1. Taking into consideration Rule 8 (Observers) of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee,

2. Authorizes the participation in the 33rd session as observers of those representatives of the international governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), permanent observer missions to UNESCO and non profit-making institutions having activities in the fields covered by the Convention, who have requested observer participation at the session and as listed in Section A of the document WHC-09/33.COM/2;

3. Further confirms the participation in the 33rd session as observers of all those invited by the Director-General of UNESCO in accordance with Rule 8.4 of the Rules of Procedure of the Committee and as listed in Section B of the document WHC-09/33.COM/2.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/3A.Rev.2,
2. Adopts the Agenda included in the above-mentioned Document as amended.

1. Having examined Document WHC 09/33.COM/3B.Rev.2,
2. Adopts the timetable included in the above-mentioned Document as amended.

1. Having examined Documents WHC-09/33.COM/5A, WHC- 09/33.COM/INF.5A.1, WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.2, and WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.3,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 5 adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Takes note with appreciation of the activities undertaken by the World Heritage Centre over the past year in pursuit of the Committee's five Strategic Objectives;

4. Takes also note of the findings of the study undertaken by UNESCO's Internal Oversight Service on the mapping of the workload of the World Heritage Centre presented in Document WHC-09/33.COM/INF.5A.3;

5. Notes with satisfaction that the World Heritage Centre is working with the secretariats of intergovernmental committees of related conventions such as the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage-2001 and recommends that such cooperation be encouraged as this would further strengthen the work of the Centre;

6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to prepare a document on the World Heritage Convention and its cooperation and exchange with other conventions and programmes in the field of cultural heritage for discussion at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee (2010);

7. Also requests the World Heritage Centre, in future reports on activities undertaken, to further strengthen the information and analysis available to States Parties by:

a) Retaining the current format to report activities and including an update on progress with implementing the Committee's decisions,

b) Describing the criteria by which the World Heritage Centre makes decisions as to which activities under the Convention it undertakes,

c) And including, on a discretionary basis, analysis of strategic issues and new directions;

8. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to produce, on an experimental basis, an indexed audio verbatim recording of the proceedings of the 33rd Session in addition to the standard summary records (as produced since the 26th session of the World Heritage Committee);

9. Notes the outline provided by the World Heritage Centre of its roles and the roles of the Advisory Bodies and agrees that this topic be further discussed at the 34th session of the Committee in 2010 under a separate agenda item;

10. Requests furthermore the World Heritage Centre to outline the forward direction of the World Heritage thematic programmes and initiatives, to enable an understanding of how these themes connect with and integrate into general programmes, and how they might be resourced;

11. Notes that the Centre already proactively engages women in its Heritage Programmes in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean as part of its gender balance policy and the provision of equal opportunity to all, and recommends that gender balance and community involvement be prioritized in the Centre's programmes;

12. Adopts the World Heritage Thematic Programme on Prehistory presented in Annex 1 of document WHC-09/33.COM/5A;

13. Requests the World Heritage Centre to reconsider the term "prehistory", to better recognize the continuing cultures of indigenous communities, to ensure global representation in the identification and conservation of related properties, and to present a report on progress in developing an Action Plan on Prehistory and World Heritage at its 34th session in 2010;

14. Notes with concern the ongoing destruction of some of these fragile sites, including the recent destruction of the Rock Art sites of Tardrat Acacus in Libya, and requests the State Party to take immediate action and other measures as necessary to address the problem in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / ICOMOS mission;

15. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of Bahrain, South Africa and Spain for the financial and technical support for the various international scientific encounters, and recognizesthe proposal of the Government of Spain in establishing a centre for the research of Prehistory;

16. Recalling the Decision of the World Heritage Committee 31 COM.21C to carry out a programme of sustainable development concerning the conservation of earthen architecture, thanks the Governments of Italy and France for their support of the programme on earthen architecture in Africa and the Arab States in particular, and requests the potential financial donors and the States Parties to support the implementation of activities and further requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report at its 35th session in 2011;

17. Takes note of the progress report on the World Heritage Tourism Programme;

18. Thanks the Governments of Australia, China, France, India, Switzerland and United Kingdom, who have worked in close collaboration with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, the World Tourism Organization and other partners, for contributing to the Initiative of Sustainable Tourism;

19. Expresses its gratitude to the Governments of Australia and China for the organization of a workshop on sustainable tourism at the World Heritage site, Mogao Caves, China, in September-October 2009 and requests that the following elements be submitted to the Committee for examination at its 34th session in 2010:

a) A report on the workshop,

b) The subsequent recommendations of the workshop regarding the adoption of best practices policy guidance, and concerning the changes proposed for the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention,

c) A document concerning the progress of the World Heritage Programme on Tourism;

20. Finally requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to identify supplementary sources of funding to put into place a sufficient number of staff and resources at the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in order to continue to efficiently contribute to the resolution of problems related to World Heritage conservation.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/5B,

2. Recalling Decision 29 COM 5B adopted at its 29th session (Durban, 2005),

3. Noting with satisfaction the progress achieved in the implementation of the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and noting that in practice the World Heritage Centre will continue addressing specific issues under regional programmes,

4. Thanks Andorra, Australia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand for having provided extra-budgetary funding for World Heritage-related activities in SIDS, as well as other international partners, such as the Shell Foundation, for generating capacity building activities in SIDS;

5. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report at the next session of the Committee on capacity building activities relating to SIDS;

6. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to encourage exchange among SIDS;

7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to organize, similar to the Pacific World Heritage meeting of 2008 organised by Australia and New Zealand with input from the World Heritage Centre, a regional meeting to review progress in the implementation of the 2004-2014 Action Plan for the Caribbean and to submit a report for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

8. Requests furthermore the Director of the World Heritage Centre to identify extra budgetary funding for World Heritage activities in SIDS, in particular to further develop the Caribbean Capacity-Building Programme and to introduce a similar regional capacity-building programme for SIDS in the Africa and Pacific regions and the execution of more thematic studies particularly of the cultural land and seascapes, routes (trade of enslaved people) and environmental features of the Caribbean, African and Pacific Regions.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/5C,

2. Recalling the provisions of the Operational Guidelines in paragraphs 41 to 44,

3. Notes with appreciation the information provided on the cooperation between the World Heritage Convention and other multilateral environmental agreements;

4. Also notes the need for States Parties to address the great imbalance between nature and culture in the World Heritage List and to such end, recommends that a sharing of information between the multilateral environmental agreements and diverse stakeholders active in the conservation of World Heritage properties be undertaken, and that capacity building be reinforced in the field of heritage;

5. Requests that the concept of sustainable development be emphasized and taken in due consideration in all relevant actions taken by the World Heritage Centre;

6. Also requests the World Heritage Centre to continue the cooperation with the secretariats of other multilateral environmental agreements through the Biodiversity Liaison Group and other mechanisms, including bilateral cooperation to enhance synergies and coherence;

7. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to identify other conventions and programmes in the field of cultural heritage and recommend a strategic approach for cooperation to be discussed at its 34th session in 2010;

8. Decides to inscribe this item on the provisional agenda for the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/6A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 6A adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Takes note of the Progress Report on the implementation of the African World Heritage Fund;

4. Notes with appreciation the excellent work the Fund has done since its inception, including the support provided for nominations for inscription of African sites on the World Heritage List, capacity building and assistance in the development of management plans for World Heritage properties in Africa;

5. Expresses its appreciation to partners at all levels for their financial support and assistance to the African World Heritage Fund;

6. Calls upon the States Parties to the Convention, the African Union, the public and private institutions, the intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to continue supporting and contributing to the African World Heritage Fund, including the consolidation of the Endowment Fund;

7. Also takes note of the request submitted by the Republic of South Africa to seek accreditation as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO for the Fund, as part of the global network supporting heritage management and conservation;

8. Encourages the Fund in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre to define a core of activities to be implemented in Africa in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies and prioritize activities according to their strategic and action plans;

9. Requests the World Heritage Centre to submit a progress report on the African World Heritage Fund's activities for examination at its 34th session in 2010.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/6B,

2. Recalling Decision 31 COM 11C adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes the progress made towards the establishment of sustainable funding arrangements for conservation of World Heritage properties in the Pacific;

4. Requests the World Heritage Centre to report on the outcomes of the feasibility study on the development and implementation of sustainable funding arrangements for heritage conservation in the Pacific to the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7.1,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7.2, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Taking note with satisfaction of Decision 181 EX/29 adopted by the Executive Board at its 181st session (April 2009) on the preliminary study on the technical and legal aspects relating to the desirability of a standard-setting instrument on the Conservation of the Historic Urban Landscape,

4. Encourages the General Conference to take action at its 35th session (October 2009) aimed at drawing up a new standard-setting instrument in the form of a Recommendation on the Conservation of the Historic Urban Landscape;

5. Requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to report on this matter at its 34th session in 2010;

6. Welcomes the principle of adopting the concept of Historic Urban Landscape in the text of the Operational Guidelines but requests that further reflection be given before any final decision is made;

7. Also requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre to seek extra-budgetary funds with the aim to convene an Expert Meeting with the mandate to prepare in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies and other professional and academic institutions a draft text for the possible inclusion of the Historic Urban Landscape in the relevant sections of the Operational Guidelines and identify significant case-studies for continuing evaluation and possible inclusion as best practice in an appendix, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

8. Takes note with gratitude of the offer of Brazil to host this meeting in Rio de Janeiro;

9. Further requests the Director of the World Heritage Centre in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies to further identify methods and processes towards the establishment of guidelines on the assessment of the impact of contemporary architectural insertions on the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties for discussion by the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7.2,

2. Recalling Decisions 31 COM 5.2 and 32 COM 7.3 adopted at its 31st (Christchurch, 2007), and 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) sessions respectively,

3. Notes the report on the implementation of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism;

4. Takes note of the operational aspects that have been refined by the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, as requested in Decision 31 COM 5.2, in view of the requirements of this decision that the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism be activated in exceptional and specific cases;

5. Also notes that every decision to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism will clearly state the nature of the monitoring mission and the frequency of reporting required and that each application of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism will be reviewed annually;

6. Decides that the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism is designed to assist only in exceptional and specific cases as defined document WHC-09/33.COM/7.2 paragraph 27 and predominantly restricted to the monitoring of properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger in cases where the World Heritage Committee fears the short-term loss of Outstanding Universal Value;

7. Further decides that if the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism is used as an alternative to established monitoring procedures such as the inclusion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger, it creates potential for ambiguity and may reduce the credibility of the existing reactive monitoring system and its procedures;

8. Requests the World Heritage Centre to provide to the Members of the World Heritage Committee an out of session report on each activity within the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism at the earliest opportunity, including an explanation of any proposed response or reaction, to enable the Chairperson to finalize a timely response to all issues raised;

9. Sets a ceiling on the budget for the operation of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism at USD 50,000 per year, to include the costs of World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies in its operation, and agrees that each decision to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism will be accompanied by a costing to ensure that the activity foreseen is within the available budget for the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism;

10. Further notes that Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism activities beyond this ceiling will require extra budgetary funding;

11. Further requests the World Heritage Centre to present to the World Heritage Committee at its 35th Session in 2011, an updated report on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism in the cases applied in view of assessing its formalization in the Operational Guidelines.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decisions 31 COM 7A.1 and 32 COM 7A.1, adopted at its 31st (Christchurch, 2007) and 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) sessions respectively,

3. Regrets that the State Party has not submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008);

4. Expresses its deep concern with regard to the conclusions of the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN mission of April 2009 that noted a high risk of loosing the Outstanding Universal Value of the property if, in the short-term, urgent corrective measures are not taken to limit the major pressures affecting its integrity; 

5. Urges the State Party to develop in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, IUCN and other stakeholders a new short-term (3 years) emergency plan to restore the integrity of the property, taking into account the following corrective measures:

a) Restructuring of the management of the Park, towards a simple and efficient organization dedicated specifically to the property,

b) Strengthening of supervisory staff to ensure the main management tasks (planning, surveillance, ecological monitoring, administration, logistics),

c) Increasing the number and training of ground staff mainly dedicated to surveillance during this transition period, and strengthened in the beginning by support from the armed forces,

d) Functional zoning of the Park with a priority intervention zone to conserve to the maximum the components determining the Outstanding Universal Value of the Park (ecosystems and wildlife),

e) An action plan targeting the restoration of security and tranquillity in this priority zone,

f) A provisional budget adapted to these priorities, limited to the necessary, to already begin at this stage a reflection on management sustainability,

g) A plan to emerge from the crisis to be undertaken in parallel, through consultation, with the different protagonists, specifically those from Chad and Sudan;

6. Encourages the State Party to request assistance from the World Heritage Fund to organize a workshop to prepare this emergency plan;

7. Requests the State Party to ensure commitment at the highest level for the implementation of the emergency plan;

8. Calls upon the State Party as well as the States Parties of Chad and Sudan, to strengthen their transboundary cooperation to control the threats, particularly from armed poaching and other illegal exploitation of natural resources;

9. Invites donors as well as the international community at large to mobilise the necessary financial and technical resources for the implementation of the emergency plan to restore the intrinsic characteristics of the property, as well as its integrity;   

10. Also requests the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, by 1 February 2010, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in 2011;

11. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property, in particular on the development and implementation of the emergency plan as well as the implementation of the other recommendations of the 2009 mission, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

12. Decides to apply the Reinforced Monitoring Mechanism for one year to monitor the state of conservation of the property and further requests the World Heritage Centre to report on the progress achieved in the preparation and implementation of the emergency plan based on information provided by the State Party and the Advisory Bodies;

13. Invites the Director-General of UNESCO and the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee to convene a meeting with the authorities of the Central African Republic, Sudan and Chad, together with representatives of the African Union and appropriate sub-regional organizations and the President of IUCN, to discuss progress in addressing the deteriorating state of conservation of the property, with the assistance of the World Heritage Fund and other funds as may be available;

14. Also decides to retain Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park (Central African Republic) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.2, adopted at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007),

3. Notes with satisfaction that the State Party has now regained control over the entire property, thus creating the basic conditions to start the process of recovery of its integrity and Outstanding Universal Value;

4. Expresses its concern on the results of the rapid wildlife assessment, which indicate that wildlife populations are at critical low levels and that poaching and illegal activities are occurring across the property;  

5. Urges the State Party to increase its efforts to fully implement all the corrective measures and recommendations of the 2006 mission within  an agreed timeframe, in particular by establishing an effective patrolling system for the whole property and developing and implementing a management plan which will set out a strategy for recovery of the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;

6. Calls upon the State Party and the international community to increase their financial support for the management and rehabilitation of the property;

7. Requests the State Party in cooperation with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN to organise a comprehensive wildlife survey to fully assess the state of conservation of the property, which can be used as a baseline to monitor the recovery of the wildlife and to develop the desired state of conservation for removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger. The State Party might wish to request international assistance from the World Heritage Fund to finance this survey;   

8. Expresses its utmost concern about the granting of mining exploration licences covering the property, urges the State Party to take the necessary steps to ensure the withdrawal of these licenses and calls on the holders of any concessions to respect international standards relating to mining in World Heritage properties, as outlined in the International Council on Mining and Metals Position Statement on Mining and Protected Areas (2003);

9. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

10. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the corrective measures and other recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, including a copy of the draft management plan, an overview of current and projected budgets for the management of the property, the status of anti-poaching activities, and information on wildlife populations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Decides to retain Comoé National Park (Côte d'Ivoire) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.3, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Notes with concern the limited progress in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st (Christchurch, 2007) and 32nd (Quebec City, 2008) sessions, as a result of the continued insecurity in the Côte d'Ivoire part of the property, preventing regular access by the management authority and the continued weak management capacity of the management authority in Guinea, as a result of lack of funding and trained staff; 

4. Requests the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to ensure the restoration of security in the property as to allow permanent access of the management authority to the property;

5. Urges both States Parties to further increase their efforts to continue implementing the corrective measures, and the other recommendations of the World Heritage Committee;

6. Welcomes the responsible position of Tata Steel in agreeing not to carry out mining that would damage the Outstanding Universal Value of the property in Côte d'Ivoire, in line with the World Heritage Committee's request to all holders of any mining concession to respect international standards with respect to mining in World Heritage properties, as outlined in the International Council on Mining and Metals Position Statement on Mining and Protected Areas (2003) and not to mine within World Heritage properties, and requests the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee to write to the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Steel to convey the Committee's appreciation for this action;

7. Reiterates its request to the State Party of Côte d'Ivoire to confirm urgently that all mining concessions within the property have been revoked;

8. Also welcomes the consultation initiated by the State Party of Guinea and the mining company SMFG on the Terms of Reference of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the mining project and also reiterates its request to ensure that the EIA is conducted in accordance with the highest international standards and quantifies the potential impact of the planned exploitation on the property, in close consultation with all stake holders, and to submit to the World Heritage Committee any intermediary results;

9. Also requests the States Parties of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea to seek international assistance from the World Heritage Fund to organize a new tripartite meeting with Liberia to enhance the required coordination to implement the recommendations from the 2007 and 2008 monitoring missions;

10. Further requests both States Parties, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, to further develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, as well as a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Requests furthermore both States Parties to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on progress in the implementation of the corrective measures and other recommendations of the 2007 and 2008 missions, and the elimination of mining threats to the property, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

12. Decides to retain Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.4, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the guards killed during protection operations at the property as well as its support for the guards and families who have lost homes following the attack and occupation of the Rumangabo Station in October 2008;

4. Regrets the breakdown in security that continues to hamper the implementation of conservation activities and threatens the Outstanding Universal Value of the property but expresses the hope that the new cooperation between the Congolese and Rwandan Governments will result in the restoration of security in and around the property;

5. Urges the State Party, in cooperation with the United Nations Organization Mission for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), to reinforce its efforts to disarm all the armed groups, national and foreign, operating in and around the property;

6. Expresses its deep concern with regard to the envisaged oil prospecting projects overlapping the property and also urges the State Party to exclude them from territory of the property;

7. Reiterates its position regarding the incompatibility of oil exploration and exploitation with the World Heritage status; 

8. Also regrets that the State Party has not yet undertaken the necessary measures to relocate, beyond the boundaries of the property, the training and reunification camp of the army based at Nyaleke; 

9. Reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee following the 2006 monitoring mission and the 2007 reinforced monitoring mission;

10. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies a draft statement of Outstanding Universal Value as well as a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the list of World Heritage in Danger for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Encourages the State Party's park management authority and other agencies to continue and strengthen their work to provide alternative energy sources as a way to alleviate deforestation pressures and calls on the international community to support these activities;

12. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including information on the progress of oil exploration and exploitation projects  overlapping the property, an update on the disarmament of armed groups within the park, and information on the situation of flagship species of the property, the extent of encroachment and deforestation in the region, the degree of poaching, as well as progress accomplished in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

13. Decides to continue to apply the Reinforce Monitoring Mechanism for one more year;

14. Also decides to retain Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.5, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec, 2008),

3. Notes with satisfaction the beginning of repatriation operations of FDLR Rwandan militia present in and around the property and requests the State Party, in cooperation with the United Nations Organization Mission for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), to redouble its efforts to disarm all the national and foreign armed groups operating in and around the property;

4. Notes with concern the fact that despite efforts made by the management authority of the property, a large part of the property remains beyond its control;

5. Regrets the lack of significant progress in the resolution of the cases of illegal occupation of the corridor and the granting of mining concessions in the property;

6. Takes note of the revised version of the environmental impact study for the rehabilitation of the RN3 crossing the property and urges the State Party to implement all its recommendations, including the need to restrict the road passing through the property to a limited amount of local traffic only,  to realign the main road to pass around and outside the property and to ensure the provision of adequate resources to the management authority to enable it to effectively control and manage the use of the road;

7. Also requests the State Party to continue the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius 2006);

8. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, as well as a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Further requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the property and progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for the establishment of a desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, updating the necessary corrective measures and the timetable for their implementation;

10. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including an update on the state of the mining concessions granted in the property, progress achieved in the resolution the cases of illegal occupation of the corridor and the rehabilitation of the RN3 as well as the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010 ;

11. Decides to continue to apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism to the property for one more year;

12. Also decides to retain Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.6, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Expresses its most sincere condolences to the families of the guards killed in the course of operations linked to the protection of the property, as well as to the other victims of the different attacks against the park;

4. Notes with deep concern the most recent breakdown of security that continues to delay the implementation of conservation activities and risks to threaten the achievements of these past years that had halted large-scale poaching of elephants and other flagship species;

5. Expresses its great concern with regards to the possible extinction of the Northern white rhino of which no evidence has been identified to date, despite intensive searches within the property and in the adjacent hunting areas;

6. Urges the State Party, in cooperation with the Mission of the United Nations Organization for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), to strengthen its efforts to disarm all the national and foreign armed groups operating in and around the property and restore security;

7. Reiterates its request to the State Party to implement the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee following the 2006 monitoring mission;

8. Reiterates its requests to the State Party, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, to develop a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to assess the state of conservation of the property and progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, establish the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, update the required corrective measures and the timetable for their implementation;

10. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property, including information on the status of the population of the Northern white rhino and other flagship species of the property, an update on the disarmament of the armed groups in the park and progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Decides to continue to apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism to the property for one more year;

12. Also decides to retain Garamba National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.7, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Notes with concern the delay in the implementation of the corrective measures established by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007); 

4. Urges the State Party to redouble its efforts to implement the corrective measures and in particular those relating to the organization of a combined anti-poaching operation in cooperation with the Congolese Army (FARDC), to secure the property and implement the anti-poaching strategy;

5. Regrets the lack of funding available for the implementation of the corrective measures, and more particularly those relating to participatory delimitation and demarcation activities, and calls upon the State Party and donors to strengthen support to the property;

6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, as well as a proposal for the desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

7. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and progress achieved in the implementation of all the corrective measures, in particular those regarding the organization of a combined anti-poaching operation in cooperation with the Congolese Army (FARDC,) to secure the property, and on the implementation of the strategy for anti-poaching, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010 ;

8. Decides to continue to apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism for one more year;

9. Also decides to retain Salonga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.8, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Taking note of the conclusion of the mission that the Outstanding Universal Value of the property has been seriously degraded but that the security conditions are now in place to enable a beginning of the regeneration of the values and integrity of the property, congratulates the State Party for the progress achieved in this respect and encourages it to continue its efforts;

4. Considers that the indicators that describe the desired state of conservation and measure the restoration of the biological values of the property, its integrity and management, as established by the joint 2009 monitoring mission in co-operation with the management authority, must be reached to enable the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger;

5. Also takes note of the efforts made by the State Party and the management authority in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006);

6. Urges the State Party to implement the corrective measures as updated by the joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring in 2009, to restore the Outstanding Universal Value of the property:

a) Continue efforts to resolve problems concerning the FARDC military involved in large-scale poaching in the south-west peripheral area of the property,

b) Officially cancel all the artisanal mining rights as well as those, encroaching the property, granted by the mining cadastre;

c) Take measures to mitigate impacts linked to the increase in traffic in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, and in particular secure the necessary technical and financial means to contribute towards the implementation of the system to control immigration and strengthen the surveillance and anti-poaching mechanism;

d) Finalise and approve the management plan for the property, with the creation of an integrally protected zone with national park status;

e) Integrate the activities of the Immigration Control Committees (CCI) and the Local Committee for Monitoring and Conservation of Nature (CLSCN) in the management activities of the subsistence areas (agricultural and hunting areas), for which management modalities should be indicated in the management plan;

f) Legalise and upscale the pilot system to regulate and monitor immigration and traffic on the RN4, and secure the right to close the RN4 to traffic at night and to establish a toll system;

g) Continue efforts to strengthen and reinvigorate the surveillance mechanism and render it more effective;

h) Request the State Party to halt illegal trafficking of timber, minerals and ivory across its north-eastern border;

i) Prepare and implement a zoning plan for forest areas adjacent to the property in order to protect it from the negative impact of unsustainable exploitation of the forest;

7. Requests the State Party to ensure the monitoring of the indicators describing the desired state of conservation and undertake, before the end of 2010, a study to prepare the methodology to be used for the 2012 inventory to enable the monitoring of any increases in wildlife numbers. The State may wish to request assistance from the World Heritage Fund for this purpose;

8. Also requests the State Party to submit the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value as well as the draft desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, based on the proposals developed during the monitoring mission, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34^th session in 2010;

9. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a report on the state of conservation of the property, in particular on progress accomplished in the implementation of the corrective measures and the other recommendations of the 2009 mission, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

10. Decides, in view of progress achieved in the implementation of the corrective measures and the improvement of the security situation, to no longer apply the reinforced monitoring mechanism to this property;

11. Also decides to retain Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.9, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Congratulates the State Party for the positive action it has taken in addressing corrective measures as recommended by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th, 31st and 32nd sessions;

4. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, 2006), in particular, the efforts to extend the property to include key habitat areas for the Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf and the development of strategies to address the threats from grazing and settlements;

5. Requests the State Party to urgently re-gazette the newly established boundaries and start implementing the strategy to address the grazing pressure and the Alternative Livelihoods Development Project;

6. Expresses its concern that no measures to address the grazing strategy are included in the management plan and urges the State Party to ensure that this key threat to the Outstanding Universal Value of the property is addressed as part of the management plan;

7. Calls upon the international community to financially support the implementation of the management plan and also requests the State Party to organize a donor conference with the assistance of UNESCO and Advisory Bodies to identify potential donors and funding;

8. Requests furthermore the State Party to invite as soon as possible the joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission to the property, as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008) to assess its state of conservation, review the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, and to develop a proposal for the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, with a view to removing it from the List of World Heritage in Danger at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on progress in the implementation of the corrective measures and the other recommendations of the 2006 monitoring mission, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

10. Decides to retain Simien National Park (Ethiopia) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

1. Having examined Document WHC-09/33.COM/7A.Add,

2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 7A.10, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),

3. Welcomes the fact that in spite of the continuing security problems, the implementation of the corrective measures has now started with support of the Co-management of natural resources of Aïr-Ténéré and its surrounding areas project (COGERAT), but notes that given the size of the property it will take time before a positive impact on the recovery of the Outstanding Universal Value can be registered;

4. Urges the State Party to continue and increase its efforts to fully implement all the corrective measures and other recommendations of the 2005 monitoring mission;

5. Calls upon the international community to increase their support for the implementation of the corrective measures;

6. Requests the State Party to provide copies to the World Heritage Centre of the strategic documents that have been developed for the recovery of the property (action plan for sustainable resource management of the property, restoration action plan for degraded land) as well as the studies on wood and thatch use;

7. Reiterates its request to the State party to organize before the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2010 and, in cooperation with the IUCN Species Survival Commission and its relevant specialists groups, a comprehensive survey of the property, in particular populations size and distribution of threatened species, to evaluate the status of its Outstanding Universal Value and develop population recovery and rehabilitation programmes;

8. Also reiterates its request to the State Party to develop, in consultation with the World Heritage Centre and Advisory Bodies, a draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and a proposal for the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

9. Also requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre / IUCN mission to the property  as soon as the comprehensive survey mentioned above is available and before the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2011, to assess its state of conservation and progress made in the implementation of the corrective measures in view of establishing the desired state of conservation for removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger, update the corrective measures and set a timeframe for their implementation;

10. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2010, a detailed report on the state of conservation of the property and on the implementation of the corrective measures and other recommendations of the World Heritage Committee, an overview of current and projected budgets for the management of the property, status of anti-poaching activities, and information on trends in wildlife populations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 34th session in 2010;

11. Decides to retain Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (Niger) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.