Decision 42 COM 7B.48

Sukur Cultural Landscape (Nigeria) (C 938)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B.Add2,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.17, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Commends the actions undertaken by the State Party to address the impacts of the insurgent attacks of 2014 on the Sukur Cultural Landscape, and notes with appreciation the elaboration of the new Conservation Management Plan (CMP) 2017-2021;
4. Noting that conservation works to address the damage caused by the 2014 attacks to the Hidi place, paved walkways and other structures still need to be undertaken, welcomes the assistance given to the State Party by the international community to address the impacts of those attacks on the property and its communities;
5. Encourages the State Party to pursue its efforts for continued conservation and requests it in particular to undertake detailed mapping of cultural features as soon as funds are available, including traditional structures and practices;
6. Notes that people displaced from other areas are settling in growing numbers in the property area, leading to a scarcity of resources and to the construction of buildings using inappropriate materials;
7. Requests the State Party to take appropriate measures to ensure sustainable use of local materials, and to ensure increased control of erosion on the site;
8. Takes note of the initiatives for the development of eco-tourism at the property, and also encourages the State Party to keep the World Heritage Committee informed of any future development project within the vicinity of the property, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines, before any irreversible decisions are made;
9. Also takes note that for security reasons, the planned Reactive Monitoring mission to the property was not feasible, but that a mission has been undertaken to meet national experts and property staff in Abuja (Nigeria) in May 2018;
10. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, as well as on the recommandations of the May 2018 mission, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.