The World Heritage Committee,
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Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7A.Add,
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Recalling Decision 38 COM 7A.46, adopted by the Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014),
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Commends the efforts of the State Party in implementing the corrective measures, especially those concerning the strengthening of surveillance staff and the implementation of a strategy to combat the encroachment of the ponds;
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Notes with satisfaction that data indicates an increase in wildlife, however, reiterates its concern as regards the low density of large wildlife in the property and requests the State Party to implement the corrective measures as updated by the 2015 mission, as follows:
- Establishment and strengthening the anti-poaching mechanism based on combined aerial (according to the means available) and land measures,
- Capacity building of staff at the property by providing training and equipment adapted to the new technologies, including the application of the SMART tool (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool),
- Reinforced implementation of the emergency programme for the restoration of the ponds in the perimeter of the property and implementation of alternative measures for the ponds as water points in the property,
- Rehabilitation of the impassable trails in the property, concentrating on the southern part of the Park,
- Updating of the ecological monitoring programme of the Park, based on indicators that are simple, reliable and inexpensive to measure, and on statistics drawn from reliable inventories of threatened populations of key species for the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (lion, Derby eland, elephant, chimpanzee and wild dog) and integrated into the management plan of the property, which must be updated and implemented urgently,
- Improvement of grazing areas and water points in the village territories around the property to minimise the encroachment of domestic cattle inside the property,
- Improved marking of the boundaries of the property, including the removal of obsolete markers, and the introduction of better communication means through signage adapted to the specificities of each of the local communities of the property,
- Implementation of speed control measures for traffic on the part of Route Nationale 7 within the property (for example, video-surveillance, increase of speed bumps, radars) and reinforcement of controls at strategic points,
- Prohibition of any extractive activity (traditional or industrial) within the property, as well as outside of the property insofar as such an activity could have a negative impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property (OUV), including conditions of integrity;
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Adopts the indictors of the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), as updated by the mission and considers that these indicators should be achieved by end-2018;
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Expresses its deep concern regarding the granting of a gold prospection license in the immediate vicinity of the property and considers that if this license is converted into an exploitation license there could be a negative impact on the OUV of the property, in particular on the habitats of threatened species such as the chimpanzee, lion, elephant and Derby eland;
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Requests the State Party to ensure that the development does not affect the OUV of the property and that a high quality Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) be established according to international best practices, if the exploration permit were to be converted into an exploitation licence;
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Reiterates its position regarding the fact that mining exploration and exploitation is incompatible with World Heritage status, policy supported by the declaration of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) not to undertake such activities in World Heritage properties;
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Also requests the State Party to ensure the permanent closure of the basalt quarry at Mansadala by 2018, and implement measures to ensure the complete rehabilitation of the site;
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Reiterates its request to the State Party to submit a specific assessment on the impacts of the dam project at Sambangalou on the OUV of the property before any decision on its construction, in accordance with paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines and the IUCN World Heritage Advisory Note on environmental assessment;
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Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 40th session in 2016;
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Decides to retain the Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.