Decision: 37 COM 7B.9
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 32 COM 8B.5, adopted at its 32nd session (Quebec City, 2008),
3. Welcomes the State Party’s formal pledge to conservation of the property through reconfirming commitment to the full implementation of the 2008 Cabinet Decrees addressing the various challenges facing the property;
4. Notes the challenging period the State Party is facing which hindered its ability to activate and follow up on the agreed strategies and actions for the conservation of the property;
5. Requests the State Party to immediately devise and adopt an action plan for the full activation and implementation the 2008 Cabinet Decrees;
6. Also requests the State Party to commence the establishment of an independent management authority mandated for the management and long term sustainable development of the property;
7. Further requests the State Party to ensure that the road network in the property is not expanded and that the road master plan is revised in line with the property’s zoning plan, with a particular focus on mitigating impacts from existing roads;
8. Urges the State Party to implement the other recommendations of the 2012 IUCN mission, including:
a) Put in place an effective biodiversity monitoring system with the objective to assess the current impacts of other threats, such as cattle grazing and invasive species, and devise threat specific strategies to ensure their minimal long term impacts,
b) Adopt a strategy on strengthening the marine enforcement capacity supported by a clear policy framework,
c) Undertake a comprehensive tourism carrying capacity assessment and establish a monitoring system to ensure tourism sustainability and its minimal impact on the natural heritage and associated cultural values of the Archipelago,
d) Develop and implement a tourism development and marketing strategy for the Archipelago in collaboration with local and international private sectors;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre by 1 February 2015, a report on the progress made with the improvement of the management of the property and in addressing key conservation challenges and opportunities, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 39th session in 2015.