Decision 41 COM 7A.14

Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) (N 1257)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/17/41.COM/7A.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7A.44, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Welcomes the issuance of a decree to operationalize Act N^o 2015-056 creating a special tribunal to adjudicate traffickers and reinforce penalties, which should contribute towards halting the illicit trafficking of precious wood;
4. Appreciates the international donor support provided in strengthening the monitoring, management and governance of the property towards reducing illegal logging;
5. Notes with appreciation the progress achieved in restoring degraded sites and requests the State Party to report on the remaining sites to be rehabilitated and ensure continued engagement with the local workforce;
6. Notes with significant concern that illegal logging and forest clearance have increased in 2016, particularly in Masoala and Andohahela National Parks, exceeding for the first time since 2013 the indicator for forest clearance of maximum 0.01%, as defined in the Desired state of conservation for the removal of the property from the List of World Heritage in Danger (DSOCR), and also requests the State Party to further enhance its monitoring activities in these two components of the property;
7. Strongly encourages the State Party to continue to fully implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Action Plan and the Biodiversity Management Plan;
8. Further requests 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 examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session in 2018;
9. Decides to retain Rainforests of the Atsinanana (Madagascar) on the List of World Heritage in Danger.