Decision 42 COM 7B.50

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (United Republic of Tanzania) (C 144)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.20, adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016),
3. Welcomes the completion of the Integrated Management Plan (2016–2019) and the beginning of its implementation, bearing in mind that the State Party might wish to consider a longer implementation timeframe for future planning exercises;
4. Requests the State Party to finalize work on the overall Land Use plan for the property and develop a separate, more detailed Sustainable Tourism Development Plan taking into account carrying capacity and other conservation factors in addition to improving visitor experience, for submission to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
5. Also requests the State Party to continue with the implementation of the recommendations of the 2013 mission;
6. Encourages the State Party to continue work on the establishment of the boundaries and buffer zone of the property as well as accompanying regulatory framework, and if necessary, to submit a new International Assistance request as part of the 2019 cycle;
7. Also encourages the State Party to continue with work both on the conservation of monuments at the site and the work on strengthening the sea barriers with the aim of slowing erosion, and further requests that plans for this work, along with an update of work already carried out, be submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies;
8. Notes the intention to build new visitor facilities and jetties and improve existing tourism infrastructure, and requests furthermore that any plans be submitted to the World Heritage Centre before plans are finalized and implementation begins, in accordance to Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
9. Requests moreover 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, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 44th session in 2020.