades National Park (United States of America) (N 76)

wh-support@unesco.org — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 00:00:00 EST

The World Heritage Committee,

Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7A,
Recalling Decision 39 COM 7A.17, adopted at its 39th session (Bonn, 2015),
Recalls its request to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2017, 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 41st session in 2017;
Decides to retain Everglades National Park (United States of America) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.