Case Law

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.90, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Commends the State Party for the leadership demonstrated in strengthening international cooperation to address illegal logging and trade of Siamese Rosewood and its efforts to halt illegal logging in the property, in collaboration with international partners, and encourages the State Party to continue its efforts to implement the Action Plan to Prevent and Suppress Illegal Logging and Trade of Siamese Rosewood in Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex 2014-2019 (hereafter “the Action Plan”) and further strengthen international cooperation, in particular on law enforcement and prosecution of cases;
4. Considers that, following the completion of the Action Plan in 2019, an improvement in the situation regarding illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood should be convincingly demonstrated by the Committee’s 44th session in 2020, and also considers that, if at any time there is evidence that the situation deteriorates or that other valuable species start to be targeted by logging or poaching, this would represent a potential danger to the property, in accordance with Paragraph 180 of the Operational Guidelines;
5. Noting with appreciation that no new cases of resort development have been recorded inside the property since December 2014, as well as the progress reported with ongoing cases and with the restoration of encroached land, requests the State Party to continue to implement the recommendations made by the 2014 Reactive Monitoring mission regarding encroachment and to report specifically on progress achieved;
6. Also notes with appreciation the State Party’s commitment and efforts to avoid any negative impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property from the ongoing expansion of Highway 304 and the construction of the Huay Samong Dam;
7. Notes with concern that the expansion of Highway 348 and the construction of the Huay Satone dam within the property are still being proposed, and also requests the State Party to assess alternatives to the expansion of Highway 348 that would avoid negative impacts on OUV, and to permanently cancel plans for any construction of dams with reservoirs inside the property’s boundaries, including the Huay Satone and the Lam Prayathan dam projects;
8. Further requests the State Party to fully implement all the recommendations of the 2016 Reactive Monitoring mission;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2018, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for evaluation by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, and if, in their opinion, progress is insufficient, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
10. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and on progress towards achieving the targets of the Action Plan, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/16/40.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decisions 34 COM 7A.15, 35 COM 7B.30, 36 COM 7B.32, and 38 COM 7B.83, adopted at its 34th (Brasilia, 2010), 35th (UNESCO, 2011), 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012) and 38th (Doha, 2014) sessions respectively,
3. Welcomes the progress achieved by the State Party in implementing the recommendations of the 2010 Reactive Monitoring mission;
4. Notes the progress achieved by the State Party in addressing solid waste management and requests the State Party to continue its efforts to establish an effective system of solid waste management and to also improve the management of sewage on land and sea;
5. Also requests the State Party to provide further information regarding the recent rezoning of the marine part of the property announced in March 2016, in view of evaluating the impacts on threats from illegal fishing raised in previous Committee decisions;
6. Expresses its concern that comprehensive and effective management responses, in particular as regards the fundamental and related challenges of biosecurity and tourism, continue to require further strengthening of current efforts and urges the State Party to fully implement the requests made by the Committee when it decided to remove the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 34th session, including:
   1. Development and implementation of a clear tourism strategy for Galápagos, with a focus on establishing mechanisms to discourage rapid and uncontrolled growth in visitation,
   2. Completion of the biosecurity chain of inspection and control by establishing the dedicated cargo facilities at a single Guayaquil cargo loading dock and by considering Baltra as the only authorized point of entry to the islands to receive cargo from the continent;
7. Further requests the State Party to invite, before its 42nd session in 2018, an IUCN Reactive Monitoring mission to the property to assess the progress achieved in addressing these pending issues;
8. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 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 42nd session in 2018.

The World Heritage Committee,

1.  Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,

2.  Recalling Decision 36 COM 7C , adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),

3.  Regrets that the State Party did not keep the Committee fully informed about the Runkerry golf resort development prior to any decisions being taken that are difficult to reverse, in line with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines ;

4.  Reiterates its request to the State Party to halt the proposed golf resort development project until its potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property has been thoroughly assessed;

5.  Invites the State Party to consult the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on potential modifications and alternatives to the golf resort development project to avoid adverse impacts on the OUV of the property;

6.  Strongly encourages the State Party to consider strengthening its legal provisions and planning framework to allow the national authorities to ensure their responsibilities for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the national level regarding planned developments that could potentially impact on its World Heritage properties, and by ensuring that potential impacts on the OUV of any World Heritage property located on its territory be adequately assessed as part of the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for such developments, or through a specific Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), and to also ensure that developments that adversely impact OUV are not permitted;

7.  Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014 , a report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above requests, as well as a copy of the EIA of the proposed Runkerry golf resort development, including a thorough assessment of its impacts on the OUV of the property.

The World Heritage Committee,

1.       Having examined Document WHC-07/31.COM/7B.Add,

2.       Recalling Decision 29 COM 7B.21, adopted at its 29th (Durban, 2005) session,

3.       Welcomes the confirmation by the State Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina that no concession has been granted for the hydro power plants of Buk Bijela and Srbinje;

4.       Notes that progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

5.       Urges both States Parties to continue to fully implement all recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission;

6.       Requests the State Party of Montenegro to ensure that no further development of ski facilities or other development that threatens the integrity of the property is allowed within the property;

7.       Also requests the State Party of Montenegro to provide the World Heritage Centre with a copy of the Mangement Plan for Durmitor National Park;

8.       Further requests both States Parties to keep the World Heritage Centre and IUCN informed on progress made in implementing the recommendations of the joint 2005 UNESCO/IUCN mission and of any important changes, particularly those related to tourism development, in the state of conservation of the property.