The World Heritage Committee,
1. Having examined Document WHC-13/37.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 7B.5 and 36 COM 8B.43 adopted at its 36th session (Saint-Petersburg, 2012),
3. Welcomes the anti-poaching measures initiated by the State Party as well as the reinstatement of the retention scheme and requests the State Party to submit as soon as possible a report on the efficiency of these measures;
4. Takes note of the fact that no official notification has been made to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism on any proposed hydroelectric power projects in the property but notes with concern that the planning of the Stiegler’s Gorge dam project is reportedly advancing and a proposal for the development of the project was presented to the Government;
5. Reiterates its utmost concern that the Stiegler’s Gorge dam project could seriously damage the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and urges the State Party to respect its commitment not to undertake any development activities within Selous Game Reserve and its buffer zone without prior approval of the World Heritage Committee in accordance with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines ;
6. Also urges the State Party to implement the recommendations of the 2010 reactive monitoring mission as well as its commitment to conservation concerning the minor boundary modification granted for the Mkuju uranium mine as requested in Decision 36 COM 8B.43 , in particular adding valuable forestland to the property and finalizing compensation in line with the prescribed national legal procedures, including gazettement;
7. Also requests the State Party to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment to comprehensively identify the cumulative impacts of the following developments, assess least damaging alternatives and plan mitigation measures as appropriate: mining, energy, 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 Outstanding Universal Value and integrity of the property;
8. Further requests the State Party to invite a joint World Heritage Centre/IUCN reactive monitoring mission to the property to assess the state of conservation of Selous Game Reserve, including the impacts of elephant poaching, the management of the impacts of the Mkuju uranium mine adjacent to the property, asses the status of the Kidunda dam and Stiegler’s Gorge dam projects as well as the implementation of the recommendations of the 2010 monitoring mission;
9. Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2014, a progress report on the implementation of the above, as well as a progress report on the implementation of Decision 36 COM 8B.43, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session in 2014, with a view to considering, in the case of confirmation of ascertained or potential danger, the inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger.